Lamborghini is keen to make a fuss of its new Urus ST-X racer. But it’s the non-racer we’re interested in
Lamborghini has taken advantage of the final round of its in-house racing series to (partially) show off two upcoming models. While the European, Asian and North American iterations of the marque’s Super Trofeo championship came to a close on track, a racer of a different kind was debuted off it. The Urus ST-X, set to compete in the world’s first ‘Super SUV’ series next year, uses the same twin-turbo V8 engine as the road car, yet is 25 per cent lighter thanks to a new structure. But we already knew about that.
The bigger news comes in the form of a shadowy silhouette, said by Lamborghini to show a new track-only hypercar set to arrive next year. Despite having been developed by the manufacturer’s Squadra Corse department the car won’t see competition, but will benefit from a host of tweaks designed to get the most out of that naturally-aspirated V12 – perhaps for the final time before it’s replaced by a hybrid-assisted set-up.
Featuring an aluminium front frame joined to a carbon fibre monocoque, and housing a steel roll cage within, the design aims to “guarantee the highest standards of safety” while maximising “the torsional and bending stiffness characteristics.” To that end the six-speed sequential transmission – to which the suspension arms are directly connected – takes on a structural load-bearing role, offering “optimal kinematics and a significant improvement in stiffness to weight ratio.” A self-locking differential that can be dynamically adjusted by the driver, depending on the circuit and the conditions, also speaks to the car’s all-out track focus.
Debuting next year in a limited-production run, the car’s enormous rear wing, roof-mounted air scoop and huge front splitter all hint at the aero ability required to get the best out of the 830hp produced by that 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12. If this is to be its final un-electrified bow, then what a way to go…
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