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Lamborghini introduced the “world’s first Super Sport Utility Vehicle” last year with its Urus SUV. Though the majority of Urus owners rarely leave the urban jungle, Lamborghini’s former chief test driver Valentino Balboni made a video with DailyDrivenExotics showing the luxury crossover has going off the beaten path. Lamborghini used its experience with the Urus to develop the Huracán Sterrato concept, a “super sports car for challenging environments.”

The Huracán Sterrato is based on Lamborghini’s Huracan Evo supercar and uses the same 5.2-liter V-10, producing 640 horsepower. It also borrows the Evo’s four-wheel steering and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. The Italian carmaker also threw in the Evo’s Lamborghini Integrated Vehicle Dynamics (LDVI) system, which analyzes driving behavior and adapts the vehicle to respond. The Sterrato’s LDVI is tuned for rougher surfaces.

The Sterrato rides nearly 2 inches higher than the Evo. The approach angle is 1 percent steeper and the departure angle sees a 6.5-percent increase. The front and rear tracks are 1.2 inches wider. Larger fender flares accommodate 20-inch wheels wrapped in bespoke balloon tires with taller sidewalls.

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Lamborghini added underbody protection to the Sterrato, including a skid plate that doubles as a rear diffuser. A skid plate covers the aluminium reinforcements in the front frame. The side-skirts were also strengthened with aluminium. Protective composite bodywork surrounds the engine and air intakes. The mud guards are composed of a hybrid mix of carbon fiber and elastomeric resin, enhancing flexibility and strength.

A roof-mounted LED light bar and LED bumper flood lights enhance the Sterrato’s rugged looks. The Sterrato’s interior houses a titanium roll cage, four point seat belts, carbon bi-shell sports seats, and aluminium floor panels.

“The Huracán Sterrato illustrates Lamborghini’s commitment to being a future shaper: a super sports car with off-road capabilities, the Sterrato demonstrates the Huracán’s versatility and opens the door to yet another benchmark of driving emotion and performance,” Lamborghini chief technical officer Maurizio Reggiana said in a press release. “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.”

Not the first toughened Lambo

The Sterrato can trace its heritage to other Lamborghinis modified for harder driving. Lamborghini test driver and engineer Bob Wallace created the Jarama Rally in 1973, which was based on the standard Jarama. Wallace mounted the V-12 engine further back for better weight distribution. He added a steel roll cage and aluminium doors and hood. The Jarama Rally used center lock wheels and seats from the Lamborghini Miura. The Jarama Registry notes that the one-off Rally produced 380 horsepower and could go from zero to 60 miles per hour in six seconds and top out at 165 mph.

Wallace followed up with the Urraco Rally, which used a 3.0-liter V-8 engine that produced more than 310 horsepower, trumping the stock Urraco. He added a roll cage and stripped the interior. The Urraco Rally borrowed its Campagnolo magnesium wheels from the Lamborghini Jota, according to LamboPARTS.com. The chassis was stiffened and the wheel arches widened. Chin spoilers and a large adjustable wing helped keep the car glued to the road.

Lamborghini assaulted the automotive landscape in 1986 with its LM002 truck. The “Rambo Lambo” was an evolution of the Cheetah and LM001 prototypes, neither of which saw production. The Countach’s V-12 powered the LM002, sending 444 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels. It weighed nearly 7,000 pounds and went from zero to 62 mph less than eight seconds, onto a top speed of 130 mph.

Lamborghini produced 301 examples of the LM002 from 1986 to 1992.