Lamborghini Temerario track drive: Intelligent rage

What do you do when you have to follow up an icon? That’s the unenviable job the Lamborghini Temerario has been handed. It replaces the much-loved Huracán, a car powered by one of the most charismatic engines of the century – a howling, naturally aspirated V10 that made your neck hair stand every time it cleared its throat.

So, can a twin-turbo V8 hybrid really match up to that visceral drama?

Spoiler alert: it doesn’t try to. Instead, the Temerario rewrites the Lamborghini rulebook. It’s faster, far more sophisticated, and in many ways, easier to drive. But more importantly, it signals a turning point for Lamborghini: the shift from pure mechanical rage to digitally facilitated insanity. And in doing so, it opens a whole new chapter for the supercar.

Lamborghini Temerario powertrain

920hp, 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 hybrid.

At the heart of the Temerario lies a brand-new, in-house-developed 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. It features a flat-plane crank, a dry sump, and spins to a spine-tingling 10,000rpm – unheard of numbers for a production turbocharged engine that push it squarely into race-engine territory. On its own, the V8 makes a formidable 800hp and 730Nm of torque. But that’s just the beginning.

It’s backed up by a trio of axial-flux electric motors: one sandwiched between the engine and the all-new 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and two up front, one for each wheel. Together, they generate a system output of 920hp. The 3.8kWh battery may be small by EV standards, but it’s designed for performance, not range. Still, you do get about 10km of pure EV range in “Città” mode for low-speed, stealthy escapes – perfect for slipping out of your villa at dawn without waking the neighbours.

There’s no turbo lag – just one seamless, spine-compressing surge to 10,000rpm.

But performance, not politeness, is the priority here. The e-motors aren’t just there to fill torque gaps. They work with surgical precision, particularly the front-axle motors, which provide torque vectoring at a level the Huracán could only dream of. The rear e-motor, meanwhile, ensures throttle response is eerily immediate – there’s zero lag, just an unrelenting shove that builds all the way to the redline.

Lamborghini Temerario ride and handling

Drive modes alter aero profile.

What gives the Temerario its newfound agility isn’t just the powertrain but what it’s bolted onto. Built on a new all-aluminium space frame that has 20 percent higher torsional rigidity, the Temerario’s dynamic capabilities come with a great starting point.

Its double-wishbone suspension setup at both ends is paired with the latest generation of MagneRide Evo adaptive dampers. These are faster-reacting and more nuanced than before, designed to reduce pitch and roll while amplifying road connection and feel. You feel this especially under hard braking or quick direction changes – the car stays flat and planted but communicates clearly through the chassis.

The revised torque vectoring logic, now augmented by the electric front axle, transforms the way the car turns. In Corsa mode, it feels like the front end is being actively pulled into corners. The rear differential, electronically controlled, works in harmony with the front to apportion power with pinpoint precision. The result? You can rotate the car with throttle inputs alone, and even at the limit, which includes controlled power oversteer, it remains composed.

The steering, too, has seen a fundamental rethink. A quicker rack, more rigid mounting and clever packaging – made possible by moving the front drive to the e-motors – make the steering feel lighter but more accurate. Under the skin, it’s been sculpted by airflow. Lamborghini claims the aerodynamic package generates up to 35 percent more downforce than the Huracán Evo. The front splitter, aggressive rear diffuser and active rear wing all work in tandem. Crucially, the underbody is now a significant contributor to the total aero load.

Depending on your drive mode, the aero profile shifts. In Corsa, the wing deploys fully for max grip; in Strada, it tucks away to reduce drag and boost efficiency. It’s yet another example of how this Lambo has gone from brute force to intelligent force.

Lamborghini Temerario performance and refinement

0-100kph in just 2.7 seconds.

Estoril Circuit in Portugal was the stage for our first encounter with the Temerario’s full fury. On the very first straight, a hard squeeze of the throttle hurled the car forward with physics-defying force. 0-100kph flashes by in 2.7 seconds, 0-200kph takes just over 7 seconds, and the top speed? A searing 343kph.

And yet, what’s more impressive than the numbers is how the power is delivered. There’s no step-up, no pause, no turbo whoosh. It’s just one seamless, spine-compressing surge that builds relentlessly to that glorious 10,000rpm redline. The sound may not have the spine-tingling shriek of the V10, but the V8’s deep, guttural growl has its own savage appeal. It’s angry, raw and sounds best when you keep it pinned in the higher revs.

The gearbox deserves a shout-out, too. The new 8-speed DCT feels race-bred – snapping through upshifts with authority and barking on downshifts. Whether you’re cruising or charging, it never feels caught off-guard.

The real revelation, however, is not the straight-line speed – it’s how the Temerario dances. On a racetrack, it’s unflinchingly composed. Turn-in is razor-sharp, and the way the torque vectoring works behind the scenes is pure magic. It reads your intentions and adjusts power delivery to each wheel in milliseconds.

What’s even more impressive is how friendly it feels at the limit. In Corsa mode, the Temerario stays flat and progressive. Even under heavy braking, there’s no nervous twitchiness – just solid, predictable responses. The brake pedal, despite blending regen and friction braking, feels natural and confidence-inspiring, thanks to Lamborghini’s latest CCM-R carbon ceramic discs, which are lighter and more heat-resistant than before.

There’s also a Drift mode for when you want to let loose. It offers three levels of slip, ranging from mild yaw to full opposite-lock showboating. Unlike the Huracán, which had a bit of a snappy edge, the Temerario encourages you to explore its limits without biting back.

All of this is orchestrated by Lamborghini’s LDVI 2.0 brain – short for Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata. It’s the car’s central nervous system, using inputs from yaw, steering angle, vertical load and throttle to make real-time decisions about torque split, damping, aero, and more.

There are now clearer distinctions between drive modes. Strada is subdued, electric-first and well-suited for city duty. Sport wakes things up, makes the rear more active and brings out more drama from the engine. Corsa is flat-out attack mode: stiffest suspension, sharpest throttle, most aggressive aero. And if you spec the optional Rally mode – yes, really – it adds a dose of loose-surface playfulness, inspired by the Huracán Sterrato. It’s another example of how broad the Temerario’s personality has become.

Lamborghini Temerario exterior design and interior features

Hexagonal elements used for the exterior, optional passenger screen.

Styling is subjective, but the Temerario marks a shift in Lamborghini’s design language. Yes, there are still hexagonal elements (in the lights, air vents and high-mounted exhausts), and that sloping roofline remains unmistakably Lambo. But gone is the menacing scowl of the Huracán. In its place is a sleeker, more polished face.

High-set exhaust similar to Revuelto.

A key part of that change is the lighting signature. The Y-shaped daytime running lamps that gave the Huracán its instantly recognisable, angry glare have been dropped. This isn’t by accident but a deliberate choice stemming from Lamborghini’s evolving design hierarchy. The Y-motif is now reserved for the Revuelto, while the Temerario leans more heavily into hexagonal themes to establish a clearer visual distinction between models.

Hexagonal design elements give Temerario visual distinction.

As a result, the Temerario looks less aggressive, less overtly furious than its predecessor. Some might say it’s lost a bit of the visual menace that made Lamborghinis feel like rolling tantrums. It still turns heads, no doubt, but there’s a new air of restraint in its proportions and detailing.

It’s a design that tries to balance shock and sophistication – perhaps too successfully. Some may feel it has lost a bit of the wild-eyed madness that made Lambos iconic. But the detailing is rich, and the proportions are pure supercar. From some angles, especially the rear three-quarter, it looks positively stunning.

Cabin is more spacious and comfortable than Huracán’s.

Step inside, and the Temerario echoes what we saw in the Revuelto. The fighter-jet DNA is still present, but it’s been filtered through a sleeker, more user-friendly interface. You get three screens – a digital driver display, a central touchscreen and an optional passenger display for co-pilot bragging rights.

There’s a wireless charging pad, USB-C ports, cup holders (finally) and vastly improved seats. Lamborghini says a third of its owners use their cars daily, and the cabin now reflects that reality. There’s more space, more comfort and better ergonomics, but the absence of door pockets is a miss. All in all, this is a very liveable car and possibly the first Lambo you wouldn’t mind being stuck in traffic in.

Lamborghini Temerario price and verdict 

What will certainly shock Lambo buyers in India is the pricing. At Rs 6 crore (ex-showroom), the Temerario is 50 percent pricier than the Huracán Tecnica it replaces. That in itself is a staggering leap. But what’s even more startling is that it’s over 10 percent more expensive than the Ferrari 296 GTB hybrid here in India – a gap that’s notably wider than in most international markets.

Yes, this is Lamborghini’s most advanced V8 car ever. Yes, on spec, performance and innovation, it trumps the 296. But there’s no denying that in India, the cutting-edge brilliance of the Temerario comes at an elevated cost.  

So, where does the Temerario stand? It’s not the fire-breathing, shouty drama queen the Huracán was. Instead, it’s calmer, smarter and more sophisticated. It’s the Lamborghini that won’t scare you stupid. It’s also the Lamborghini that might tempt you to drive it every day.

It doesn’t chase the old-school thrills of a naturally aspirated V10. Instead, it embraces a digital future, where performance doesn’t just mean being blisteringly fast – but intelligent. And while some purists may scoff at a hybrid Lambo with electric torque and torque vectoring, the truth is: the Temerario may well be the most complete Lamborghini sports car yet.

Faster, yes. But also more rounded, more capable and more rewarding in ways the Huracán never was. In short, it’s the most evolved bull yet. And in its own high-tech, growling way, that’s revolutionary.

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