Taking the $604,000 Lamborghini Revuelto Hybrid for a trip: a evaluate

It didn’t finish there. At each gasoline cease (there have been a number of—this automobile loves petrol) alongside the sun-scorched route up by California farmland, all of the dudes on the different pumps posed nonchalantly as they waited to listen to the engine burst. After I pulled away in silence, they shifted uneasily, mystified. Byeee, boys!

As soon as I made it to Carmel, the information that I might hit the ignition button and roll secretly away into the cool morning fog motivated me to set my alarm sooner than regular. I did it every of the 4 days I drove the matte black-on-black Revuelto whereas masking Monterey Automotive Week, the annual meetup close to Massive Sur each August the place auto fanatics collect to promote, showcase and salivate over automobiles new and previous. 

With a physique that appears like a cross between a fighter jet, a bat and a nasty perspective, the Revuelto proves electrical know-how can improve the driving expertise—not simply detract from it. It’s an apex predator, the flagship of the road that almost all absolutely embodies the thrilling potential of hybrid know-how for the 61-year-old Italian model.

The Necessities

Automobili Lamborghini SpA, of all firms, appears to have snuck its solution to discovering the precise stability between electrical and combustion engines for its prospects, forward of its a lot vaster rivals. It’s rolled out hybrids whereas Porsche AG, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Stellantis NV and others have suffered such disappointing electrical automobile gross sales they’re recalibrating their plans. The automobile business just isn’t OK, my colleague Craig Trudell writes. Ford Motor Co. simply canceled a complete SUV. 

Lamborghini will hybridize each automobile in its fleet however resist making a completely electrical one so long as it could possibly, says President and Chief Govt Officer Stephan Winkelmann. The head of its new hybrids is the Lamborghini Revuelto, unveiled in 2023 and delivering now. 

The Revuelto combines an 814-horsepower naturally aspirated V-12 engine with three electrical motors for a complete output of 1,001 horsepower. That’s greater than the rest Lamborghini makes; it beats the 986-horsepower SF90 Stradale from arch-competitor Ferrari, too, for these maintaining rating. 

It is a hybrid you may plug in if you would like, however you don’t must. It’s simpler to only flip the toggle change on the steering wheel to mechanically recharge the batteries that energy electric-only mode as you drive. I did that in Citta mode as I cruised up Interstate 5 towards the cool of the Monterey Peninsula. The battery, which provides roughly 6 miles of electric-only driving, recharged itself in a matter of minutes. I watched in glee because the dashboard gauge confirmed its progress, understanding I’d have sufficient juice to modify again into silent stealth mode at any time when I wished. 

With revs to 9,500 rpm, the automobile will erupt into an incredible roar everytime you interact that engine. Its eight-speed double-clutch transmission works seamlessly by 4 drive modes that may mix hybrid energy with inner combustion, plus give all-wheel drive on demand. Or it could possibly transfer by Strada, Sport and Corsa modes, which unleash its gasoline-powered, maniacal full potential. Hybrid mode is nice for as much as 93 mph. Lamborghini says high pace is 217 mph, however I wouldn’t know for positive, Officer. (I used to be going effectively below that pace when he pulled me over for a chat.)

The Good

Stealth mode alone isn’t why one buys a Lamborghini. I fell in love with the Revuelto for 2 causes: the ineffable approach it drives and its misfit attractiveness.

First, the drive: A rear-wheel steering system and torque-vectoring stored it planted as I drove to breakfast one morning among the many wild corners of a hidden nature protect within the foothills of the Santa Lucia Vary, the place Robert Louis Stevenson as soon as convalesced. The Revuelto feels wider and longer round corners than I’d select if I drove canyons daily—give me a tiny canyon-carver with a brief gearbox for that—however on a weekend jaunt it felt like a grand show of Italian perspective. The carbon ceramic brakes with mounted monoblock calipers bit the second I touched them; the digital energy steering was so dialed in, so constant, it felt like my thoughts was straight related to the wheels as I cruised by golden burnt grass and evergreens.

Nonetheless, the Revuelto is happiest in a straight line: ideally a flat, lonely, sizzling freeway someplace between Paso Robles and Carmel. I imply actually, actually joyful. All the pieces about it feels geared towards pace. The faster I drove, the higher it felt. Attempting to carry the automobile to 65 mph felt like coming into limp mode.  

Whereas not useless silent like that of a Rolls-Royce, its cabin remained surprisingly quiet even at excessive speeds. Its basic aura simply smoothed out at warp speeds, like that half within the opening credit of Star Trek the place the spaceship hangs for a second after which disappears into deep house. I couldn’t imagine how simple it was to leap from 75 mph to, er, quicker.

As for seems? It’s principally a shank. This automobile is all daggers from the purpose of its nostril to the tip of its tail, with a gobstopping eyeful of the engine proper inside, due to the see-through panel within the again. Its edges evoke the splendidly offended Lamborghinis of its previous, just like the wedgy Countach and the big-hipped Diablo. Loads of individuals would name it gaudy and outré, an immature demand for consideration or a tasteless try to safe superficial standing. However I discover its contrarian nature pleasant—a minimum of it has perspective. That’s much better than a lozenge-shaped blob or some EV equipment designed to maximise drag coefficient with none thought to magnificence, type or feeling. 

The Dangerous

No surprises right here. Rear visibility is compromised due to the sloped angle of the roof and the oversize aero particulars on the perimeters of the automobile. (You ought to be wanting down the street in entrance of you anyway, proper?) 

Gasoline mileage is horrible. The electrical motors aren’t there to reinforce gasoline effectivity: They’re for offsetting emissions necessities and do-gooder appearances’ sake. The automobile will get 23 miles per gallon equal in hybrid mode; it will get 12 mpg in mixed metropolis and freeway driving with out it. 

I stuffed up the gasoline tank twice on the way in which north, then a minimum of twice extra throughout the course of the week. The ache level wasn’t a lot the excessive worth of gasoline. I doubt anybody spending greater than half 1,000,000 {dollars} on this automobile, plus the $4,500 gas-guzzler tax, will probably be involved about budgetary constraints. It was the time spent on the pump that created the inconvenience.

One other nonsurprise: This low automobile is usable for sensible functions solely due to the automated carry equipment, which, with the contact of a tiny spherical button on the steering wheel, will increase the entrance a fraction of an inch—sufficient to get you out of sticky conditions like, you recognize, simply making an attempt to drag up to a restaurant.

However even that safety blanket can’t mitigate the veneer of hysteria one develops when maneuvering one thing this lengthy, low and costly in shut quarters. Once more, for an proprietor of such a machine, I count on it’s not the price of changing one of many rims ($5,500 for the 4, which isn’t costly in contrast with many aftermarket rims for classic Porsches) when you curb it—it’s the time wasted whereas the automobile is within the restore store quite than being pushed in all its glory.

Different gripes that compiled over the course of every week: Each indicator buttons have been smooshed collectively on the left facet of the steering wheel, quite than positioned one on both sides, as in a Ferrari. It made for awkward, unintuitive indicating with my thumbs. And the scissor doorways ought to be lighter to push open and closed.

Lamborghini has by no means been heralded for its interiors. There’s room to enhance right here, too, with the touchscreen within the heart of the dashboard, which was tilted at such an angle that it virtually all the time glared within the solar and attracted fingerprints like iron shavings to a magnet. The Bluetooth related mechanically solely by the final day I had the automobile; I’m nonetheless not even positive how that occurred. 

If You Keep in mind One Factor

Some vehicles are higher than others, and the astounding Lamborghini Revuelto is simply that. It’s an effortlessly quick spaceship designed for particular events and priced accordingly. If you happen to purchase one, get a radar detector whilst you’re at it. It’d simply enable you keep away from a dashing ticket. I realized that the onerous approach.