Lamborghini has revealed its long-awaited successor to the Aventador supercar, and it's a mid-engined V12 plug-in hybrid with a towering 1,015hp.
Scrambled eggs?
Now, before we go any further, we should deal with the name. This is the Revuelto, and more than a few internet wags have pointed out that this translates, from Spanish, as 'scrambled'. As in eggs. We're pretty sure Lamborghini was reaching for a slightly nuanced meaning of the word - restless. Maybe not. Maybe it is all about eggs.
Whatever it does mean, the Revuelto's mechanical specification is as mouth-watering as a plate of freshly cooked eggs, with butter, chives, a dash of salt, and... is anyone else hungry? [That's quite enough of that. Ed.]
The Revuelto is Lamborghini's first plug-in hybrid car, combining the efforts of a naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine with three electric motors, one of which is integrated into the new double-clutch eight-speed gearbox. This is mounted transversely and placed for the first time behind the combustion engine. In what has been the transmission tunnel since the days of the legendary Countach, there is a lithium-ion battery instead, which powers the electric motors.
Obviously, this being a Lambo, the electric motors are there to boost the car's power output up to that magic 1,000hp+ figure, but they also mean that it can drive for short bursts on full-electric power, and it has official emissions some 30 per cent lower than that of the old Aventador.
Indeed, in its 60th anniversary year, Lamborghini is hailing the Revuelto as "the very first High Performance Electrified Vehicle - HPEV." The 12-cylinder engine weighs just 218kg and puts out 825hp at 9,250rpm - your spine and scalp had better be set to full 'tingle' for that. Specific power is 127 CV per litre, the highest output in the history of Lamborghini's 12-cylinder engines, while maximum torque is 725Nm at 6,750 rpm.
Lamborghini says that the engine's combustion and fuel injection have both been improved, compared to the Aventador, and that "particular attention has been lavished on the 'soundtrack' of the new L545 engine to emphasise the tone of the engine, already melodious at low revs and then rising to a natural harmonious crescendo."
V12 and three electric motors
The V12, and the electric motor stuffed into the gearbox, power the rear wheels, while up front, there's a pair of electric motors that power the fronts. Those motors can each produce 350Nm of torque at maximum output, meaning that, in theory, this Lambo can deploy as much as 1,400Nm at any one time. The two electric motors at the front are oil-cooled axial flux units and offer an exceptional weight-to-power ratio: 18.5 kilograms from each of the 110 kW units. They can vector torque across the front wheels and provide e-braking to slow the Revuelto and top-up its battery.
Aside from e-brakes, there are proper brakes, too - the car features the latest generation CCB Plus (Carbon Ceramic Brakes Plus). The front calipers with ten pistons instead of six are combined with 410x38mm discs (in place of the previous 400x38mm of the old Aventador Ultimae); at the rear are four-piston calipers and 390x32mm discs (in place of the previous 380x38mm). The discs are covered by a friction layer for better performance, thermal management and acoustic comfort when braking.
That battery has a small 3.9kWh capacity, and you can charge it up in just half an hour or thereabouts. Lambo doesn't yet quote an all-electric range, but it's clearly not going to be much. Probably as little as 10km.
Performance, though? Oh boy. The top speed is pitched above 350km/h, while the 0-100km/h is a mere 2.5 seconds, which must surely be bumping up against the physical limits of the tyres - bespoke Potenza Sports from Bridgestone.
The dual-clutch eight-speed gearbox is located at the back of the engine, mounted transversely across the car - the first time that Lambo has used that layout in a road car since the 1966 Miura. The double-clutch gearbox is extremely compact; just 560mm long, 750mm wide and 580mm high. The total weight is just 193kg, which includes a new component fundamental to the car's hybrid architecture: the rear electric motor, with a maximum power of 110kW and peak torque of 150Nm.
Located above the gearbox, this electric motor doubles as the starter motor and generator, as well as supplying energy to the front electric motors via the battery in the transmission tunnel. In full-electric mode, it can also provide power to the rear wheels that, in addition to the e-motors driving the front wheels, allows electric four-wheel drive. How the system functions depends on which driving mode is engaged, thanks to an uncoupling mechanism with a dedicated synchronizer allowing the connection to the double-clutch gearbox. When it provides additional power to the V12 internal combustion engine, the electric motor is in the P3 position, separated from the gearbox, while it moves into the P2 position to recharge the battery at low speeds and when parked, also serving as a starter motor.
In the P3 position, the Revuelto can become an electric four-wheel drive car, depending on the drive mode selected, continuing Lamborghini's four-wheel drive tradition even in electric mode. Reverse gear is actually provided by the two front electric motors, although if extra momentum is needed the rear electric motor can also kick in, which activates the rear axle and wheels. As a result, the Revuelto can drive all four wheels in electric mode even when reversing in low grip conditions.
All-carbon chassis
The chassis for the Revuelto is all-new, and Lamborghini actually refers to it as a 'monofuselage.' It's made of carbon fibre and features a front structure in Forged Composites, a special material made of short carbon fibres soaked in resin. Lamborghini developed and used this technology in its first structural applications as far back as 2008. What's more, the Revuelto is the first super sports car to be fitted with a 100 per cent carbon fibre front structure: carbon fibre is also used for the front cone structures to ensure a level of energy absorption that is significantly higher when compared to a traditional metal structure - double that of the Aventador's aluminium front frame - combined with a substantial reduction in weight.
The upshot is a chassis that's ten per cent lighter than that of an Aventador but 25 per cent stiffer. Aerodynamic efficiency was obviously key, and the Revuelto combines, says Lambo, high downforce and minimised drag.
The rear wing automatically adjusts and sits in its lowest position to minimise drag for high-speed runs and improve fuel economy when you're not at such high speeds. The front splitter has a radial edge which spills turbulent air out beyond the wheels, while the change of engine and gearbox layout has allowed for a more aggressive underbody diffuser for high-speed downforce and stability. Lamborghini reckons that the Revuelto has 33 per cent more front downforce and 74 per cent more rear downforce than an Aventador. Even the door handles play a part, deflecting air coming off the bonnet into the rear radiator inlet, while the carbon-fibre roof has a subtle wing-element shape baked into it which helps tidy up the airflow over the top of the car.
While a Lamborghini is all about driving thrills, the Revuelto has some advanced driver aids built into it. The electric drive elements mean that Lambo has been able to create a new electronic control system called the Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo 2.0. This includes new driving modes - Recharge, Hybrid and Performance, combined with the Città (City), Strada, Sport and Corsa - and you get such humble-car niceties as lane departure warning, adaptive cruise, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive headlights.
The cabin has a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8.4-inch infotainment screen, which even includes Amazon Alexa integration. The Squadra Corse race cars have inspired the steering wheel, and all the systems can be updated with over-the-air software.
"The new Revuelto is a milestone in the history of Lamborghini and an important pillar in our Direzione Cor Tauri electrification strategy," said Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini Chairman and CEO. It is a unique and innovative car but at the same time faithful to our DNA: the V12 is an iconic symbol of our super sports heritage and history. Revuelto was born to break the mold, combining a new 12-cylinder engine with hybrid technology, creating the perfect balance between delivering the emotion that our clients want with the necessity to reduce emissions."