Lamborghini Revuelto is the brand's first eco-conscious V12 supercar

When you think of a hybrid car, you probably picture a Toyota Prius.

But the latest plug-in hybrid model unveiled today is as far from a Prius as you can get.

It’s Lamborghini’s new Revuelto – which in Spanish translates to ‘scrambled’ – and is the supercar company’s flagship replacement for the long-running Aventador.

Lambo calls it a HPEV, standing for high performance electrified vehicle. And it certainly has the figures to match the acronym, with bosses saying it will accelerate to 62mph from a standstill in just 2.5 seconds and has a top speed in excess of 217mph (350kmh).

Here’s ten things you need to know about the Revuelto – Lamborghini’s first eco-conscious production supercar…

1. Lamborghini’s debut plug-in hybrid…and its first new ‘volume production’ V12 model for 12 years

The Aventador has been Lamborghini’s flagship V12 supercar for over a decade. Launched in 2011, the final version came off the production line last July, with the brand shifting a whopping 11,465 examples in that period.

To put its popularity into some context, the number of Aventadors sold is more than five times that of the legendary Countach (1,983) and almost four times the production run for Diablo (2,884).

While the Revuelto marks a huge shift change for Lamborghini and its powertrains, it’s technically not the first hybrid V12 it has made.

The Sián FKP 37 hypercar debuted the marriage between electrification and twelve cylinders in 2019, though that exclusive model cost a whopping £2.6million before local taxes. Just 63 coupes and 19 roadsters were built, so it’s far from a ‘volume production’ model.

Lamborghini last year made big headlines when it revived the Countach with a 21st Century take on arguably its most renowned supercar. It also had a hybrid V12, but with an output of 112 cars also doesn’t qualify it as a mass-built model. 

However, the Revuelto is the first ‘plug-in’ hybrid, which means its small onboard battery can be charged via a wallbox, public device or from a mains socket. 

2. With 1,001bhp, it is the most powerful road car Lamborghini has ever produced

Powering the Revuelto is a combination of three electric motors and the brand’s world famous 12-cylinder petrol engine.

All three electric motors have 147bhp each. One of these is integrated into the eight-speed, double-clutch gearbox and the other two are on the front axle to send power to each front wheel. In fact, the front wheels are exclusively electric-powered.

These are supplemented by a 6.5-litre 814bhp V12 engine sending power to the rear wheels, making this an all-wheel drive Lambo with a total power output of 1,001bhp and 725Nm of toque. That makes it the most powerful road car the Sant’Agata Bolognese outfit has ever sold to customers.

The plug-in hybrid system uses a relatively small lithium-ion 3.8kWh battery. This is located between the two seats in what would be a transmission tunnel in a conventional car.

The battery itself measures in at 1,550mm long, 301mm high, and 240mm wide. 

When the capacity falls to zero, it can be recharged using a 7kW device and will be boosted back to 100 per cent in just 30 minutes. 

The battery also charges using the motion of the vehicle, and under regenerative braking from the front wheels and directly from the V12 engine can recharge the battery in just six minutes. 

The last of the ‘standard’ Aventadors – the Aventador S – had a rev limit set at 8,500rpm, but the Revuelto’s has been increased to a wailing 9,500rpm.

The performance figures are nothing short of eye-watering. It can hit 62mph in 2.5 seconds and accelerate from zero to 124mph in less than 7. Top speed hasn’t been confirmed but is promised to be in excess of 217mph. 

It should also slowdown quicker than before thanks to a new gearbox feature; hold down the left shift paddle down and it will drop multiple gears in one go. 

3. It can be driven in electric-only mode for six miles…but we still don’t know how ‘green’ it is

Because it’s a plug-in hybrid, the Revuelto can be driven in electric-only mode with power sent to all four wheels. But not for long.

Lamborghini says the maximum range without using the V12 powerplant is just six miles.

It also hasn’t revealed how eco-friendly it is. That’s because it hasn’t yet been put through the WLTP test cycle, meaning the brand can’t quote an official miles per gallon figure or the number of grams of CO2 emitted per 100 kilometres. 

 

4. It reverses in electric power only

Put the Revuelto into reverse and it will move back under electric power only.

This isn’t a particularly new feature. In fact, it was also the case for the Sián FKP 37 and Countach LPI 800-4 hyper-hybrids. Ferrari also does the same in its PHEV SF90.

5. It will be heavier than the Aventador

Adding electric motors and a battery to a supercar might help boost power, but it also adds bulk.

And despite the best efforts of Lamborghini’s highly-skilled engineering boffins, it still tips the scale heavier than the Aventador it replaces.

This is despite the carbon fibre tub being lighter – and 40 per cent stiffer – than the version used in its predecessor.

Dry, the new model weighs 1,772kg compared to 1,575kg for the outgoing Aventador S.

That puts the power-to-weight ratio at 565bhp per tonne. 

While the Revuelto is heavier, it will likely be safer in an unwanted crash. This is thanks to a new composite front crash structure, which is a world first for a carbon-tubbed road car.

6. It has all-wheel steering to make it more nimble

To compensate for its additional bulk, Lamborghini have taken additional steps to guarantee that the Revuelto handles as a supercar with a charging bull motif on its bonnet should.

That’s why it will be sold as standard with four-wheel steering.

This ‘contributes significantly to the sensation of a car that is agile, responsive and compact but at the same time stable and precise,’ says Lamborghini.

And it will also have a number of active aero features, including a rear spoiler with three different positions that adjusts automatically depending on load and which driving mode the pilot is using. 

7. It has scissor doors and three cabin touchscreens inspired by Tinder

The Revuelto is unmistakably a Lamborghini. The design is very much an evolution of the Aventador.

It ticks a number of the traditional Lamborghini themes, including its wedge-shaped silhouette and – of course – upward opening scissor doors.

The Y-shaped LED daytime running lights similar to those featured on the Sián, while the headlights are recessed in a section above.

The arrow-like running lights are replicated in the rear clusters too, with the brake lights flanking a pair of flat hexagonal exhaust outlets.

The active rear spoiler sits flush with the bodywork when static and combines with a large rear diffuser to manage air flow. 

The profile includes the traditional gaping side vents that feed air into the mid-mounted V12 powerplant, but there are also gills behind the front wheels to extract air from the arches.

Another highlight – quite literally – is the LED-lit engine bay cover, which glows a shade of red to illuminate the 12-cylinder powerplant mounted behind the cockpit.

Oh, and if you’ve not spotted the hybrid system’s charging cap, this is for good reason – it’s hidden in the front boot compartment. 

Inside, there’s more tech and high-definition screens than ever seen before in a production-run Lambo supercar.

The cabin centre has a ‘pronounced carbon-fibre profile’ that’s said to be a ‘space-ship’ design with three digital displays that make it feel more like the NASA control centre than the shuttle itself.

There’s an 8.4-inch portrait-mounted touchscreen in the centre flanked by a 12.3-inch digital cockpit on the driver’s side and a 9.1-inch letterbox-style display installed on the passenger-side dashboard. 

These have a ‘swipe’ function, a bit like Tinder for your supercar. This allows the pilot and co-pilot to move applications and information from the central display by swiping across the screens like you would when deciding to match with people on the dating app on your smartphone.

It’s also more practical for those longer journeys, with bosses saying it has more headroom than the Aventador.

8. It has THIRTEEN different driving modes

If you’re the type of driver who likes to adapt the driving settings to your surroundings, you will be spoilt for choice if you put a deposit down on a Revuelto.

It has a whopping 13 driving modes to choose from.

Three are new and reflective of the hybrid drivetrain. These are ‘Recharge’, ‘Hybrid’ and ‘Performance’.

Other modes include Città (City), Strada, Sport and Corsa.

They are all selectable via two rotors located on racing-style steering wheel each with a pushbutton that sits in the middle.

9. There are already enough orders to cover TWO YEARS of production

The Revuelto has a big task on its hands to match the popularity of the Aventador, but it has started strongly even before it was officially unveiled.

Having contacted existing Lamborghini customers to gauge interest, the Italian marque reportedly has already accrued enough orders to cover the first two years of production.

10. How much will it cost? 

Lamborghini is yet to confirm pricing for the Revuelto, though expect it to have a big premium on the outgoing Aventador S (£272,000).

While not official, there are claims it will ring in closer to £450,000, which would be a significant mark-up for the brand’s flagship V12 model. 

Production is due to begin imminently and first deliveries for Europe are scheduled for the last quarter of the year. 

With order books filling up fast, anyone desperate to get their hands on what will likely be the ultimate Lamborghini V12 will need to get their skates on and a deposit lodged with a dealer. 

‘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’s 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.’