Automotive

Lamborghini shatters Nürburgring production car record

View 5 Images
The Huracan Performante and the team behind its record-breaking lap
The Huracan Performante and the team behind its record-breaking lap
The Huracan Performante takes on the Nürburgring
The Huracan Performante will make its full debut at the Geneva Motor Show
The Huracan Performante lapped the Nürburgring in 6:52.01
The Huracan takes on the Nordschleife
View gallery - 5 images

Lamborghini has traditionally been seen as a car manufacturer lacking in race pedigree but perfect for late-night runs down the high street. Although it can't magically create a motorsports heritage, the team in Sant'Agata says its new cars are razor-edged, not just designed for rich poseurs. The Huracan Performante, which will launch at the Geneva Motor Show, gives credence to that claim with a scalding Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time.

Driver Marco Mapelli hustled the Performante around the North Loop of the famously fierce German racetrack in just 6:52.01, besting the Porsche 918 Spyder by more than five seconds on its way to the production car record. The lap was completed after the track was shut to all the other manufacturers using the track for testing, but Lamborghini had a very small window (just 15 minutes) to clock its official lap.

The car was running on Pirelli Trofeo R tires, and Lamborghini says clever aerodynamics and revised four-wheel drive system contributed to the lightning time. There's also more power, although we'll have to wait until the full Geneva Motor Show reveal to find out how much exactly.

A full reveal will take place at the Geneva Motor Show next week, but check out the onboard footage of the run in the video below. Spoiler alert: it's fast.

Source: Lamborghini

View gallery - 5 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
5 comments
BruceCooke
Frank Sinatra was right when he said: You buy a Ferrari when you want to be somebody. You buy a Lamborghini when you are somebody.
Frank Sinatra
steveraxx
Frank was a singer. In other words, Frank knew nothing about cars. Also, having worked on these sorts of cars, and forced to interact with the guys who buy this stuff. These cars are designed for rich poseurs. There are any number of 68 Camaros out their, built by their owners who are more car than this thing will ever.
Designed for rich poseurs.
JimFox
Stephen Raznick Nonsensical comment. 68 Camaro would take days to complete the N Nurburgring . . . IF it didn't break down!
Future3000
Wow, very impessive! look at fuel gauge: 20 Liters for 25 km, not so impressive... But I love this Huracan.
Grunchy
I like to "pretend" race with PS4, it's far more cost effective than actual racing. A lot less dangerous too. Of course it's pointless to pretend race unless there's an actual machine to pretend to race, so that's what I appreciate about cars like this. My favorite line from Destroyer: after 60 mph just about nobody is driving any more; they are mostly just aiming.