The Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato might be the rugged supercar of your dreams

Dalvin Brown
Updated
The off-road light package includes a roof-mounted LED light bar and LED bumper lights with a flood function, the Italian car maker says.
The off-road light package includes a roof-mounted LED light bar and LED bumper lights with a flood function, the Italian car maker says.

Not very many people would have the chutzpah (or the moola) to drive a $300,000 sportscar through the mud. Still, Lamborghini created a lifted, dirt-ready luxury sports car just for the occasion.

The Italian brand unveiled an intriguing new concept based on the Huracán EVO on Wednesday called the Sterrato, which is "dirt" in Italian. Drawing off-road inspiration from its new high-riding Urus SUV, Lamborghini says the dunes hopping Huracán “conquers new territory.”

Sterrato features the same 5.2-liter naturally-aspirated engine as the EVO, but there are notable differences.

The one-off concept has bigger tires, wider fenders and more ground clearance to take on challenging environments compared to the $260,000 standard EVO.

To get around on rougher terrain, Lamborghini raised the car by 1.85 inches, which the company says improves the approach angle by 1% and the departure angle by 6.5%. The front and rear tracks were also widened by 1.2 inches.

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The pumped-up bodywork sits atop 22-inch “balloon” tires that are optimized to grip on loose ground. To protect the underbelly from rock damage, the ruggedized Sterrato is outfitted with underbody reinforcements, including a rear skid plate that acts as a diffuser.

There's integrated stone-deflecting protection around the engine and air intakes and carbon fiber mudguards.

Lamborghini tuned the EVO’s stability control system to maximize traction and acceleration for what the company calls "demanding environments."

The tweaked LDVI (Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata) system includes four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering and torque vectoring for improved handling. The car is also built with predictive logic to anticipate the driver’s next move.

And if things really go awry, the car is fitted with a titanium roll cage, carbon sports seats and a four-point harness to protect the driver. Also, inside the Huracán Sterrato, you'll specially-designed interior trim, four-point seat belts and aluminum floor panels.

Other visual flourishes include an off-road LED light package that ensures visibility is never a problem.

Lamborghini daringly converted the Huracán Evo into a lifted, desert-bashing supercar called the Huracán Sterrato Concept.
Lamborghini daringly converted the Huracán Evo into a lifted, desert-bashing supercar called the Huracán Sterrato Concept.

As for why Lamborghini built a car that no one knew they wanted, chief technical officer Maurizio Reggiani said: “Lamborghini’s R&D and design teams are constantly exploring new opportunities and delivering the unexpected as a core characteristic of our DNA, challenging possibilities while inspired by Lamborghini brand heritage.”

By heritage, Reggiani is referring to Lamborgini's previous off-road explorations.

In the '70s, Lamborghini's test driver, Bob Wallace, tried out the Jarama Rally of 1973 and the Urraco rally of 1974. Both were modified, desert-bashing versions of rally-ready sports cars.

Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin_Brown.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato might be the rugged supercar of your dreams