K-SWAP THE WORLD! HERE'S A K20-POWERED LAMBORGHINI HURACáN SUPER TROFEO EVO FROM THAILAND.
Honda’s K20 powerplant has become a legendary choice for engine swaps, especially among builders looking for a powerful, reliable, and mod-friendly option. First introduced in the early 2000s, the K20 has earned its reputation as a top-tier engine for its engineering excellence, performance potential, and adaptability. The K20 features a lightweight and durable aluminium block and head, it can rev to 8,000 RPM and beyond with the right mods, has an abundance of aftermarket parts and upgrades, is relatively affordable if you’re a larney type, and it just loves to be boosted properly. The K20 responds exceptionally well to turbocharging and supercharging. With forged internals and proper tuning, it can handle upwards of 500 hp on stock blocks, and with built internals, figures over 1,000 hp are not uncommon. If boost isn’t your thang, they also do well in normally aspirated guise - high-comp pistons, aggressive camshafts, and ITBs can turn the K20 into a high-revving monster, pushing well over 200 kW. The “Frankenstein” K20/K24 hybrid combines the K20’s high-flow head with the larger displacement K24 block, creating a torque-heavy setup with incredible power potential. We’ve seen K20s appear in everything from a Lotus Exige to a Mini Cooper S to the Stanceworks Ferrari 308, but this one found by Edd Ellison in Thailand is quite possibly the maddest - even though the K20 used is only mildly tuned. There’s a reason though - reliability - something that Honda powerplants are renowned for. PSC Motorsport, Thailand’s leading Lamborghini racing specialists has fitted a stock Honda K20C (sourced from a Honda Civic FK8 Type R) into a Lamborghini Super Trofeo EVO.
The concept is to allow it to fit into the regulations of Thailand’s biggest and longest race, the annual 25-Hour Endurance Race next year. The new car recently had its shakedown test at Buriram’s Chang International Circuit and that’s where Ellison got to take a closer look at it in the garage afterwards the track testing was done. The idea of ditching an Italian V10 engine for a small-capacity Japanese mill with VTEC sounds like sacrilege, but as with most projects like this, there’s a method to the madness. Under Thailand’s local regulations, the Lamborghini would not have been able to compete in the endurance race in its original Huracan Super Trofeo Evo guise, as the V10 isn’t allowed. PSC Motorsport decided to replace the Italian lump with one of the most popular engines for transplants in recent years, the now iconic Honda K20. In this case, it’s the turbocharged 2.0 litre K20C as seen in the FK8 Honda Civic Type R. In this setup, the K20 is mostly stock but there is a new top-mount cooler with a roof scoop directing air over the fins, a larger intake and some ECU tuning. An impressive part of the build is that the chaps at PSC have managed to mate the Japanese 4-banger to the Lamborghini’s original 6-speed Xtrac sequential transmission. The engine is good for around 257 kW and 500 Nm of torque at the rear wheels thanks to the bigger-than-stock turbo. In OEM-guise, this specific K20 is rated at 235 kW with 420 Nm of torque. The Hondaghini features custom carbon fibre bodywork with aerodynamic upgrades that make the Huracan Super Trofeo Evo’s already big aero even more intense. The oversized components include a massive rear wing on swan neck mounts and a large carbon fibre diffuser with a matching gigantic front splitter. Sure, it’s missing that signature V10 soundtrack, but it still sounds great and most importantly, it will definitely be more reliable in this spec. Also, that V10 could be sold off and the money would keep the Super Trofeo powered by Honda for many years to come. Long live the Hondaghini!
Take a look at the YouTube video from when the insane Hondaghini was taken to a track for a shakedown run after it's Honda K20C engine swap to make it reliable for a 25-hour endurance race coming up in 2025: Meet HONDAGHINI! The World's First Honda Powered Lamborghini ... Built To Win A 25 Hour Race! | Edd Ellison
Be sure to check out our YouTube channel here for more exciting and exclusive SXdrv content! And don't forget to smash that subscribe button!
Article Tags:
News Hondaghini SXdrv Super Trofeo EVO Thailand Lamborghini Honda K Swap the World K20