Audi R8 GT and Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica. Big words. These two supercars are about to become a ‘rare bird’ because their engines will soon say goodbye to combustion. Both share the same atmospheric V10, but their power figures are not the same: What about the Audi R8 GT and the Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica?
Before we answer, let’s refresh our memory. The Audi R8 GT is the special edition with which Audi says goodbye to the second generation of the Audi R8… and the V10. A 5.2-liter central-rear naturally aspirated engine that delivers 620 horsepower to the rear wheels: a delivery that is carried out through a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica, for its part, hides the same technical scheme under its body… although develops 640 hp (same as the Lamborghini Huracán STO): yes, there is a difference of 20 hp in power and also in sound. As in the German supercar, that power is delivered to the rear axle by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
20 hp difference
The question is inevitable: why, having the same engine, is the Lamborghini more powerful than the Audi? It is not a question of favoritism, but of regulations. Nils Fischer, Technical Project Manager of the Audi R8, explained to CarBuzz that the legislation that regulates emissions in Europe affects them differently due to their volume of production: “Lamborghini, as a small manufacturer, has different rules to play by.”
European legislation on emissions it establishes a maximum threshold that brands cannot exceed: if they do, they would have to face millions in fines. However, like any good rule, this one also has some exceptions. Those brands with a lower production volume can request an exemption for some of the current regulations.
8,405 cars vs. 458,746
Thus, the manufacturers that shape less than 10,000 units They can, for example, set their own emissions threshold: something they generally do based on the levels of previous years. In 2021, Lamborghini only produced 8,405 vehicles, so it would have been able to enjoy that greater flexibility.
From the Audi lines, however, 458,746 cars came out and the CO2 emissions of all that fleet had to respect the maximum imposed by the European Union. With that limit, shaping an Audi R8 GT with the same specifications as the Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica would have consequences: it would be more difficult not to exceed the level assigned to the German brand.
