A frozen lake and a number of other Lamborghinis present classes on traction management

From the passenger seat of my Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato, 24 Hours of Daytona winner Corey Lewis provides me a “decelerate” hand gesture, urging me to keep away from an Urus high-centered on a snow financial institution. I resist the infantile impulse to blast by at full throttle and spray the restoration crew with a recent layer of snow as a result of I do not wish to be the subsequent driver to trigger a scene. As soon as we cross the group, I punch it once more, countersteering into a large drift as my studded Blizzak winter tires shred by way of snow and ice, exhaust huge open and barking at redline, cranking by way of a sequence of left-right-left transitions till we come again round to the caught SUV.

Lewis and I each snicker—everyone spins not less than as soon as whereas ice-drifting Lamborghinis on Lake Catchima north of Montreal, which performed host in February to North America’s Esperienza Neve winter driving academy. This 12 months, Lamborghini invited prospects out to tear up the pristine Canadian winterscape in three Sterratos, 4 Uruses, and two rear-wheel-drive Huracán Tecnicas—all informed, about $3 million value of automobiles.

Drifting in six-figure Lambos would possibly make anybody a bit nervous. Within the managed setting of a 30-inch (762 mm)-thick ice sheet, although, the implications are minimal (there are bruised egos each time anyone loses management and desires a tow, in fact). A lot energy on the slip-and-slide instantly exposes driver talent—or lack thereof—regardless of 400 studs per tire on the Huracáns and 300 per tire on the Uruses offering grip and confidence. Even for a driver as skilled as Lewis, ice-drifting nonetheless has its worth. For the mere mortals amongst us, all of the extra so.

“In the true world, usually, you do not have the chance to type of take a look at the boundaries of what understeer and oversteer really really feel like,” Lewis defined as we took a break on the frozen lake. “It makes you simply an all-around extra managed driver on the road, whether or not it is combined situations, freeway driving, backroads, or emergency avoidance. I actually imagine that occasions like these are an enormous assist for individuals. Plus, it is enjoyable, too.”

I traveled to Lake Catchima hoping to get in on the enjoyable, however I additionally hoped to study extra about how fashionable driver’s aids make the present crop of unbelievably highly effective supercars approachable for “common” homeowners. So, for my first spherical on a coned-off figure-eight, I fiddled with the assorted drive modes on an Urus Performante.

With TC and ESC totally activated, the super-SUV fortunately cruises round at tamer speeds. Begin to flip the steering wheel, nonetheless, and the nannies rein in energy to forestall tire spin and slides—security first, presumably to assist drivers keep away from ditches and berms whereas shuttling the household as much as Zermatt or Aspen.

Switching into Rally mode and toggling ESC off completely allowed me to modulate steering and throttle inputs with out the computer systems stepping in to forestall slides. And the 4,740-lb (2150 kg) SUV carried out admirably, hooking up the entrance tires in reverse lock but additionally shifting weight round predictably once I lifted off the throttle. The sensations modified up completely within the Sterrato, because of the distinctive energy and steadiness made attainable by the naturally aspirated, mid-mounted V10.

After I switched to a rear-wheel-drive Tecnica, I may solely handle a couple of circles earlier than spinning out—fortunately, I by no means wanted assist to get again underway. It was one other lesson realized, although, about progressive and regular inputs finally resulting in smoother donuts.

The most important shock? Even within the deprived Tecnica, driving on snow with TC and ESC turned on remained completely attainable with out an excessive amount of tail-happy squirrelliness. Certain, the tire studs helped, however bear in mind, it is a 640-hp (477 kW) supercar. To study extra about how precisely traction management and digital stability management allowed your entire supercar trade to show up the wick with out frequently risking lives and limbs, I spoke with Lamborghini CTO Rouven Mohr in regards to the evolution of the very nannies that so many automotive critiques frequently bemoan.

“For our product vary, we are able to for certain say the Urus is probably the most used of our automobiles to go on a winter vacation or to go snowboarding,” Mohr mentioned. “However from the event perspective, each automotive in our product vary is operating the total set of winter take a look at classes. This implies not less than two winters, so we begin one winter with the essential calibration after which now we have the affirmation with the second winter.”