2017 Lamborghini Huracan Performante Photos, engines & full specs

The 2017 Huracan Performante was like a Huracan on steroids, with a redesigned and lighter bodywork, a more powerful engine, and active aerodynamics.

While the Huracan was the entry-level model in the Lamborghini lineup, the Performante version was on the top of the food chain among its stablemates. The Italian automaker introduced it at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, and customers were eager to get their hands on it. It was mostly a track-oriented supercar that could be driven on public roads while wearing license plates. If that sounds like a cliché, for the Performante, it wasn't. The carmaker's engineering team put the car on a diet, making it lighter by 88 lbs (40 kg) compared to its regular siblings. Then, they pumped up the engine to produce 30 more ponies, sharpened the suspension thanks to the magnetorheological dampers, and redesigned the bodywork for better downforce.

At the front, the Performante featured a completely different spoiler that integrated a broader center air intake with an A-shaped splitter on its lower side. It was flanked by inwards tilted scoops slimmer than on the rest of the Huracan range. Furthermore, the front spoiler integrated an electric motor into a carbon-forged frame with active flaps that increased downforce when needed.

From its profile, the 2017 Huracan Performante revealed its aggressive stance with its low-slung look. Its 20-inch alloy wheels wore 245/30 tires up front and 305/30 at the rear. Its black side sills were modified to reduce the ground effect and were available with specific graphics. To emphasize the car's unique character, Lamborghini installed carbon fiber black door mirror caps. Right behind the rear axle, the automaker placed a massive functional wing on the deck that increased downforce. To furthermore enhance the car's performance, the automaker created a new rear fascia for the vehicle. It featured two round exhausts placed higher than on the regular Huracan, integrated into the center rear grille, above a broad diffuser.

Inside, the automaker installed 3D-printed elements such as the hexagonal-shaped vents on the dash and the cover for the center console. Lamborghini installed hexagonal-shaped elements everywhere on the car, from the buttons that selected driving modes on the lower spoke of the flat-bottom steering wheel to those from the gear selector. These resembled the chemical element of carbon, but they also resembled the shape of the honeycomb structure. The Alcantara-covered sports seats with integrated headrests dominated the cabin. Behind the steering wheel, the automaker installed large paddle shifters affixed to the steering column. There were no stalks behind it since the switches for the turn signals and the wipers were on the horizontal spokes of the steering wheel. The instrument cluster was filled with a TFT display that also served as an infotainment and navigation unit screen.

Behind the cabin, the Huracan Performante featured a 5.2-liter V10 engine carried over from the rest of the range but tuned to provide 640 PS (631 hp), paired to a seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox that sent power in all corners. The Huracan Performante could rocket from 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in under three seconds thanks to the lowered overall weight and the increased power.