Blog

Maybe it’s worth buying a Lamborghini just for the smiles. Not yours, but those of passers-by, pedestrians and other drivers who stop and smile, making their inner 10-year-old happy – even if they’re a 50-year-old man or a 35-year-old woman. Everyone feels like an adoring child in the presence of this car.

But Lamborghinis are also intimidating. Aggressive horsepower, a sharp silhouette that looks like it’s been forged into shape, a V12 engine that roars to life. They are known to be complex to drive, designed for speed not only of the car but also of the driver, from the levers to better manage engine power to the buttons on the steering wheel that control almost everything. Launching feels more like the process of launching a rocket. And for the uninitiated, gear shifting itself can be dizzying; there is no “drive” mode on the gear selector.

All of these things continue to be true in the Revuelto, the first-ever plug-in hybrid powertrain from Lamborghini. The Revuelto, priced at $604,000, builds on Lamborghini’s heritage of power and speed, boosting the power of the V12 engine with three electric motors fed by a 3.8 kWh battery that together produce 1,015 hp. and the promise of lightning-fast acceleration: a 0-60 time of 2.3 seconds.

Stealth start lets you choose when to roar

It’s almost frustrating to press the starter button and only hear the electronics whirring and see the graphics flash on the screens. But don’t let the Lamborghini Revuelto fool you; a quick twist of the glowing red metal selector on the gear lever and instantly its roar shakes you, startling even when you least expect it. This is so deeply resonant.

On first ignition, the Reveulto is silent in Citta or city mode, like any electric car. With four miles of electric range, it allows the driver to be attentive to people around them who are not expecting the roar of the Raging Bull. Pulling the right gear lever to put the car in gear (this is the default for drive mode), I fell in line as our invisible procession of 6 Reveulto rolled out of the morning fog and onto a local road, to begin our drive through the New York Catskills Mountains. The day and the region promised turns, hills and sections that would unload the Revuelto’s power at least a little.

Engaging your co-pilot while driving

Once on the road, I set the drive mode selector to Strada or Street mode and instantly heard and felt the power of the V12. A gentle tap of the throttle filled the cabin with the sound of the engine. Soon we were cruising along the back roads, the bike a backdrop to the conversation with Yana, my companion. She was able to track engine dynamics, charge level, speed and driving mode on the Reveulto’s co-pilot display, a narrow screen that spans the passenger-side dashboard.

To make sure we had enough electrical power for a stealthy return to the neighborhood where our day began, I flipped the EV mode selector dial to “recharge,” which will recharge the battery while you drive. By the end of the drive the battery was fully charged without needing to plug it in, which I have to guess is how most owners will recharge the battery. It’s a lot more fun than turning it on.

Finally, let’s let Revuelto hijack us

As we rounded freeway bends and climbed to higher altitude, sport mode was fine. But the daytime fog was thick and wet, so I resisted the urge to turn the dial to Corsa or track mode. I wasn’t willing to risk losing the security of traction control despite the custom-built Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires that were designed for the Reveulto together with Lamborghini engineers to manage the supercar’s power for optimal grip.

Even “only” in Sport Revuelto mode delivers quick bursts of fun. Stepping on the gas pedal takes your breath away for a moment, the Revuelto’s power aided by a dual-clutch transmission that eliminates shift lag and shock, allowing the instant torque to sweep you away while the sound of the engine fills your ears. It’s glorious.

Surprising…relaxing?…driving

About halfway through the drive, I began to notice that my hands felt a bit looser than in previous Lamborghini outings, a surprise as this particular model packs considerably more power than the 769bhp produced by the Reveulto’s predecessor. Aventador.

Adding to the peace of mind is the Reveulto’s cabin, which is carefully designed with places for things and people. Our test model was equipped with comfortable seats that were, as predicted, comfortable. A shelf behind the seats allowed me to store my handbag and jacket, freeing up space for Yana’s legs. A pad under the multimedia screen held my phone securely, and cup holders that extended from the passenger-side dash gave us a place to store water bottles.

The cabin is made to make more engine noise to the driver than to the passenger, a detail that Yana and I noticed when we swapped seats. And despite the very low center of gravity, I was able to get in and out gracefully in a dress and felt completely comfortable both behind the wheel and in the passenger seat. This is not always the case with a powerful car; I credit the comfortable seats and the electric positioning that allowed me to raise the seat height significantly.

I can imagine driving the Reveulto comfortably on a longer trip, say from New York to the Hamptons or from Los Angeles to Pebble Beach.

Novak calms his nerves and takes the wheel

Soon, though, it was time to let my co-pilot take the wheel. We stopped and swapped positions, with me taking my seat in the co-pilot’s seat.

Jana was nervous. She’s never driven a Lamborghini, and since it’s not the usual switch layout, it can be a little unnerving. Professional Lamborghini driver Dean was there to go through all the controls – the steering wheel has 26 buttons for everything from high beams to windscreen wipers – boosting her confidence. Soon Jana pulled back on the starboard paddle and we were on the road again, the Lamborghini parade cheering people going about their lunchtime routine in the small towns we passed.

It wasn’t long before Jeanne showed confidence. As the wooded hills gave way to wide vistas, the road curved and the Reveulto ahead of us picked up speed. So did Yana and the car responded, pulling hard through every turn without even thinking about stopping; It was not necessary.

While Jana deserves credit for holding her nerve for a successful first time behind the wheel of a Lamborghini, the same goes for the Revuelto. Its engineers hoped to add comfort and confidence to driving, and they succeeded.

Revuelto has many more delights to discover

With a price starting at $604,000, and with options that can add about another $130,000 to the price, the Revuelto offers more than electric power. The rear-mounted motor lies open in its compartment, without glass or cover, for all to see. And it’s perfectly positioned so it accounts for much of the view you’ll see in the rearview mirror.

The front trunk is large for a supercar; it’s about four cubic feet, but Lamborghini says that’s enough room for two bags on board. This is also where the Revuelto’s charging plug is located and, in our test model, where the charging cable is stored.

A rear spoiler deploys at speeds over 50 MPH, though there’s a “lane mode” button on the steering wheel that lets you flex it at low speed whenever you want, as long as you’re in Sport or Corso mode (and of course, in front of bar where you’re sure to draw a crowd). There is a button to add a little lift to the front end to avoid scraping the front spoiler on speed bumps or corner alleys.

True to Lamborghini design, the Revuelto is equipped with scissor doors that can require some muscle to open and close. To open the door, press the latch release just below the center of the door panel exactly where you would expect to find it. Releasing the inner door is intuitive; grab the grip bar on the door panel and press the button under your thumb and lift and the door swings up. The doors are front hinged and are assisted by a hydraulic lift. Even with all the mechanics that make them easy to open, they can still require a solid grip and some muscle to open and close the doors.

But that might be all the hard work you’ll do all day at Revuelto. Despite its complicated switches and the need for a tutorial before you plug it in, it’s a gentle giant, welcoming when you need it and exciting when you’re ready for it.