Carlos from Spain:
There is no chance the 640HP STOCK Performante that will be sold to the customers is going to do a 6:52 in the Ring, not even close, if using a prototype engine, a team of engineers tweeking suspensions and setup specifically for the Ring, using especifically deloped R compound tires for the Ring lap time, and so on is not cheating then... the video discrepancies is just the icon on the cake. They got their headlines in the press though, most people won't even realice the lap time is unrealistic, as they don't get past the headlines, so its worked for them.
Let's do some math: Sport Auto did 7:28 in the regular Huracan with Trofeo R tires. Huge ABS issues, which probably costs the Huracan 2-3 seconds time (according to last Sport Auto Huracan Performance test-drive, the ABS issues are gone). So if the ABS is OK now, we can substract 3 seconds from the 7:28 time, equaling 7:25. Now take the new Trofeo R tires. If they are really that good, I think we can safely subtract another 3 seconds off the time. 7:22.
Now let's take into consideration the 45 kg less weight, the 30 hp more and the slightly faster shifting times of the newly programmed shifting system. Another 2 seconds? You bet. 7:20.
According from what I learned about the active aero, this is a new revolutionary system (apparently all car experts seem to agree after Lamborghini published the details). 5 seconds faster? If the car really produced the downforce it needs in curves and the drag it needs in certain high speed sections, I think that 5 seconds are very conservative. 7:15.
7:15 in the Sport Auto Supertest, maybe even something close to 7:13 or 7:10 (if I am optimistic about the improved chassis and steering setups).
The 918 did 7:13 in the Sport Auto Supertest.
So yes, I think it is possible that the Huracan Performante did 6:52 in the hands of a Lamborghini test-driver and probably a perfect setup for the Nordschleife but I also think that even if Sport Auto reviews the Huracan Performance at anything below 7:15 in autumn, the Huracan Performance will be a spectacular car.
If you think I took too many seconds off...the Nordschleife is over 20 km long. This is not your usual race track. I was conservative with my assumptions.
Like I said before: We should stop speculating until we see the first reviews. Same goes to the AMG GT-R we were talking about. I am willing to give every car manufacturer the benefit of doubt.
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RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet (2015), Porsche Cayenne S Diesel (2017), Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mini JCW (2015)