Lamborghini’s future looks more than promising.
A new Lamborghini engine comes at most once per decade, and the Temerario, unveiled during this year’s The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, isn’t just the latest raging bull. It’s powered by a bespoke powertrain built just for it. We sat with Lamborghini’s Product Line Director, Paolo Racchetti, for a walk around Sant’Agata Bolognese’s latest supercar.
Some responses have been edited for clarity.
dR: The Temerario’s V8 is all-new. Was it developed fully in-house?
Racchetti: This is not just a turbo V8 engine; it’s a V8 turbo hybrid. We’re highlighting this because it has been developed by Lamborghini, tested by Lamborghini, and will be manufactured by Lamborghini. It will be used exclusively by Lamborghini.
Everyone else is investing in electric motors, but we also have to keep on doing the internal combustion engine because that’s what makes our car different and unique and the way it works with the electric motor. That provides an improved level of torque at low revs, so you basically have instantaneous responsiveness, optional tension, and zero turbo lag. Then we have the biggest turbines you can have to create a really big push.
dR: What inspired Lamborghini to build such a high-revving engine?
Racchetti: We wanted to provide the same driving engagement as the V10. Therefore, we had to find something different, something unique, and something that provides you a different sensation than just a turbo. And that’s why we have content coming straight from motorsports, such as the crankshaft and titanium con rods. That’s how we are able toreach 10,000 rpm.
It’s something you have to try because you really feel at 6,000 rpm that you’re already at the peak, but you have to resist. You have to say, “No, this car can go to 10,000 rpm.” And at the end of 6,000 to 10,000 rpm, that’s where the magic happens. We knew the V10 would be difficult to replace, and now we have this engine here that provides the best experience.
dR: How does the Temerario accommodate an electric motor and the battery pack while retaining its interior space?
Racchetti: If you think about the structure, it’s really complicated. We have a front E-axle with a front inverter, the battery in the runner, and then the engine and the transversal gearbox. So we had to develop this new body in white that had to not only be really light, but we also had to have space for people as tall as two meters (6’6 feet.) And then we are offering capacity for two cabin trolleys in the front and two behind the seats. The mission is to allow for weekend trips and without luggage space, that’s complicated, especially with a partner.
So roominess, luggage capacity, comfort of the seat, that’s really maximum level of comfort that you can have on a Lamborghini suitable for a long trip.
dR: Given its ability to cruise on electric power alone, do you envision customers driving their Temerario daily?
Racchetti: Yes. I really think that will happen. That’s what our customers were asking us and I’m pretty sure that will be one of the keys to its success. On one end, they’ll find an upper level of performance, a driving experience that nobody else is offering right now, thanks to the engine. But then you will have something that nobody’s expecting. For us, it’s a knockout factor. A versatile driving comfort and usability that is unexpected for this kind of car. And this is one of the key secret ingredients for its success.
This article appeared in our April 2025 Issue.
Introducing the 40th Anniversary April 2025 issue of duPont REGISTRY, #479, starring the cover of our first issue. To get your hands on a copy, either buy a single issue or subscribe.
