In the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato on the Alps

It’s steep, it’s narrow, and the fact that they actually call this narrow ridge a “road” is a bold exaggeration. Because without all-wheel drive and above average ground clearance you get lost on the Alta via del Sale.

It is not surprising that only off-road vehicles, mountain bikers or horse riders travel here. In any case, a Lamborghini has probably never been lost on an Alpine gravel road in the border area between Italy and France – especially not a sports car.

At least until now. But since Lamborghini has also offered the Huracan as a Sterrato for 262,558 euros, the Radi’s area of action has expanded significantly: Suddenly the Hohe Salzstrasse also becomes a challenge that does not end at the hospital, the loony bin or the crash site.

After all, the Italians actually turn a coupé into, well, an off-road vehicle for about a ten percent premium. Or at least what is possible in an off-road vehicle and a super sports car with a carbon chassis and a V10 engine.

Big cheeks and snorkel on the roof

First of all, they worked on the design at the company’s headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese, they put unique lights on the frames and attached additional lights to the hood. To ensure an unobstructed air supply even in the thickest dust, a hood was placed on the roof like a large snorkel. In addition, a convenient luggage rack was even created. After all, the Huracán’s trunk is already overwhelmed by a few walking sticks, not to mention a backpack or tent.

With serious intentions

But Lamborghini is serious about exciting events and does not leave only in decorations. After all, an outer coat does not make an office stallion a mountain.

That’s why the engineers also modified the chassis and raised the car by about five centimeters. Together with Bridgestone, they have also developed a special off-road tire that can withstand even the roughest rocks on the Alta Via del Sale.

And the fact that the lower body is completely covered in carbon – originally due to aerodynamics – doesn’t hurt either. Because instead of tearing its guts out on a sharp stone, Sterrato now slides over gravel and mud like a wallowing wild boar.

On a narrow ridge on top of a mountain

And there is a lot of gravel and mud here. Because the Sale of Alta Via del is not only very narrow, so that the oncoming traffic becomes an exercise in precision when driving. But it also has poor conservation conditions, ankle-deep potholes, large steps and is littered with stones that are often larger than footballs. Not to mention the deep pools of water, rivers and crumbling walls at the edge of the crater.

Even when throttled, it is still strong

Lamborghini has reduced the performance of the five-liter ten-cylinder engine slightly. But even so, the high-revving vacuum cleaner still produces 449 kW/610 hp and 560 Nm at all four wheels.

Down in the valley it would be enough to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. A top speed of up to 260 km/h is possible and with new driving details, Thunderbolt is the king of drifts in the dirt. It is not for nothing that the electronics loosen the strings in the meeting mode and sometimes Sterrato pushes on the track.

Mountain goats instead of fighting cows

But up here, far beyond the tree line, a different speed is required. There isn’t much more to it than cruising speed when the Sterrato tackles the gravel roads that gave it its name. Slowly and carefully, the driver aims at each individual stone and crawls over the steps on the scree demanding respect from each rider.

There are no bulls to fight – at least in the distance of 10 or 20 kilometers to Passo Tanarello, Sterrato looks more like a mountain goat. And you can still enjoy the firm grip of the bucket seats, the tightness of the belts and the roll cage while looking out the window and seeing the space below.

There’s another reason why you shouldn’t step on the gas too hard on this route: the V10 accepts each throttle so loudly that the noise would linger in the valley for hours and probably even the loose debris would vibrate out. the walls So it’s better to be quick than to have bullets.

Knighthood before Rifugio

So Lamborghini bravely fights above and beyond and is finally made a hero and owner of the cabin at Rifugio La Terza. Because apart from his rickety Fiat Panda 4×4 and his rustier Land Rover, he doesn’t allow another car to enter the parking lot in front of the huge sun terrace 2000 meters up on the edge of the border. If the car really gets lost here, it has to be parked two kilometers further down and the residents have to make the difficult journey past the main statue of Jesus on Monte Saccarello on foot.

But anyone crazy enough to try to own a Lamborghini deserves pride of place, encourages Tiziano, still rubbing his eyes in surprise. His partner will no doubt have to hug him again the next morning and prove that it wasn’t just a dream. Finally the Lamborghini has disappeared again and has been winding down the valley since dawn, back on the tarmac and in its natural habitat.

Conclusion: Facts and interesting at the same time

Of course it’s crazy to conquer roads like Alta Via del Sale with a sports car like Lamborghini Huracán. After all, it’s a lovely drive through the Alps even with an off-road vehicle. But a little crazy suits this car perfectly. Because anyone in their right mind would never build a sports car like that on a pole. It’s a good thing that sometimes it gets a little crazy in Sant’Agata. Otherwise the world of horses would be without an attractive exotic vehicle.

Datenblatt: Lamborghini Sterrato Hurricane

Engine and drive: V10 direct injection gasoline engine Displacement: 5204 cc Max. Power: 449 kW/610 HP at 8000 rpm Max. Torque: 560 Nm at 6500 rpm Drive: All-wheel drive Transmission: 7-speed clutch Dimensions and weight Length: 4525 mm Width: 1956 mm Height: 1248 mm Wheelbase: 2620 mm Empty weight: 1470 kg Charge: KA kA Data driving: Top speed: 260 km/h Acceleration 0-100 km / h: 3.4 s Average consumption: 14.9 liters/100 km2 CO2 emissions: 337 g/km Fuel: Advanced pollution class: EU6d Efficiency class energy:kACosts:Lambonrghini Huracán base price 241,400 euro Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato base price 262,558 euro Type classes:kCar lease:586 Euro/year Standard equipment:Safety:Six airbags, adaptive cruise control flexibility, anti-speed protection, comfort bar:Automatic air conditioning, touch screen navigation.