Ask an Italian what ala means, and they'll tell you, "wing." Unless they work for Lamborghini, in which case, they'll say it's shorthand for Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva. In the case of the Huracán Performante, they're both right.
Just unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show, the latest special edition of Lamborghini's entry-level Huracàn is a glorified wing on wheels. Wielding a massive trunk lid spoiler and active aerodynamic devices, the car recently smashed the lap record at Germany's famed Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit (though some question the time, pointing to discrepancies in the onboard video).
The Huracàn bested the previous record holder, the Porsche 918 Spyder, by five seconds, circling the "Green Hell"—widely considered the world's toughest track—in 6:52.01 mins.
Credit the unprecedented time to upgrades just about everywhere. Lambo engineers gifted the Performante a new chassis setup, an improved exhaust, and a lighter weight body (via, what else, extra carbon fiber). A refined drivetrain delivers 640 horsepower from the V10 engine, and puts it down via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and new Pirelli tires.
But it’s that Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva technology that really makes the difference, both visually and on the track. When the system is off, flaps in the front spoiler are closed, and the aerodynamic body design generates maximum downforce for awesome grip and cornering.
But when the computer decides it's time, a motor opens the flaps in less than half a second, reducing air pressure on the spoiler, which works like an upside down plane wing. More flaps at the back direct air under, rather than over that huge rear ala, ahem, wing. Together, those tweaks sacrifice downforce to cut drag, letting the car accelerate faster and reach higher top speeds. And so, the Performante can hustle through corners and burn it up on the straightaways.
The matte orange color is new too. If you’re a fan, it’s called Arancio Anthaeus, and it's yours for just $274,390.
