LAMBORGHINI TEMERARIO
Full lineup of PHVs completed
The body is slightly larger than the Huracan, and the design theme is said to be motorcycle.
The Huracan, which has been on sale for around 10 years, has undoubtedly supported Lamborghini’s growth in recent years. Developing a successor to the Huracan, which CEO Stephan Winkelmann himself describes as “the most successful Lamborghini ever,” must have been extremely difficult. Moreover, Lamborghini is at a major product transformation point, with all of its models being electrified, and the next Huracan had to overcome the challenge of being an “electrified super sports car.”
And the successor to the Huracan, the Temerario, has been released as expected as a plug-in hybrid super sports car. It remains mid-engine like the Huracan, but its engine has changed from the Huracan’s naturally aspirated V10 to a V8. The displacement has also been downsized from the Huracan’s 5.2 liters to 4.0 liters. However, the V8 engine is supercharged with twin turbos, and the engine alone produces 800 PS. Incidentally, this is the first time that Lamborghini has fitted a turbo engine to a mid-engine sports car.
Three-motor hybrid
It is a PHV with two motors in the front and one in the rear. The battery is mounted in the center tunnel, just like the Revuelto.
The hybrid system is basically the same as the Revuelto, with one motor attached to the transmission behind the engine and two motors at the front, and the front is an AWD with torque vectoring by the motor. The total power, including the motor, is announced to be 920 PS.
However, there are a lot of old-school sports car fans around the world (including myself, to be honest) who don’t like hybrids, that is, cars with a motor and battery. There’s no doubt that a significant proportion of Lamborghini fans prefer the feel of a naturally aspirated engine. Of course, Lamborghini is well aware of this. To satisfy even these hardcore fans, Lamborghini has prepared a surprising addition to the Temerario’s twin-turbo V8: a maximum rotation speed of 10,000 rpm.
10,000 rpm inspired by Honda engine?
The Revuelto’s engine is exposed, but the Temerario’s is covered.
When I first heard this figure, I couldn’t believe it. 10,000 rpm is an incredibly high revving speed for a turbocharged production car, and it can even reach 10,250 rpm when launch control is activated. Even the flat-six engine of the Porsche 911 GT3, a high-revving engine recognized by many, only reaches a maximum of 9,000 rpm, and is naturally aspirated, so global rivals must have been astonished. CTO (Chief Technical Officer) Reuven Mohr is a huge fan of Japanese sports cars, particularly the high-revving Honda engine. “I was inspired by the ultra-high-revving sensation of the Honda engine,” he says with a smile. Having owned every Nissan GT-R to date and recently purchasing a Honda S2000, his words likely speak for themselves.
Trial and error to achieve ultra-high rotation
The newly developed 90-degree V8 twin turbo engine achieves a speed of 10,000 rpm and uses a hot V configuration. The crankshaft uses a flat plane.
According to the engineer in charge of designing the engine, in order to achieve 10,000 rpm, many parts were developed through trial and error, including the metal, valve springs, tappets, and of course the turbocharger. As a result, the metal was made by Daido Metal Industries, and the turbocharger was made by IHI. I felt a little proud to learn that Japan has had a deep influence on the Temerario, including the technical department manager’s love of Japanese cars (although the IHI turbocharger was made in Italy).
Spacious interior
The interior makes extensive use of carbon fiber, making it easier to get in and out of than the Huracan and offering more space.
After gaining some basic knowledge, I met the Temerario at the circuit where the test drive was to take place. Its overall length is 241mm shorter than the Revuelto, making it feel quite compact, but at 4706mm it is still a little over 100mm longer than the Huracan. It’s also 36mm taller, so overall it’s slightly larger than the Huracan, but the interior seems to have more space, and getting in and out isn’t too cramped, which is a blessing.
I entered the course and gradually increased my speed. With sport mode selected, the car was not in EV mode, so I barely noticed the motor’s presence. The increase in rotation was as smooth as a naturally aspirated sports engine, and the pickup above 5000 rpm was particularly excellent. Just by slightly opening the throttle towards the exit of the corner, the torque was perfectly matched to the feeling. What was surprising was how the wonderfully rich power and torque built up from around 2000 rpm and even after exceeding 6000 rpm.
Engines that focus on ultra-high revolutions tend to lose power at low revolutions and become difficult to handle, but the Temerario’s V8 twin-turbo is powerful and torquey across the entire revolution range. The source of this is its three motors. The engine’s characteristics, including the turbocharger, are basically geared towards high revolutions, and in the low to mid-rev range, the motors supplement the power and torque of the engine. It is thanks to the presence of these motors that the Temerario is able to achieve its power and enjoyment across the entire range. Conversely, without the motors, it would have been impossible to install a 10,000 rpm engine in a production car.
Lightweight sports car-like agility
The ultra-high-revving engine and motor provide a pleasant ride across the entire range.
The hexagonal design, which is Lamborghini’s symbol, is incorporated throughout the car. Although it does not have a movable spoiler, it achieves 103% rear downforce compared to the Huracan EVO.
When I applied full throttle on a straightaway, the tachometer needle shot up in an instant, reaching 10,000 rpm without any stress. It was so smooth that it took my breath away, and there was no interruption in power. I applied full brakes and turned the steering wheel towards the fairly tight first corner. What I felt in this series of movements was the agility of a lightweight sports car. The driving force of the front motor was never too assertive, and the car always exhibited a very natural, slight oversteer. The feeling of the car responding obediently to me as the center was very pleasant, and by comparison the Revuelto felt more solid, or like I was being carried along.
The ideal super sports PHV
The tires are the Potenza Sport, developed in collaboration with Bridgestone. The Potenza Race, which is more suitable for circuit use, will also be available.
As I mentioned earlier, there are still some negative opinions about hybrid super sports cars. The Temerario is a bold response from Lamborghini. The ultra-high-revving engine, unprecedented in a commercially available car, is complemented by a motor to achieve a pleasant driving experience across the entire range. What’s more, it can even run on EV for up to 10km in the city. As a hybrid super sports car, this could be said to be one of the ideal forms.
It’s time for old-school sports car fans who don’t like motors and batteries to reconsider their stance, myself included.
Torque vectoring is natural and doesn’t feel strange.
SPECIFICATIONS
Lamborghini Temerario
Body size: Length 4706 x Width 1996 x Height 1201 mm
Wheelbase: 2658 mm
Vehicle dry weight: 1690 kg
Engine: V8 DOHC twin turbo
Total displacement: 3995 cc
Engine maximum output: 357 kW (800 PS) / 9000-9750 rpm
Maximum torque: 730 Nm (58.1 kgm) / 4000-7000 rpm
Motor maximum output: 41 kW
System maximum output: 398 kW (900 PS)
Transmission: 8-speed DCT
Drive system: AWD
Suspension type: F double wishbone R multi-link
Brakes: F & R ventilated disc (carbon ceramic)
Tire size (rim width): F 255/35ZR20 (9J) R 325/30ZR21 (11.5J)
0 → 100 km/h acceleration: 2.7 seconds
Top speed: 343 km/h
