Automobili Lamborghini’s latest concept, the Huracán Sterrato, carves out an interesting , if unconventional, new niche for the brand. The car is based on the 640hp V10 Huracán supercar, with off-road technology added from the Urus Super SUV, to create a super sports car that can offer fun off the tarmac.
The Sterrato’s systems are controlled by the LDVI (Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata) with predictive logic from the Huracán Evo, which controls the driving dynamics including the four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, modified suspension and torque vectoring systems. The LDVI system in this concept is calibrated for off-road driving, including travel on low-adherence surfaces, and tuned to deliver maximum traction and acceleration, through enhanced rear-wheel drive behaviour, producing more torque with additional stabilisation in oversteering manoeuvres.
Lamborghini’s engineers have not just focussed on electronics though, and to help prevent the car grounding on rough surfaces, ground clearance is heightened by 47mm, with the front approach sharpened by 1% and the departure angle increased by 6.5%.
An off-road LED light package is proposed, comprising a roof-mounted LED light bar and LED bumper lights with flood function
In addition, the wheel track is widened front and rear by 30mm, with 20in wheels on balloon tires set into new wide-body wheel arches with integrated air intakes. Those tyres have been specially developed with large sidewalls to improve the asperity absorption and grip, while the wide, rugged, open shoulder blocks offer self-cleaning qualities, provide excellent off-road surface adherence with improved traction and braking, and are highly damage resistant.
The Sterrato is also fitted with underbody reinforcements and body protection, including a rear skid plate that acts as a diffuser. Aluminium reinforcements are integrated within the front frame and covered with an aluminium skid plate, with aluminium-reinforced side skirts. Special protective composite bodywork includes stone-deflecting protection around the engine and air intakes, and mudguards in hybrid materials of carbon fibre and elastomeric resin.
The underpinnings of the Sterrato are all toughened for off-road driving. Even the interior is a little more rugged, with a lightweight titanium roll cage, four-point seatbelts, carbon bi-shell sports seats, and aluminium floor panels
“The Huracán Sterrato illustrates Lamborghini’s commitment to being a future shaper: a super sports car with off-road capabilities, the Sterrato demonstrates the Huracán’s versatility and opens the door to yet another benchmark of driving emotion and performance,” said Maurizio Reggiani, chief technical officer of Automobili Lamborghini. “Lamborghini’s R&D and design teams are constantly exploring new opportunities and delivering the unexpected as a core characteristic of our DNA, challenging possibilities while inspired by Lamborghini brand heritage.”
The Sterrato is not Lamborghini’s first venture into off-road cars. The Jarama and Urraco of the 1970s already explored the potential for combining Lamborghini’s high performance and off-road capabilities. Lamborghini’s test driver Bob Wallace modified the two models to create desert-going high-performance sports cars, the Jarama Rally from 1973 and the Urraco Rally from 1974.
Ferrari has explored off-road sports cars in the past. In 1964 Lodovico Scarfiotti won the Sierra Montana Crans hillclimb race at the wheel of a Scuderia Filipinetti Ferrari 250 LM. Photo: Eigene Foto
Ferrari also entered racing, with its 1977 308 GTB joining the Group 4 rally circuit. This example is a replica created by Finnish company Makela Auto Tuning, based on a standard 308 GTB and which can be seen on display at the Prince Rainier III Museum in Monaco. Photo: Beemwej
More images of the Huracán Sterrato:
