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Lamborghini has unveiled the plug-in hybrid replacement for the iconic Huracan at the Monterey Car Week 2024. Called the Lamborghini Temerario, the supercar is the company's third hybrid following the Revuelto and the Urus SE. It has a new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and three e-motors (two on the front axle and one placed between the engine and gearbox), which produces a total output of 907bhp. The new V8 produces 778bhp and 730Nm on its own, with a rev limit of 10,000rpm. It comes with a dual-clutch transmission that distributes power to all four wheels. The electric motor, on the other hand, produces 146bhp and 300Nm. The vehicle is fitted with a 3.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Performance-wise, the supercar has a top speed of over 340km/h and a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 2.7 seconds. Read on for more details on the new hybrid from Lamborghini.
Lambo’s chief technical officer Rouven Mohr says: “With the V8, the amplitude and frequency of the sound increase as the engine speed rises.” He adds: “Drivers will be roused by the powerful sound.”
The Temerario is the second example of a Lamborghini ‘High Performance Electrified Vehicle’ (HPEV), after the Revuelto, and it’s a plug-in hybrid. Three electric motors boost the performance, with each unit producing 148bhp. The first is integrated into the V8 engine housing, and it sits between that powerplant and the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It contributes 300Nm of torque, and can deliver this at any time to minimise turbo lag, as well as acting as a starter-generator.
The other two electric motors are based on a front e-axle that weighs a mere 73kg. They can deliver all of their 295bhp if required, or up to 2,150Nm of torque, making the Temerario four-wheel drive – and the torque can be vectored across the axle to assist handling agility. The total output of this complex drivetrain is 920PS, or 907bhp – enough, the Italian supercar manufacturer claims, for a top speed in excess of 210mph, and a 0-62mph acceleration time of 2.7 seconds.
The gearbox is based behind the V8, freeing up space in the centre tunnel for a 3.8kWh battery. This modest capacity reveals that the cell’s focus is purely to support the Temerario’s extra performance instead of any electric-only running, although Lamborghini says the car can operate in zero-emissions mode, and that its CO2 output is up to 50 per cent lower than that of the Huracan. The battery can be replenished directly by the V8, or via a 7kW domestic charger.
The gearbox itself is lighter than the seven-speed unit from the Huracan, and it offers greater flexibility because of the e-motor integration. Lambo claims rapid shift times, and drivers will be able to sequentially downshift by holding the left steering wheel-mounted paddle and pressing the brake pedal, simultaneously.
A total of 13 driving modes are offered, selectable via rotary controllers on the steering wheel. Some are dedicated to managing the hybrid energy flow; for example, ‘Recharge’ cuts the powertrain’s output to 715bhp to allow the car to focus on topping up the battery. ‘Corsa’, on the other hand, unleashes the full 907bhp and harnesses torque vectoring and more aggressive gearshifts. There’s also a Launch Control system and a Drift Mode – another first for Lamborghini.
The body shape is an evolution of Lamborghini’s recent mid-engined styling language. Described by the brand’s design chief Mitja Borkert as “essential and iconic”, it incorporates a new daytime-running light signature with further use of geometric hexagonal motifs. There’s a fixed rear spoiler and a wide diffuser, while the tail-lights allow air to pass through, helping to cool the complex powertrain that’s permanently on show beneath the transparent engine cover.
Inside, there’s a trio of displays on the dashboard: two for the driver (a 12.3-inch instrument panel and an 8.4-inch screen for infotainment), and one 9.1-inch unit directly in front of the passenger. The software can also hook into the optional Lamborghini Vision Unit (LVU) camera set-up, to offer a safety-focused dash cam and what Lambo calls a “memories recorder”, mixing video with lap telemetry.
The cabin should be a little more usable than the Huracan’s, with more head and legroom, as well as improved visibility. There’s a small amount of storage space behind the seats, and the main front boot has a capacity of 112 litres – around 12 litres more than in the Huracan.
Lamborghini says the new model will offer far greater scope for customisation than before. The car is being launched with two new specific colours, but 400-plus shades will be available, along with special liveries and various wheel designs. A range of carbon-fibre elements – from the front splitter and side-mirror caps, to the instrument cluster, air vents and steering wheel, will also be offered.
In another first for Lamborghini, a lightweight package will be available at launch. The Alleggerita set-up shaves more than 12kg from the car’s weight through lighter body components alone, and this gain can be increased to more than 25kg if specific interior trim and carbon-fibre wheel rims are also specced. The new configuration further increases the improvements in rear downforce compared with the Huracan Evo.
There’s no word yet on pricing for the Temerario, but given the complex technologies involved, and based on the price hike of the Revuelto compared with the car it replaced, we’d expect an increase over the Huracan’s figures. That could give the new arrival a starting price of between £275,000 and £300,000.
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