- Lamborghini has unveiled its new Temerario hybrid supercar, a successor to the best-selling Huracan.
- Its 907 horsepower hybrid power unit features a biturbo V8 paired with three electric motors.
Lamborghini's electric revolution is speeding ahead with the introduction of the 907-horsepower Temerario — a supercar that marks the brand's complete hybridization.
The brand unveiled the new Temerario hybrid supercar on Friday before a crowd in Monterey, California, as part of its annual Car Week festivities.
"Temerario means 'courageous' in Spanish and is the name of a fighting bull that fought in 1875," Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann told Business Insider in a recent interview.
Well, the Temerario better be courageous as it has the unenviable task of being the successor to the Huracan, Lamborghini's best-selling supercar to date, with more than 20,000 sold during its decadelong production run that ended this year.
"It will be a key player in a market that is growing bigger but is also very crowded," Winkelmann said. "This is a very important car for Lamborghini, and we expect it to be even more successful than the Huracan."
Aesthetically, the Temerario features the signature supercar wedge look we've come to know and love. Its sharp front end and highly raked windshield leave no question that the Temerario is a supercar. The Lamborghini's aluminum body panels feature only minimum lines and creases, a look Winkelmann called "pure."
The design not only looks cool but also helps the new Lambo go fast. The Temerario's aerodynamics deliver 103% better rear downforce than the outgoing Huracan EVO; that figure improves to 158% if you opt for the track-focused Alleggerita Pack.
Inside, the Temerario's cabin is both roomier and more high-tech than the Huracan.
Engineers gave taller drivers an extra inch of headroom and an additional two inches of legroom, which are handy when wearing a helmet for track driving.
The cabin will feature three main displays: a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster in front of the driver, an 8.4-inch central screen, and a 9.1-inch passenger screen. The Temerario will come equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The biggest change for the Temerario is the decision to replace the naturally aspirated V10 engine that has defined Lamborghini's "entry-level" supercars for the past two decades with a hybridized V8.
According to Winkelmann, going hybrid with the Temerario and the company's flagship Revuelto, which launched last year, allows Lamborghini to keep big internal combustion engines in its supercars for the next decade until 2035 when EU regulations ending ICE car sales kick in.
The Italian supercar maker is evaluating a host of potential solutions to keep ICE engines in its cars after 2035, including using carbon-neutral fuels, the Lamborghini CEO told Business Insider.
Mounted behind the Temerario's driver's compartment is a new 4.0-liter, bi-turbo V8 engine that produces more than 800 horsepower. It's paired with three electric motors and a 3.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to produce 907 system horsepower.
Two of the electric motors are mounted to the front axle. The third electric motor is mounted directly onto the engine to provide additional torque and works with the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission to drive the rear wheels.
Together, the system gives the Temeario a virtual all-wheel-drive system.
According to Lamborghini, the Temerario can do 0-62 mph in just 2.7 seconds and reach a top speed of over 213 mph.
A key feature of the Temerario's V8 engine is its astronomical 10,000 RPM redline that will surely be music to the ears of supercar aficionados worldwide.
In fact, Lamborghini's sound engineers have tuned the Temerario's engine mounts, chassis, and body panels to amplify and transmit the V8's rumble directly to its occupants.
The driver will be able to enjoy the Temerario's high-revving V8 in several driving modes, ranging from an easygoing City Mode to a full-on track mode.
For the first time, Lamborghini is offering a Drift Mode that helps drivers generate controlled oversteer into corners. This mode is for those who want to go into corners sideways but don't quite have the driving skill to do so without risking damaging their new Italian supercar.
Pricing has not yet been announced for the Lamborghini Temerario, which is expected to go on sale next year. The outgoing Huracan's base variant started at $250,000, while higher-end STO models started at $350,000.