LAMBORGHINI Revuelto

LAMBORGHINI Aventador SVJ

The Aventador is a Countach

For a moment, my mind went blank. I was confused. I thought, wow, this might not even be about “evolution”…

From the Aventador to the Revuelto. Historically, a flagship change is a regular event for the brand, occurring roughly once every ten years, so it’s only natural that it would include ten years’ worth of evolution (although this time it’s 12 years). As someone who has experienced the model changes of the Murcielago and Aventador in the field, I have always been amazed by the transformation. However, this latest leap is on a completely different level from anything I’ve experienced before. Just how different is it? After driving both, I thought to myself, “The Aventador was the Countach.”

This means two things: the evolution of the Revuelto was so great that it made the Aventador look like a Countach, and the fact that the Revuelto is no longer in the lineage of the Countach (LP) is a rather exciting reality for Lamborghini fans.

Yes, with the transition to PHV, Lamborghini has created a mid-engine super sports car that combines tradition with a completely new performance, at least in terms of the relationship with the driver. The Revuelto and, presumably, the Temerario, the successor to the Huracan, will be a pair.

Revuelto on a different level

Let’s go into more detail. The model that solidified Lamborghini’s brand image to this day was, of course, not the Miura, but the Countach. The Stanzani Layout (LP), which involved flipping the heavy and long V12 + transmission 180 degrees and installing the transmission → engine from the front to make it viable as a road car, met with the genius stylist Marcello Gandini, and established a new category of sports car that had never existed before – a unique supercar category.

Moreover, when the Countach was born, Lamborghini was on the brink of bankruptcy at any time, but the car’s originality remained pure and intact, carrying the heavy responsibility of being the brand’s flagship for a total of 20 years. As a result, the car’s exceptionally unique style, with its low, flat, one-motion wedge shape and scissor doors, defined the brand’s image.

The Diablo and Murcielago, which succeeded the Countach, and even the Aventador, which was a complete redesign at the time, could all be said to be “Countachs.” This time, I test drove the Revuelto and the Aventador to compare them, and the driving feel confirmed this for me.

The Aventador is a Countach. Of course, there was a considerable evolutionary step from the Countach to the Aventador. However, that step and the latest change, that is, the step from the Aventador to the Revuelto, are no longer on the same axis. They cannot be measured on the same dimension. It is not a matter of size, but rather a different dimension. This means that if one feels that “the Aventador is a Countach,” then the feeling that the dimensions are different must necessarily mean that “the Revuelto is not a Countach.”

The biggest reason for this feeling is the PHV layout, which places the battery in the center of the cabin instead of the transmission. The idea of ​​placing the heavy powertrain as centrally as possible in the vehicle is the same as with the LP layout. However, this comparison test once again made me realize that the impact that having a transmission and a battery has on the dynamic feel is by no means small.

The feeling of physically riding the drivetrain

Test driving the Revuelto alone, it certainly delivered performance worthy of a Lamborghini flagship. It retains the traditional scissor doors from the Countach, and its uni-shaped supercar form is indistinguishable from anything other than a raging bull. Even before getting in, I was already in a Lamborghini mood.

Once you start driving, you will be impressed by its powerful performance and cutting-edge driving feel in all areas, from acceleration to handling and braking. This range has already gone beyond “being typical of a Lamborghini” and reached a new level of super sports car.

The steering feel is impeccably accurate no matter which mode you select, yet it doesn’t place any physical strain on the driver. In a good sense, it has been designed to deliver performance that “anyone can drive” and “anyone can drive fast.” There is no longer any gear change shock, and the electric motor assistance feels rather comfortable. Beyond that, the V12 engine feel, which seems to soar to the heavens, is incredibly sensual.

How does the Aventador compare? When I tried to drive down the same winding road as in the Revuelto at a similar speed, the steering felt hopelessly heavy, and it seemed extremely difficult to turn. This was made all the more difficult by the fact that I had a sore right arm that day, and while I didn’t feel any pain while driving the Revuelto, the moment I switched to the Aventador and turned the steering wheel, I felt a sharp pain.

Furthermore, the feeling that you are physically straddling the drivetrain is particularly noticeable in the Aventador. It’s not just a matter of weight balance. There’s no doubt that the fact that the transmission, which operates mechanically while driving, is located close to the driver has some effect on the driving feel. In addition, the V12 engine runs noticeably heavier than the Revuelto’s, and this is transmitted even more to the driver’s body through the transmission, making it clear that it is a different car. This is particularly noticeable on technical public roads such as winding roads, and there is an impression that can truly be called “Countach-like.”

Breaking free from the curse of Countach tradition

The Revuelto doesn’t have that. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s poorly made. It’s a different car. It just means it doesn’t follow the tradition of the Countach.

The Revuelto is, in a good way, free from the curse of the Countach’s tradition, and I think Lamborghini is trying to write a new history for super sports cars. The Temerario, which uses almost the same system except for the number of cylinders in the engine, will probably also show a different level of performance that surpasses not only the Huracan but even the Aventador, and its driving feel will probably be closer to the Revuelto.

If this is the case, Lamborghini will be entering a new era of brand founding while aiming to become “Coltauri.” The brand just celebrated its 60th anniversary last year. There is probably no concept of a 60th birthday in Italy, but I think Lamborghini is definitely trying to be “reborn” in the age of electrification.

TEXT／Jun NISHIKAWA

PHOTO／Koichi SHINOHARA

MAGAZINE／GENROQ October 2024 issue

SPECIFICATIONS

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Body size: Length 4943, Width 1933, Height 1136mm

Wheelbase: 2700mm

Dry weight: 1525kg

Engine type: V12 DOHC

Displacement: 6499cc

Maximum output: 566kW (770PS) / 8500rpm

Maximum torque: 720Nm (73.4kgm) / 6750rpm

Total maximum output: –

Transmission: 7-speed AMT

Drive system: AWD

Suspension: Front and rear double wishbone

brakes Front: Front and rear ventilated discs (carbon ceramic)

Tires & wheels: Front 255/30ZR20, rear 355/25ZR21

0-100km/h acceleration: 2.8 seconds

Top speed: 350km/h

Lamborghini Revuelto

Body size: Overall length 4947, Overall width 2033, Overall height 1160mm

Wheelbase: 2779mm

Dry weight: 1772kg

Engine type: V12 DOHC

Displacement: 6499cc

Maximum output: 607kW (825PS) / 9250rpm

Maximum torque: 725Nm (73.9kgm) / 6750rpm

Total maximum output: 747kW (1015PS)

Transmission: 8-speed DCT

Drive system: AWD

Suspension: Front and rear double wishbone

brakes Front: Front and rear ventilated discs (carbon ceramic)

Tires & wheels: Front 265/35ZR20, rear 345/30ZR21

0-100km/h acceleration: 2.5 seconds

Top speed: 350km/h

[Inquiries]

Lamborghini Customer Center

TEL 0120-988-889

https://www.lamborghini.com/jp

Related reading

It’s more expensive than a new car, but I want a Lamborghini Aventador, especially an early model. [If I were to buy one now, maybe this one would be it? 34th car]

The used car market fluctuates dramatically with the coming and going of car trends. If you’re going to live the used car life, you want to accurately capture those trends and make a good deal. To guide you through these times, Jun Nishikawa introduces cars worth buying “now.” The 34th installment focuses on the early model of the Aventador, which became Lamborghini’s previous flagship with the introduction of the Revuelto.