It’s a great time to be a supercar enthusiast, as we’re seeing only the sixth new Lamborghini V12 in the last six decades. This is the replacement for the Aventador, it’s the new flagship for the raging bull, and it’s Sant’Agata Bolognese’s first full hybrid, but it’s a far cry from your mother’s Prius .
Yes, you read that right: V12 . Lamborghini looked at all the other manufacturers who were downsizing their engines and adding turbos to make them more efficient and environmentally friendly, and simply said “… no.” This is a rebadged version of the V12 from the Aventador, so you still have the big 6.5L block of metal behind the seats, but there are some important differences.First there are 12 angry bulls rampaging around behind you who are backing up because the engine has turned 180 degrees around. This is so the new hybrid-enhanced, dual-clutch eight-speed transmission can sit in line with the rear wheels. It also frees up space up front, where the transmission used to be, to place the Revuelto’s hybrid battery low and center.
The second is that the V12 engine currently only has around 814 horsepower and 535 lbs-ft of torque, making it Lamborghini’s most powerful road-going engine to date. It is much more powerful than the Aventador Ultimae version, which only has a meager 780 horsepower.
That engine comes with a trio of electric motors, two of which sit on the car’s centerline at the front and drive each wheel, with the third top-mounted but integrated with the transmission at the rear. Each of these engines can deliver 148 horsepower, and since the V12 is only mounted to the rear wheels, the Revuelto’s AWD is powered by the hybrid in front and a loud scream of anger in the middle.The motor mounted on the transmission is responsible for providing torque when shifting gears, while also acting as a generator to charge the backup battery. The two front motors operate independently, allowing torque vectoring to keep the car moving quickly and consistently at every apex it approaches.
When running in combination in Corsa mode, the V12 and triple hybrid powerplant deliver 1,001 HP , in a very Italian way. “No, we can’t have a thousand! We need a thousand and one! ” You can also run the car in “City” mode, which runs purely EV and has just 178 horsepower from the two front hybrid motors.Speaking of that loud stuff, it’s on full display. No engine cover here, thank you!
There are plenty of active aerodynamic details below and above the bodywork, which is why Lamborghini has moved the exhaust to a position just below the wing. That allows the large diffuser to take up all the space needed, while not obstructing the pop-up vane.For now, let’s just say that we’re glad that despite having sensible German parents who are concerned with efficiency and electrification, the Lamborghini still runs around banging pots and pans together. You can read more about their specific form of madness here.
