New 2023 Lamborghini Revuelto: power, specs and technology
Lamborghini’s first plug-in hybrid is also its new V12 flagship hypercar model
To celebrate its 60th birthday, Lamborghini has given itself quite the present. This is the new Lamborghini Revuelto, the firm’s latest flagship supercar.
We’ve waited a long time for the Aventador’s replacement, but considering there’s only been five flagship Lamborghini models in the 57 years since the Miura, that’s probably not a huge surprise. Indeed, Lamborghini expects the new Revuelto to remain on sale well into the next decade.
While the new car features plenty of technological firsts for Lamborghini (the main one being the adoption of plug-in hybrid technology), it also pays tribute to the firm’s legendary line up of V12-engined supercars.
The Aventador’s long lifespan ran for 11 years, the car becoming a huge success for the firm and spawning many different versions such as the mild-hybrid Sian, the Veneno and even a new Countach. With two years of orders already filled for the Revuelto, it’s clear Sant'Agata’s new halo car will be incredibly popular. This is despite a price tag we expect to sit around the £450,000 mark - making it roughly £100,000 more than the final iteration of the Aventador, the Ultimae.
The Revuelto made its UK debut at Silverstone at the end of April, and prospective customers here can expect first deliveries from the end of the year.
Powertrain and performance
While the design is typically eye-catching, the real headline for the Revuelto is the use of plug-in hybrid power. We’re pretty well acquainted with the internal-combustion engine side, a 6.5-litre V12 similar to the Aventador, which produces 814bhp and 725Nm of torque with a rev limit increased to 9,500rpm. This is the most powerful V12 in Lamborghini’s history.
The plug-in hybrid system uses a relatively small 3.8kWh battery that sits between the occupants in what would traditionally be the transmission tunnel. The hybrid system includes three electric motors, two on the front axle and one on the rear, meaning the car’s four-wheel drive system powers the front wheels through electricity only. The three electric motors and the V12 combine for a total output of 1,001bhp.
Lamborghini has fettled its traditional layout extensively in its new model. The V12 has been rotated 180 degrees so the completely reworked eight-speed double-clutch transmission sits behind the engine for packaging purposes. The gear shift paddles can now activate ‘continuous downshifting’ by holding down the left paddle to drop multiple gears in one go.
Reverse gear is powered by the two front electric motors, although power can be bumped up if needed by the rear electric motor, too.
At the unveiling of the Revuelto, Chief Technical Officer Rouven Mohr revealed to Auto Express that the powertrain allows for “increased bandwidth of driving character, whilst being our sharpest V12 ever. The sound has improved and the reactiveness.”
Speaking of his experience in prototype versions of the car, Mohr also said the hybrid system will mean drivers can blend typical supercar thrills with the serenity of electric motoring. “It’s an extremely cool feature if you drive with this emotional high-revving sound, [then arrive at] the village, switch off, then silence. And then, in ‘stealth mode’ you run out, and then after you exit again: BAAAH! Full power!.” Mohr also mentioned it’s “so easy to drift” the Revuelto.
Lamborghini claims only six miles of electric-only motoring is possible with the Revuelto. CEO Stephan Winkleman told us that while there are sustainability benefits to the new hybrid setup, “the main aim of this car is to use the battery as an accelerator of additional power. It gives you incredible power and also very good handling behaviour for a car of this weight, which is incredible.” He also added “we want an emotional Lamborghini, a slower car can be more emotional”.
Not that the Revuelto is slow. 0-62mph is dealt with in 2.5 seconds and by the time an Abarth 595 gets to 62mph, the Revuelto is doing twice the speed. Top speed stands at over 217mph.
Weight distribution for the Reveulto stands at 44 per cent at the front and 56 per cent to the rear. Anti rolls bars are stiffened over the Ultimae’s (the last version of the Aventador) and the steering ratio is reduced by 10 per cent, so expect it to feel a little more lively. Four-wheel steering is also standard.
Lamborghini has used an aeronautics-inspired monocoque made entirely from carbon fibre for the Revuelto. The shell is called a ‘monofuselage’ it’s 10 per cent lighter than the Aventador while also having a 25 per cent stiffer torsional rigidity.
There are plenty of stand out numbers with the Revuelto’s powertrain but Lamborghini has taken the braking system to the extreme as well. Sitting on the front carbon ceramic discs are 10-pot calipers with four-pot calipers on the rear. The brake cooling system has also been redesigned for the Revuelto.
Lamborghini claims active aerodynamics also have been improved over the Aventador Ultimae. Efficiency is up 61 per cent and downforce 66 per cent thanks to the aerodynamics working together with the semi-active wishbone suspension and electronic rear wing.
There is a 30 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the Aventador Ultimae and the battery recharge speed maxes out at 7kW, meaning a full recharge will take 30 minutes - although you can recharge the battery in around four to six minutes of driving.
Design and technology
The Lamborghini Revuelto clearly builds on styling themes previewed by the limited-run Sian, with a large Y-shaped headlight signature and a sharply sculpted bonnet echoing that of the iconic Countach. If you’ve not spotted the charging cap there’s a good reason - it’s located within the front boot.
As with previous V12 Lamborghinis, the first iteration of the new model will be free of large splitters and fixed spoilers, with bewinged track-honed versions expected later in its lifecycle. Still, a scalloped area behind the front wheels will extract air from the arches to reduce lift, and gaping side vents will feed air to the mid-mounted engine.
The Y-shaped theme continues with the tail lights, which flank a pair of enormous hexagonal exhaust tips. These are mounted just below the rear deck to free up space for a larger diffuser, which will work in tandem with an active rear wing to provide stability at speed.
Bridgestone Potenza Sport tyres have been specifically developed for the Reveulto. The rims are a choice of 20-inch and 21-inch front and rear or 21-inch and 22-inch front and rear.
The interior is a step on from the Aventador and while Lamborghini says you don’t need many screens in a driver’s car, there’s a 12.3-inch screen for the driver, a 9.1-inch display on the passenger side and an 8.4-inch vertical touchscreen in the middle. Rather than Alcantara leather, the seats are clad in Lamborghini’s new ‘Corsa-Tex’ fabric, which are made of recycled polyester. The fabric can also be optioned in 70 different colours, using Lamborghini’s ‘Ad Personum’ customisation program.
The Revuelto is bigger inside than the old Aventador as well; that ‘double-bubble’ roofline not only channels air to the intakes of the engine but also allows for greater headroom (26mm more than the Aventador with 84mm more legroom). Lamborghini claims the space behind the two seats can accommodate a golf bag-sized object, while the front boot can hold two overnight bags.
Lamborghini says the Revuelto steering wheel was ‘inspired by the racing world’ and on it you’ll find four rotors which can select driving modes and utilise the car’s nose-lift system. Three new driving modes have been added in conjunction with the hybrid system. Recharge, Hybrid and Performance. In Recharge mode, it’s possible to replenish the battery while driving along for just six minutes. Hybrid mode gives you the combination of both powertrains while Performance maximises power delivery and changes the setting of the e-axle’s torque vectoring system for a sportier drive.
In addition to these three driving modes are Citta (City), Strada, Sport and the most performance-focused setting, Corsa. All the modes are selectable via the two rotor knobs on the steering wheel. Lamborghini hasn’t forgotten about launch control either. To activate it, hold down the button located in the centre of the left rotor.
Lamborghini’s future
Winkleman also spoke on Lamborghini’s future and why the firm is focusing on plug-in hybrid rather than going fully-electric. “We have to be careful and flexible. We have to invest in this engine to comply for Euro 7 emissions, we’d rather invest in electrification.” He told us. The CEO did follow up by stating, “there are a lot of things that need to be managed. There’s an opportunity for synthetic fuels in the future. For pure-electric, a full EV can be more emotional than an internal-combustion engined car”.
Lamborghini plans on going all-in on its electrification strategy, aiming to have at least a hybrid powertrain in all of its vehicles by 2024. By 2028, we’re also due to see the brand’s first pure-electric vehicle as a potential Urus successor.
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