Revuelto

Segment
Coupe
  • First plug-in hybrid V12 in the world
  • 1,001 horsepower from naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 and three electric motors
  • Eight-speed DCT automatic gearbox
  • 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds, Top Speed >219 mph

There's a new angry bull in town, and its name is Revuelto. Lamborghini has always waited a decade or more to replace its range-topper, unlike Ferrari and McLaren. The Italian brand has been in business for 60 years, and so far, there have been only five V12 halo models; Miura, Countach, Diablo, Murcielago, and Aventador. The Revuelto is the sixth, and coming from a lineage like that, it has a lot riding on it.

While it may look like a Lamborghini, it represents a massive departure for the brand while sticking to some traditions. Like its legendary successors, the Revuelto is named after a Spanish fighting bull that had an epic battle in Barcelona in August 1880. The bull had a "rebellious and indomitable heart" and was therefore blessed with the name Revuelto, which can be translated to "unruly."

We say "can" because it has many meanings depending on the context. Directly translated to Spanish, it means 'scrambled.' Thankfully, some of our Spanish readers explained that Revuelto has many meanings depending on the context, including scrambled, disorder, change, etc. All of these words are applicable here.

CarBuzz first discovered the name a year ago, and we tried to find the bull-related meaning behind the name, coming up short. Apparently, Spanish bullfighting record keepers did not have access to Wikipedia in 1880.

The World's First Plug-In Hybrid V12

The infamous Jeremy Clarkson explained the difference between Ferrari and Lamborghini perfectly. If you own a Ferrari, people will ask about power outputs and lap times. If you own a bright green Lambo, people want to know if you've had sex in it.

But now you can tell them so much more because the Revuelto is the world's first V12 plug-in hybrid. At the core of the powertrain sits an all-new 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12, the lightest and most potent 12-cylinder Lamborghini has ever created. It has an all-new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission mated to the rear in a transverse layout and three electric motors to boost performance.

The result is 1,001 horsepower and a raucous V12 that will happily rev to 9,500 rpm, and the V12 alone produces 535 lb-ft of torque before the electric motors contribute as much as 332 lb-ft extra. This is how electrification is supposed to be done.

These figures have been published before, but today we can tell you all about the claimed performance. According to Lamborghini, it will get from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds, while the sprint to 124 mph takes less than seven seconds. There isn't a set-top speed, but the Italians say it's more than 219 mph.

An All-New Chassis

The Revuelto is also built around a new aeronautics-inspired chassis, which is 10% lighter than the outgoing Aventador's underpinnings. It's more rigid, with an entire front end made from carbon fiber. The main aim was to integrate all the major components needed to build the next-generation raging bull.

Naturally, the V12 is mid-mounted, with the gearbox behind it. One of the three electric motors sits on top of the gearbox, while the other two are mounted on the front axle, each powering a wheel and providing active torque vectoring. The hybrid system's battery is housed in what used to be the transmission tunnel.

Oh, and yes, the Revuelto has an electric driving mode, using all three electric motors when necessary. It has 13 driving modes and a bad case of multiple personality disorder. It can go from a silent inner-city cruiser to a bonkers V12 that will make your ears bleed.

The Revuelto is a giant leap forward compared to the outgoing Aventador Ultimae.

A Fresh Exterior

Just as the powertrain is a blend of old and new, so is the styling. It's bound to upset some, but you certainly won't mistake it for anything but a Lamborghini.

Lambo's designers borrowed design cues from the Revuelto's predecessors. It still has vertically-opening scissor doors, dating back to the Countach. The Countach also set the standard for supercar proportions, which all Lamborghini designers must work within. You can also see a bit of Diablo in the proportions. The Murcielago's slanted nose and muscular rear-end aren't carry-overs but rather the inspiration behind the Revuelto's imposing stance.

"The Revuelto is adrenaline made visible," said Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini's head of design. "The design of the new Lamborghini Revuelto opens a fascinating door towards the future of our unique design language."

Borkert is saying that we can expect the same from the Huracan successor, which is due next year.

Those new Y-shape daytime running lights are here to stay. They are a signature design element of Lamborghini's design language, so expect to see them on the Huracan and the all-electric Urus successor. The fins, side air intakes, and splitters are all functional, as is the rear wing. It's not another Countach case where the rear wing had no function other than looking cool.

The rear end is an homage to the V12. You can see the longitudinally-mounted engine is fully exposed, Bugatti-style. It connects visually to a double hexagonal exhaust, flanked by taillight clusters that also feature the Y-shape signatures.

As you'd expect, there will be many personalization options available for the Revuelto. To start with, Lamborghini will offer 400 exterior colors. We don't know the full extent of the customization options yet, but given Lamborghini's traditional no-limits approach to car-building, it's improbable two identical Revueltos will ever exist.

After all, we are discussing an automaker that will happily sell you a purple car with yellow exterior details and gold wheels.

Lamborghini's Best Interior Yet

The Y-shape theme continues inside, where Lamborghini has once again gone for the fighter pilot feel. Except, this time, Lamborghini is being a bit more environmentally friendly with the leather-clad interior. Instead of shooting a cow in the face and hand-cutting its hide, Lamborghini found the word "sustainability" in the dictionary. While it hasn't ditched leather yet, it now uses the latest-generation cutting machines to limit waste. The stitching and embroidery are still done by hand, but fewer cows must die to upholster a Revuelto.

Lamborghini also uses Corsa-Tex fabric in Dinamica microfiber, now made from recycled polyester. Customers can choose the balance of leather and Corsa-Tex, with 70 color options available.

As expected, the main interior trim is naked carbon fiber, used on the dashboard frame and air vents.

Digital And Analog Combine

Lamborghini wanted to find the perfect balance between digital and physical. At the heart of the carbon fiber and leather-clad interior sits an all-new 8.4-inch vertical touchscreen interface. The operating software is new, and we dedicated an entire article to the new system.

The central display is one of three screens. Both driver and passenger get their own displays. The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and another 9.1-inch display is mounted on the passenger-side dashboard. Rather creatively, the driver and passenger can swipe displays from the central display to their own personal touchscreens.

We're all for the driver's display, which gives all the necessary information required for enthusiastic driving. The passenger's screen is worrying. In previous Lamborghinis, you could always lie about how fast you were going, but now the proof is mounted right in front of a possible backseat driver. (Is it still a backseat driver if they're seated next to you?)

The steering wheel is a thing of beauty. Inspired by the track-only Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, it has four rotors mounted on the spokes, providing easy access to the various driving modes. It also controls the nose lift, tilt of the rear wing, and launch control.

Lamborghini has done away with the traditional indicator stalk, which means it and other daily functions are now also on the steering wheel. Lambo says it's so the driver can keep their hands on the wheel while driving enthusiastically. To that, we counter, why would you indicate on a track? It only goes in one direction. And one shouldn't be racing around town, and if you do, indicators are the least of your problems.

Smarter Practicality & Enhanced Functionality

We do appreciate that Lamborghini has gone to great lengths to improve the everyday usability of the Revuelto. From the start, the interior was designed to provide more room. You get one inch of extra headroom compared to the Aventador Ultimae and an additional 3.3 inches of legroom. Lamborghini also left enough space behind the seats for a golf bag. It also has a storage compartment under the center dashboard and between the seats, and the passenger gets a cupholder. This is huge news. Lamborghini has finally realized the importance of staying hydrated.

For the first time, Lamborghini has also integrated an Advanced Driver Assistance System, including active lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert. Thanks to a 360-degree camera system, you also get a view of the car from above to help when parking. Finally, after 60 years, Lamborghini has realized that its customers have to park sometimes. For reference, try parking any of the previous V12 Lamborghinis. It's impossible without leaning out of the scissor door, looking like an absolute tonsil.

Big Pricing, Bigger Expectations

Pricing and availability are unknown, but Aventador manufacturing stopped a while ago, so Lamborghini is likely ready to get going. The Aventador Ultimae sold for roughly $500,000, and given the additional technology, electric motors, and battery, we expect the Revuelto to start at approximately $600,000. Not that there is such a thing as a standard MSRP for Lamborghinis, especially once you start diving into the customization options.

We do not doubt that Lamborghini will go record hunting with the Revuelto. The Aventador SVJ held the Nurburgring record briefly until the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series claimed it. The current record belongs to the Mercedes-AMG One hypercar, which is also a mad blend of ICE and electricity.