Lamborghini Revuelto (2023): Electrified Bull

Slowly but surely, the bull is making its digital nest. After resisting, Lamborghini is giving in, somewhat, to the demands of reducing greenhouse gases. The new Revuelto indeed adopts three electric motors in addition to its fabulous V12.

It’s a true revolution for the firm of Sant’Agata Bolognese: the arrival of a hybrid powertrain under the hood of a Lamborghini, well after its main competitors Porsche and Ferrari. But for Lamborghini, mechanical pleasure comes above all else.

The heart of the Revuelto remains a fabulous 6.5-liter V12 whose weight has decreased by 17 kg (still 218 planned). Good news for audiophiles, it remains atmospheric and will therefore not be “polluted” by forced induction during acceleration. Its power already commands respect with 825 horsepower (i.e., 127 hp/liter) and 725 Nm of torque. For tifosi, a detail matters. Its maximum rev limit is now raised to 9,500 rpm, compared to 8,750 rpm for the previous Aventador, which is retiring after a well-deserved career that began in 2011.

The engineers then added no less than three electric motors to this kettle (110 kW power at the front and 220 kW at the rear). The combined power then jumps to 1,015 horsepower. But to integrate all these parts, engineers had to resort to bold solutions, such as the transverse placement of the dual-clutch 8-speed gearbox. Such a machine can only truly be exploited on a circuit, where it can do 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds, 200 km/h in 7.0 seconds, and reach 350 km/h. Finally, although Lamborghini makes no mention of the total weight, the Bologna manufacturer reveals one figure: a power-to-weight ratio of 1.75 hp/kg… which suggests a dry weight of 1772 kg (44-56% front/rear). We’ve seen more graceful Italians.

Hybrid and Plug-in

To power the electric motors, there is a 3.8 kWh battery that allows for 100% electric mode in town, where its power will be limited to 180 horsepower. According to Lamborghini, electric-only range in the city would be between 10 and 20 km. And this Revuelto has the smart idea of being a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and can recharge via a 7 kW charging station or a domestic socket. One last trick allows it to be recharged while driving: a mode uses the V12 as a generator to fill the battery in just 6 minutes. Apart from this, the Italian might show a 30% reduction in emissions compared to the Aventador. Regarding the chassis, and to counteract the adverse effects of weight, it’s surprising that rear-wheel steering is absent.

As for the rest, the style should not shock purists. The look is superb and distinctive, making it a worthy successor to the Countach, Diablo, Murciélago, or Aventador, adopting the brand’s new aggressive aesthetic signature with a furrowed look and Y-shaped daytime running lights, new central exhausts, and an XXL diffuser to optimize airflow under the chassis and avoid the need for an unsightly wing (at least initially, before more extreme versions appear…). The massive 265/30ZR21 wheels at the front and 355/25ZR22 at the rear complete the spectacle and house carbon-ceramic brake discs measuring 410 and 390 mm in diameter, respectively! A legendary detail: the doors remain scissor-style to access an interior where ergonomics have never been so carefully designed for a V12 model in the brand’s history. The price? It should be around 400,000 euros, with first deliveries expected at the end of 2023.