Final 12 months throughout Monterey Automobile Week, Lamborghini unveiled the Huracán supercar’s extremely anticipated successor, which is able to function the ultimate step in a broader hybrid technique that started with the flagship Revuelto and Urus SUV. Dubbed the Temerario, the brand new mannequin earned rapid protection largely due to the borderline unbelievable stats of that hybrid powertrain, highlighted by a twin-turbo V8 that may rev to 10,000 rpm. Alongside three electrical motors borrowed from the Revuelto, mixed output peaks at an absurd 907 horsepower.
Nearly a 12 months later, the time lastly arrived for media to preview the Temerario in a dynamic launch program held at Estoril Circuit, the former F1 and MotoGP racetrack in Portugal. With an extended entrance straight and a number of other tough, technical turns, Estoril served as the proper place to point out off the Temerario’s all-out energy and fascinating efficiency, plus a few of the nifty drifting and launch management options that superior all-wheel-drive hybrid tech make doable.
Setting a New Private Prime Velocity Report
Even earlier than climbing right into a Temerario, as I slipped on a head scarf and helmet, echoes off the grandstand hinted on the enjoyable forward. EU emissions laws dictate using gasoline particulate filters, so the V8 sadly lacks the high-end thrill of a Huracán V10 or a Revuelto V12, however the sheer tempo because the earlier drive group whipped by nonetheless sounded unmistakable.
Quickly sufficient, I came upon myself, after a primary sighting lap that I spent warming up the tires and acclimating to the monitor structure. By the point I let unfastened onto the entrance straight, full EV and internal-combustion energy working collectively in an understated concerto, I glanced down on the speedometer and spied 301 kph – or 187 mph, adequate to set a brand new private document as my highest high pace ever and finest the Corvette ZR1 that I took to 181 mph earlier this 12 months.
And we had been simply getting began. The remainder of that first stint revealed that I’d been babying the Temerario. No have to act timid right here, as a substitute Lambo’s newest and fairly presumably biggest supercar appreciates a little bit of intrepid helmsmanship, fast flicks of the sunshine steering, and heavy doses of full-throttle acceleration. After just some laps, I simply discovered and exceeded the boundaries of the Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires, the magic level the place slip-and-slide truly permits for extra pace and confidence past the sting of full traction.
I spent the remainder of the day after that first stint in a Temerario geared up with the light-weight “Alleggerita” bundle, which provides Potenza Race tires in addition to a number of carbon fiber to save lots of kilos and a titanium muffler that additional enhances the engine’s soundtrack. The Alleggeritapackage dictated slight modifications to the Temerario’s suspension tuning to deal with the extra cornering load, too. However the tires alone unlocked a complete new stage of efficiency, with extra suggestions and grip that improved the steering suggestions, clamped down the braking, and accentuated all-out grip whereas blasting again out of corners.
A lot so, that when I discovered a rhythm, the speedo ultimately topped out at 308 kph – not too far off the highest pace of 340 kph. And I left a good quantity on the desk, too, as a result of my lead-follow teacher, senior attributes and efficiency developer Mario Fasanetto, had me braking early on the finish of the entrance straight within the title of security. I determine that holding off and trusting the Temerario extra into Flip 1, I might need simply hit 315 kph.
Slipping and Sliding Round Estoril’s F1 monitor
Later within the day, Fasanetto hopped into the passenger seat to educate me via a couple of tries on the Temerario’s drift mode. Turning on drift mode requires merely pushing a button on the steering wheel, then spinning a dial to pick certainly one of three ranges: Degree 1 targets 15 levels of drift angle, Degree 2 permits for 30 levels, and Degree 3 maxes out at 40 levels.
In every mode, the Temerario’s superior traction management computations prioritize front-wheel torque vectoring by the twin electrical motors to assist allow and lengthen slides. I began out in Degree 2, and lit up the rear tires simply by initiating a fast hit of steering and throttle concurrently. However I struggled to complete the drift easily after a second or so spent sideways, and even spun out on my subsequent try.
Surprisingly, stepping as much as Degree 3 truly made the method simpler, with extra predictable throttle response and better stability over the nostril. Or perhaps apply makes good, however by the final couple of runs, Fasenetto began cheering and might need even exclaimed “Like a professional!”
Subsequent, we cruised again over to the beginning of Estoril’s entrance straight to provide launch management a go. Once more, I pushed a little bit button on the steering wheel – this time on the left of the Lambo badge – to activate the brand new mode. Then, I braked with my left foot and pushed the accelerator pedal to the ground for 2 seconds to let the V8’s 70-millimeter turbos construct enhance, till I simply stepped off the brake. All 4 tires solely chirped for a millisecond earlier than leaping ahead, because the Temerario managed to ship the type of neck-snapping acceleration usually restricted to solely right this moment’s period of highest-performance EVs.
Although the day at Estoril proved past an affordable doubt the efficiency advantages of arguably the world’s biggest V8 engine working alongside the triple e-motor setup, all of the Temerario’s fashionable tech additionally improves every day driveability, as effectively. Push the start-stop button, nonetheless beneath the purple jet fighter cowl, and the powertrain wakes up routinely into all-electric Citta mode. Although the centrally situated battery pack solely holds 3.8 kWh of electrons, the Temerario can cruise alongside for about six miles in silence.
Need softer dampers for an extended freeway journey? No drawback, change the drive mode. And Lambo will even promote extra snug seats with air flow too.Most significantly, accessing each mode from Citta quiet to full drifting enjoyable by no means will get complicated due to a simplified person interface and loads of bodily switchgear.
In contrast to, for instance, one other unbelievable Italian hybrid, the Ferrari 296 GTB – that may simply border on irritating resulting from incomprehensible haptic buttons and the shortage of a middle touchscreen. The 296 GTB delivers comparable hybrid punch, however lacks the just about limitless revving of the Temerario. And even when the elegant steering slices completely via any nook, the Ferrari additionally lacks a few of the hooligan enjoyable of Lambo’s all-wheel-drive drifter. A McLaren 750S equally sticks with RWD solely and positively advantages from McLaren’s quintessential precedence on weight financial savings. However the Temerario’s powertrain takes the cake, whereas contributing to a bit extra daily-driver confidence, as effectively.
From a design perspective, this newest Lambo continues a pattern towards classier styling that enables for extra apt comparisons to Ferraris and McLarens, to not point out pricing that may probably take abig step up from the Huracán, too. However I additionally spent loads of time at Estoril contrasting the Temerario with the 1,064-hp Corvette ZR1 that I drove earlier this 12 months, which proved that four-figure horsepower stats don’t have to price seven figures.
Lamborghini Temerario Conclusions
The Temerario’s Gallardo and Huracán lineage shines via, with loads of cues taken from Revuelto, however the gut-punch of acceleration and monitor efficiency most intently resembles the ZR1 that I examined at COTA this previous spring. Don’t even ask about Corvette design versus Lambo, although…
And be mindful, that is simply the primary Temerario variant. Lambo’s reps readily available stayed mum on potential Evo or STO monitor specials, a lot much less a Sterrato off-roader. The Temerario begins at $382,654, with the Alleggerita bundle costing $49,113. Ticking that field improves upon my essential two critiques for the automobile, the lighter steering and underwhelming exhaust observe with the bottom muffler.
Regardless, when specced correctly, the Temerario arrives as a stone-cold stunner, perhaps probably the most pleasant supercar ever to drive onerous on the restrict. Stupendous technological competence permits the Huracán’s successor to make everybody a greater driver, myself included, all from behind the scenes. And would possibly, simply presumably, even outshine the V12 Revuelto when it comes to true driving delight.
