Lamborghini's Two Engineering Bets at Shanghai 2017 Shaped Everything After
The Huracán Performante and Aventador S debuted together, each proving a different path to more performance.
Lamborghini chose to premiere both the Huracán Performante and the Aventador S simultaneously at Auto Shanghai 2017, signaling how seriously Sant'Agata viewed the Greater China market by mid-2017.
Two philosophies, one stand
The Performante introduced a genuinely novel aerodynamic system, while the Aventador S tackled the V12 flagship's long-standing handling character through mechanical means.
The Performante's ALA system at work
Lamborghini's ALA aero-vectoring system can open the flap on one side of the rear wing independently during a corner, reducing downforce on the inside rear wheel while maintaining full downforce on the loaded outside wheel.
Four-wheel steering transforms the Aventador
The Aventador S's rear wheels turn opposite to the fronts at low speeds, effectively shortening its turning circle and making a V12 flagship feel agile in tight corners and city driving.
The Shanghai market statement
The simultaneous debut carried a clear message: Chinese customers would receive the same products and priority as European or American buyers.
A technology validated by rivals
The Aventador S's four-wheel steering validated a technology that competing brands adopted more aggressively in the years that followed, confirming Lamborghini's instinct was correct.
The technology pipeline opens
Both approaches fed directly into later models like the Aventador SVJ and the Huracán STO, making the dual premiere the opening chapter of a technology pipeline that still influences Lamborghini today.
The Aventador's brutal character
Owners on enthusiast forums describe the Aventador S as more brutal and less of a daily driver than the lighter Huracán variants, and that rawness is precisely the point for a certain kind of buyer.
Steering with air pressure
ALA creates an aerodynamic yaw moment that supplements the mechanical grip of the tires, effectively steering the car with air pressure like a differential that operates above the car rather than between the axles.
EGO mode and configurable dynamics
The Aventador S's four-wheel steering works in concert with its four-wheel-drive system and a new EGO driving mode that allows owners to independently configure steering, suspension, and powertrain responses.
The entry points on the Shanghai stand
The Huracán RWD Coupé and RWD Spyder rounded out the display with naturally aspirated V10 power, rear-wheel-drive dynamics, and convertible appeal, covering the entry points into the Lamborghini range.
The lasting legacy of Shanghai 2017
ALA proved active aerodynamics could be lightweight and production-viable, four-wheel steering proved a heavy flagship could gain genuine agility without losing its soul, and every Lamborghini that has followed carries their fingerprints.