Lamborghini and Huracán STO landed at the Zhuhai International Circuit to kick off the brand’s 2022 Zhuhai Track Day experience event. As a road-compliant supercar derived from the track, the Huracán STO perfectly embodies the racing heritage of Lamborghini Squadra Corse, showcasing unique Lamborghini lightweight solutions, superior aerodynamics and racing engineering.
“The Huracán STO combines Lamborghini’s years of racing expertise and award-winning heritage to give every daily drive a racing driver-like driving experience. The Zhuhai track day experience event represents Lamborghini’s exclusive driving passion. The arrival of the Huracán STO in Zhuhai demonstrates Lamborghini’s firm commitment to continue to create a pure driving experience for customers and fans,” said Francesco Scardaoni, head of Automobili Lamborghini Asia Pacific. "In the first half of this year, Lamborghini continued its strong growth momentum, setting a new half-year sales record with a global delivery of 5,090 units. The Chinese market also maintains Lamborghini's second largest single market position in the world. At the same time, Lamborghini internal combustion engine celebrates In this year of tribute, we not only plan to launch several exciting new models, but are also fully prepared for the electric transformation. In this process, we will always adhere to the brand DNA and move towards a more sustainable future.”< /p>
Lamborghini has full confidence in the Huracán family, which perfectly combines pure technology and extreme design. With the 20,000th Huracán rolling off the assembly line in April this year, the model has become one of Lamborghini's most popular models, further proving the success of the Huracán series. Huracán STO is equipped with a 640-horsepower naturally aspirated V10 engine, which will make the driver's soul boil the moment it starts. It provides a variety of new driving modes to allow the driver to flexibly respond to different road conditions. It adopts a new appearance design and continues to use it in all aspects. The aerodynamics and lightweight technologies required for motorsports include Lamborghini’s iconic monocoque front enclosure (cofango) and manually adjustable rear wing. More than 75% of the carbon fiber exterior parts are used in the entire car; at the same time, Huracán STO is also equipped with Bridgestone Potenza custom tires, focusing on bringing absolute performance.
The Lamborghini Esperienza track day experience event is hosted by the Squadra Corse sports department. It is one of Lamborghini’s series of driving experience events specially created for loyal fans of the brand. It provides customers and fans with a professional test drive and opportunity to explore the Lamborghini world. Exclusive access. The Squadra Corse event sports department is committed to building high-performance racing cars and participating in global events, aiming to inherit and promote Lamborghini's racing culture and driving passion. This year, Lamborghini competes againGT short-course series and won the championship in the first two races of the season.
With more than 40 international championship titles and many outstanding achievements, Lamborghini Squadra Corse's racing sports department will use its rich racing experience to launch the LMDh hybrid prototype racing project in 2022. The first LMDh prototype will make its debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship (Hypercar category) and IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship (GTP category) in 2024, marking Lamborghini's official entry into top sports car racing.
On the day of the event, we were also very fortunate to interview Mr. Francesco Scardaoni, head of Automobili Lamborghini Asia Pacific. Let’s take a look:
- Last year, Lamborghini's global sales and sales in China still hit new highs. Under the influence of the epidemic, what efforts has the brand made to achieve such results?
- First of all, since the beginning of the epidemic in 2020, Lamborghini has adjusted its market strategy in a timely and rapid manner, converting many marketing activities and new car releases to online methods, using virtual reality and augmented reality technologies. A number of new car launch events were held. This allows Lamborghini to still get closer to customers during the epidemic. Customers can still get more information about their dream models at home. When the epidemic is under control and eased, they can come to the Lamborghini showroom as soon as possible to order their favorite models. one.
- Second, it benefits from Lamborghini’s excellent product line and excellent product competitiveness. Currently, there are three product lines: Huracán, Aventador, and Urus, each targeting different market segments and able to meet customers' different tastes and preferences.
- Third, it benefits from Lamborghini’s continued investment in and refinement of its dealer network. Not only in the Chinese market, but also in the entire Asia-Pacific region and global markets, Lamborghini is conducting in-depth cooperation with partners.
- These factors enabled Lamborghini to achieve very good sales results during the epidemic.
- China is a very important single market for Lamborghini. Compared with other markets, what are the unique features of Chinese consumers compared to consumers in other countries?
- Today, the Chinese market is the second largest single market for Lamborghini in the world, and it has very distinctive characteristics.
- First of all, with the rapid growth of the Chinese market, Lamborghini has the fastest delivery speed in the Chinese market.
- Second, among Chinese consumers, the proportion of female customers is the highest in the world. The global average proportion of female customers is 9%, while in China this figure is 16%.
- Third, the average age of Chinese customers is the youngest in the world. At present, the average age of Chinese customers is 37 years old. These customers are very fashion-conscious, and because young people always have various updated requirements, they also have high requirements for products.
- Fourth, Chinese customers like Ad Personam’s advanced personalized customization service very much. Chinese customers very much hope to express their individuality through their own cars, and they are willing to choose advanced personalized customization services to create their own unique and exclusive cars. Therefore, Ad Personam's advanced personalized customization service has a very high penetration rate in the Chinese market.
- Fifth, the racing culture in the Chinese market is developing very rapidly. Lamborghini has noticed this very early. As early as 2013, it launched the first single-brand event Super Trofeo Super Challenge, and has been holding dynamic track test drives such as the "Lamborghini Esperienza Track Day Experience Event" Activity. Nowadays, branded events have attracted more and more teams and drivers, and they are very willing to participate and experience the event culture.
- Faced with the current trend of electrification of supercars in the world market, what kind of technical route will Lamborghini take to achieve both performance and environmental protection?
- Previously, Lamborghini released its future electrification strategy-"Moving towards the Heart of Taurus". The plan is divided into several phases. Starting next year, Lamborghini will officially enter the hybrid stage starting with the flagship model, which is the successor model of the Aventador, which will be equipped with a V12 naturally aspirated engine and a hybrid unit. It is believed that such technical solutions will further increase Lamborghini’s competitiveness in the electrified supercar market.
- By the end of 2024, we plan to implement hybridization on the other two product lines, Huracán and Urus respectively. By then, all Lamborghini product lines will be hybridized.
- In 2028, Lamborghini will launch its first pure electric model, and we will use pure electric technology on a four-seater model. At present, we are still further understanding customer needs and feedback, and further exploring the use of pure electric technology solutions andThe best solution for Lamborghini brand genetic matching.
- Now, pure electric technology is constantly improving every day, and Lamborghini's understanding of technology, understanding of consumers, mastery of technology and overall design are also constantly improving. On the road to electrification, Lamborghini's philosophy is not to be the first, but to be the best brand.
- Lamborghini will usher in a pure electric model in 2028. Under such circumstances, will there be plans for a passionate model like STO?
- Lamborghini has not completely given up on the possibility of using internal combustion engines in the future. While we are implementing the electrification strategy of "Moving towards the Heart of Taurus", we are also actively investing in the research and development of synthetic fuels. If the development is successful, we hope to combine synthetic fuels with internal combustion engines in the future. On the one hand, this can meet the increasingly stringent emission regulations around the world; on the other hand, it can also satisfy customers' pursuit of driving passion and models like STO.
- Overseas, Lamborghini has launched several personalized models based on Huracán in the past two years, such as the Tecnica, which is positioned between EVO and STO, and also launched a more personalized off-road version. Huracán. Will these models be introduced into the Chinese market?
- Yes, the Huracán Tecnica has been released globally not long ago and is expected to be introduced to the Chinese market in the second half of this year.
- Another Huracán model has not yet been officially launched. We just made a simple preview to prepare fans and consumers for the future supercar world.
- Lamborghini is a passionate brand. The first Lamborghini pure electric model will be launched in 2028, and it will be a 2+2 GT model. Is it understandable that Lamborghini is not optimistic about the future development of pure electric supercars?
- It’s not that Lamborghini is not optimistic about the future of electric supercars, but that Lamborghini’s car-making philosophy tends to combine the best technical solutions with matching models. Our ultimate goal is to have customers sit in a Lambo even if they are blindfoldedIn the Gini, you can immediately feel the brand gene of Lamborghini.
- At present, pure electric solutions in electric technology are relatively similar. They may have better performance in terms of acceleration, but they have not yet reached the level of performance consistency and controllability that our customers have today. Expectations and demands for Lamborghini.
- In the future, if electric technology is to be used in super sports cars, we hope that it will not only be better in simple parameters, but also have a complete driving experience, including acceleration performance, performance All aspects such as durability, overall handling and driving excitement should be fully in line with Lamborghini's brand DNA. Therefore, on the road to electrification, we do not strive to be the first, but we must be the best.
- In the Chinese market, SUV models are very popular. Is it possible that the Urus model will become Lamborghini's first hybrid model or pure electric model in the future? Does Lamborghini have a basic plan for 2023?
- Indeed, Lamborghini Urus product line has plans to launch some new models. We are very confident that the new model will once again raise the industry benchmark. Lamborghini previously released a video showing that the new Urus has set a new record at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, 17 seconds faster than the original record.
- According to the "Moving towards the Heart of Taurus" electrification strategy, by the end of 2024, we will further integrate hybrid models into other product lines, including Urus.
- Talking about the overall plan for 2023, 2023 is the first year of the second phase of Lamborghini’s electrification strategy. The first phase is this year, the year the Lamborghini internal combustion engine celebrates its homage. In 2023, Lamborghini will begin to enter the second stage, the hybrid stage. Lamborghini will launch the successor model of the Aventador, which will use a V12 naturally aspirated engine and be equipped with a hybrid unit. By then, it will be the only supercar on the market that uses a V12 naturally aspirated engine and hybrid electric technology. Its engine is a completely new design, and every screw is different from the previous generation. It will be faster, better and perform better than the previous Aventador models. It will be another classic masterpiece of Lamborghini. I am very much looking forward to seeing the Aventador successor model on the road in the future.
Editor: Han Rui