Let me confess: I’ve never piloted a Porsche 911 Safari or any similar vehicle. Nevertheless, I’ve always held a slight fascination with 911 Safari-inspired automobiles. The concept of transforming a sports car into an off-road-capable machine is extremely enticing to me. It’s not just the paradox of driving a luxury sports car on unpaved terrain. It also simply appears to be a lot of fun! Therefore, when Lamborghini unveiled its Huracán Sterrato concept in 2019, my hopes were cautiously optimistic. While it appeared impressive, I never believed Lamborghini would actually bring the idea to life. As it turns out, I was mistaken! Lamborghini recently revealed this teaser video of the Huracán Sterrato tearing up a dusty road.
Sterrato directly translates to “dirt road” in Italian, leaving no doubt about its purpose. Lamborghini has essentially bestowed the Huracán with a similar Safari treatment as those aforementioned 911s: extended suspension travel, a ride height raised by 1.9 inches, a wheel track widened by 1.2 inches, a roof-mounted air intake reminiscent of the Huracan STO model, and rally lights affixed to the front. It also sports black plastic fender flares, all-terrain tires hugging its wheels, and even roof rails. And I must have one.
In the footage, you witness the Huracán Sterrato partaking in a friendly race with a cyclist on moderately rough dirt roads. There’s a peculiar pleasure in seeing a Huracán gliding through the dust with its V10 engine roaring in the background. It also exudes an aura of magnificence, with rugged fender flares interrupting its iconic Lamborghini wedge design and rally lights piercing through the dust cloud.
Lamborghini hasn’t revealed any new specifications or details with this teaser, so I presume it will retain the same specs as the concept car from a few years back. That would entail featuring the identical 631 horsepower naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s also expected to receive modified versions of the standard Huracán’s all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel steering systems tailored to handle some off-road excursions.
To be frank, even owners of 911 Safari models rarely venture off-road with their vehicles. Instead, they primarily serve as roadworthy cars capable of enduring potholes and uneven pavements without unsettling their drivers, while also capable of handling the occasional off-road route when the owners are feeling bold. This isn’t an insult to either the drivers or the vehicles. The concept of having a more robust variant of a sports car that’s more practical for everyday use yet retains its sporty essence is highly attractive. Therefore, despite the Huracán Sterrato appearing to be an entirely preposterous and ludicrous automobile, there’s actually some practicality in its existence.
I unapologetically adore this vehicle. I admire the notion of a Lamborghini supercar that can traverse paved roads without fretting over every imperfection on the pavement. I appreciate the idea of a Lamborghini supercar that can gracefully skid around off-road terrains as skillfully as it navigates on-road routes. And I also appreciate that Lamborghini is truly going to produce and distribute this, rather than relegating it to the scrap heap of concept cars. Acquiring one would necessitate selling my house and possibly a kidney, and while I’m not affirming that I would take such extreme measures, I’m not denying it either.
