Skip to main content

Lamborghini makes an offering to Pope Francis — a Huracán LP580-2

lamborghini gifts huracn lp580 2 to pope francis for charity 2017  digitaltrends gets a huracan 12
‘Tis the season for giving thanks and counting our blessings as we approach Thanksgiving week here in America, only to transition into the holiday month for more blessings thereafter. And so it’s rather fitting that Lamborghini blessed Pope Francis with a one-off rear-wheel-drive Huracán LP580-2 coupe so that he could donate it to charity.

Due to be auctioned off at RM Sotheby’s on May 12, 2018, His Holiness confirmed that all proceeds will be donated to various organizations around the world.

The proceeds will be donated to the reconstruction of the Nineveh Plain in Iraq, provided by the Pontifical Foundation “Aiuto alla Chiesa che Soffre,” or Aid to the Church in Need. The Nineveh Plain in Iraq is a region perceived as a refuge for Assyrian Christians in Iraq, as after focused attacks in August of 2004, the city was left in shambles. Over the years, the region has been battered by armed political conflicts. Now, the Pontifical Foundation seeks to help rebuild.

Recommended Videos

The Pope John XXII Community will also receive a portion of the donation, an organization dedicated to helping women who are victims of heinous crimes like human trafficking; and two Italy-based activist groups who help with various projects providing for underprivileged individuals throughout Africa.

The special rear-wheel drive Lamborghini Huracán itself is painted to pay tribute to the colors of the Vatican City. Its hue is specifically named Bianco Monocerus with Giallo Tiberino, compliments of Lamborghini’s “Ad Personam” customization division. Ad Personam is to Lamborghini as BMW Individual is to BMW or designo is to Mercedes-Benz.

Otherwise, it’s still a Huracán, with a monstrous naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 with 572 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission it can hit 62 miles per hour in just 3.4 seconds for a top speed of 198 mph. We doubt Pope Francis himself would make full use of this blistering speed potential. But it’s still entertaining to imagine the Pope himself hooning a near-600 horsepower supercar.

Instead, the Vatican City is all about trying to be CO2 production-free and thus, the Pontiff himself gets around in an upgraded Opel Ampera-e, which is Europe’s version of the Chevrolet Volt. Previously, Pope Francis was seen being transported around the United States in a Fiat 500L, while his personal car was a 1984 Renault 4 with around 190,000 miles on it, gifted to the Pope from a priest in Verona, Italy.

This is also not the first time the Pope was gifted a vehicle to auction off for charity. Back in 2014, Harley-Davidson gave a Super Dyna Glide to the Pope, who auctioned it off for $327,000. Ferrari gifted the final Enzo supercar to the Pope as well.

Chris Chin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Since picking up his first MicroMachine, Chris Chin knew his passion for automobiles was embedded into his soul. Based in…
These new NASA EVs will drive astronauts part way to the moon (sort of)
NASA's new crew transportation electric vehicles.

Three specially designed, fully electric, environmentally friendly crew transportation vehicles for Artemis missions arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week. The zero-emission vehicles, which will carry astronauts to Launch Complex 39B for Artemis missions, were delivered by Canoo Technologies of Torrance, California. NASA/Isaac Watson

NASA has shown off a trio of new all-electric vehicles that will shuttle the next generation of lunar astronauts to the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center.

Read more
5 upcoming EVs I’m excited for, from luxury SUVs to budget champions
Lotus Eletre

Almost every major automaker has released an EV by now -- or plans to soon -- and makers like Ford and Kia already have a variety to choose from. But if you haven't found one that's right for you yet, hang tight. There are dozens of announced electric car models that have yet to come out, and it's clear that the future of EVs is bright.

From longer range to lower prices, the next batch of EVs gives us plenty to get excited about. Here are five upcoming EVs that we can't wait to drive.
Volvo EX30

Read more
Tesla shows off first Cybertruck after two years of delays
The first Cybertruck built at Tesla's Giga Texas facility.

The first Cybertruck built at Tesla's Giga Texas facility. Tesla

Tesla has shown off the first Cybertruck to roll off the production line at its new Gigafactory plant in Austin, Texas.

Read more