Few supercars rev to 10,000rpm. Not even the Ferrari 12Cilindri or Porsche 911 GT3 RS spin the cogs to such a dizzy level. Even the 1,001bhp Lamborghini Revuelto falls short of those numbers.
So why has the Italian marque decided its replacement for the acclaimed Huracan should only hit the red line when the rev counter clicks over five digits?
“The Temerario is a genuine fuoriclasse – a car in a league of its own,” says Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Lamborghini.
“Every new Lamborghini must surpass its forerunners in performance terms, while at the same time being more sustainable from an emissions standpoint. With Temerario, we have completed a key chapter in our electrification strategy, becoming the first luxury automotive brand to offer a completely hybridised range.”
Not that difficult when your range only consists of three high performance cars but there’s another more exhilarating reason – which is why square mile has travelled to the Estoril circuit in Portugal for the very first drive of Sant’Agata’s latest masterpiece.
Autódromo Fernanda Pires da Silva is a challenging, 2.6-mile circuit near Lisbon that hosted the Portuguese Grand Prix from 1984-96. Ayrton Senna scored his first victory on this track. Niki Lauda won his final championship here in 1984. Any failings in the Temerario’s sophisticated drivetrain will surely be revealed in the heat of an Iberian afternoon.
Lamborghini enthusiasts who loved the Huracan’s screaming V10 – the same 5.2-litre lump applied to the Audi R8 – will likely be the first to voice any misgivings. Although the Temerario’s rear-mounted, 4.0-litre V8 is smaller, it does boast a secret weapon. The twin-turbo engine alone produces 789bhp but some clever electrification then boosts overall power to a mammoth 907bhp, rocketing the car from 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds.
Just like Lamborghini’s £450,000 Revuelto – its flagship model first revealed in 2023 – what makes this high-revving Temerario so special on track is what happens when you add those three electric motors to the mix.
Thanks to a 3.8kWh battery pack, the three motors also allow the Temerario to be driven short distances purely on electricity. It’s a plug-in supercar too – expect a slightly surreal experience arriving at a public charging station in a Lamborghini.
Of course, battery power in this instance has nothing to do with economy and everything to do with performance. In a straight line, Temerario is ridiculously fast, covering a quarter mile in 10.3 seconds and racing on to a top speed of 213mph.
But that’s only half the story because the Temerario shows significant aerodynamic improvements compared to its predecessor. The stats show a 103 per cent increase in downforce over the Huracan, a figure that rises to a massive 158 per cent with the optional Alleggerita Pack.
On track, the Temerario carries incredible speed through the corners, largely thanks to the aerodynamic wizardry. That includes a new torque-vectoring front axle set-up, underbody vortex generators and an active rear diffuser.
Agile, stable and easy to handle, throttle response is precise and there’s absolutely no turbo-lag, while carbon ceramic brakes help prepare for fast exits from every turn. The entry-level Lambo has great shift speed through the gears, with even more to spare as it reaches 186mph over the finish line.
If that’s not enough to set the pulse racing, the Temerario has no less than 13 drive modes to suit all skill sets. Citta, Strada, Sport and Corsa are core but they can be blended with different energy settings too. However, most talked about is the new Drift mode, which will slide you sideways in thrilling fashion. Probably best saved for track days, though.
And what about sound? The Huracan’s screaming V10 was legendary. Many feared the Temerario’s hybridised powertrain would lose some of that magic.
It’s certainly different, and the V8 only starts to roar at around 7,000rpm. However, designers have come up with a ‘cheat’ by simply amplifying engine noise into the cockpit. Dropping down through the eight-speed, dual-clutch gearbox, there is still a pleasing sound from the exhaust pipe. And the Temerario’s power boost over the Huracan will surely make up for any missing aural fireworks.
It looks great too – more aggressive than the Huracan, if that’s possible, with Lamborghini’s trademark hexagonal design even making an appearance on the huge exhaust pipe.
“First glance suggests a futuristic car with agile and compact proportions,” explains chief designer, Mitja Borkert. “Temerario definitely marks a new milestone in our design. There’s a clear view of the V8 engine, the emotional heart of the car, while the interior follows our ‘feel-like-a-pilot’ ethos.”
That includes Lamborghini’s red, flip-top starter button carried over from previous models and originally borrowed from a fighter jet, plus a centre dashboard arrangement shaped like an alien mask.
The futuristic cabin has a real sense of occasion, with more head and legroom than the Huracan, comfortably supportive seats for the sharpest of hairpins, and Lamborghini’s latest infotainment system.
Fast laps can be recorded through the Lamborghini Vision Unit (LAVU), which uses three cameras and can be replayed via the brand’s Unica app, or on the 8.4-inch central instrument cluster. A 9.1-inch passenger display keeps co-pilots entertained, while the driver can focus on a 12.3-inch instrument binnacle.
The latter includes a digital tachometer, vital on high-speed circuits like Estoril in a car capable of huge revs. Trying to squeeze the last drop of performance requires a driver to reassess when to change up a gear, holding out all the way to 10,000rpm.
Get it right and the Temerario is an absolutely thrilling drive. More fun, more agile and a lot faster than the Huracan, Lamborghini has replaced one icon with another incredible car. However, you will have to pay considerably more to own one.
The base model starts at around £260,000, compared to the £200,000 Huracan. A racetrack to fully explore those 10,000 revs might prove handy too.
See more at lamborghini.com
