Lamborghini Revuelto First Test: A Power Monster with a Gentle Soul

Maybe it’s worth buying a Lamborghini for the smile, just for yours. Not yours, but the smiles of passers-by, pedestrians and other drivers who stop and smile, delighting the 10-year-old boy inside them, even if it’s a 50-year-old man or a 35-year-old woman. Everyone feels like a beloved child in the presence of this car.

But Lamborghinis are also intimidating. Aggressive power, a sharp silhouette that seems forged into the shape, a V12 engine that roars. And they’re notoriously complicated to drive, designed for the speed of not just the car but the driver, from the paddle shifters to better control the engine’s output to the steering wheel buttons that control just about everything. Starting up is more like launching a rocket. And for the uninitiated, simply shifting into gear can be a headache; there’s no “drive” mode on the gear selector.

All of that remains true in the Revuelto, Lamborghini’s first plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Revuelto, which starts at $604,000, builds on Lamborghini’s legacy of power and speed, augmenting the V12’s output with three electric motors powered by a 3.8-kWh battery pack 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 disappointing to press the start button and hear only the electronic chime and see the graphics scroll across the screens. But don’t let the Lamborghini Revuelto fool you: a quick twist of the metallic red gear selector and instantly its roar shakes you, surprising even when you’re expecting it. It’s that deeply resonant.

Upon first starting the Reveulto, it’s quiet in Citta, or city, mode, like any electric car. With four miles of range in electric mode, it allows the driver to be considerate of those around them who aren’t expecting the roar of the raging bull. Pulling the right paddle to shift into gear (it’s the default mode for driving), I got in line as our stealthy procession of six Reveultos emerged from the morning fog and onto a local road to begin our drive through New York’s Catskills. The day and the region promised curves, hills, and stretches to relax the Revuelto’s power, at least a little bit.

Engage your co-pilot during the journey

Once on the road, I put the drive mode selector in Strada, or urban mode, and immediately heard and felt the power of the V12. A gentle press of the accelerator filled the cabin with the sound of the engine. Soon we were cruising along back roads, the engine serving as a backdrop to a conversation with Jana, my partner. She could follow the engine dynamics, charge level, speed, and drive mode on the Reveulto’s co-pilot display, a narrow screen that spans the passenger-side dashboard.

To make sure we had enough electric power for a sneaky ride back to the neighborhood where we started our day, I set the EV mode selector 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 assume is how most owners recharge their battery. It’s so much more fun than plugging it in.

And finally, let the Revuelto carry us away

As we took on the highway’s twisties and climbed to higher altitudes, Sport mode was in order. But the day’s fog was thick and damp, so I resisted the urge to switch to Corsa, or track, mode. I wasn’t willing to risk losing the security of traction control despite the bespoke Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires, which were designed for the Reveulto with Lamborghini engineers to manage the supercar’s power for optimal grip on the road.

Even in Sport mode, the Revuelto feels fast and enjoyable. Pressing the accelerator all the way down will take your breath away for a moment. The Revuelto’s power is assisted by a dual-clutch transmission that eliminates lag and jerkiness when changing gears, letting the instant torque carry you away while the engine’s sound fills your ears. It’s glorious.

A surprisingly… relaxing walk?…

Halfway through our ride, I began to notice that my hands were a little more relaxed than on previous Lamborghini outings—a surprise, since this particular model packs a lot more power than the 769 hp produced by the Reveulto’s predecessor, the Aventador.

The Reveulto’s thoughtfully designed cabin adds to the car’s relaxed atmosphere. Our tester was equipped with comfort seats that were, as expected, comfortable. A shelf behind the seats allowed me to stow my handbag and jacket, freeing up legroom for Jana. A cushion under the multimedia screen held my phone securely, and cupholders that extended from the passenger-side dashboard allowed us to store water bottles.

The cabin is designed to deliver more engine noise to the driver than to the passenger, a detail Jana and I noticed when we swapped seats. And despite the very low center of gravity, I was able to climb in and out gracefully in my dress and was perfectly comfortable behind the wheel and in the passenger seat. That’s not always the case in a performance car; credit to the comfortable seats and the power positioning that allowed me to raise the seat height considerably.

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

A beginner calms her nerves and takes the wheel

But soon it was time to let my co-driver take the wheel. We stopped and swapped positions, me taking my place in the co-driver’s seat.

Jana was nervous. She had never driven a Lamborghini before and since this wasn’t the usual layout of the controls, it could be a little disconcerting. Professional Lamborghini driver Dean was there to explain all the controls to her (the steering wheel has 26 buttons for everything from high beams to windshield wipers), which gave her confidence. Soon, Jana pulled the right paddle and we were back on the road, the parade of Lamborghinis delighting the people going about their lunchtime business in the small towns we passed.

Soon, Jana was showing confidence. As the wooded hills gave way to breathtaking vistas, the road curved and the Reveulto in front of us accelerated. Jana did the same and the car responded, squeezing hard into each turn without even thinking about braking; it wasn’t necessary.

If Jana deserves credit for keeping his cool for a successful first time behind the wheel of a Lamborghini, the same goes for the Revuelto. His engineers hoped to add comfort and confidence to the driving experience, and they succeeded.

Revuelto still has many other delights to discover

With a starting price of $604,000 and options that can add about $130,000 to the price, the Revuelto offers more than just electric power. The rear-mounted engine is open in its compartment, with no glass or cover, for all to see. And it’s perfectly positioned so that much of the view is visible in the rearview mirror.

The front trunk is pretty big for a supercar: It’s about four cubic feet, but Lamborghini says that’s enough space for two rolling bags. It’s also where the Revuelto’s charging port is located and, in our tester, where the charging cord was stowed.

A rear wing deploys at over 50 mph, but a “bar mode” button on the steering wheel lets you deploy it at low speeds whenever you want, provided you’re in Sport or Corso mode (and of course, in front of a bar where you’ll surely attract a crowd). A button adds a bit of lift to the front to keep the front wing from scraping over speed bumps or sharp driveways.

True to Lamborghini design, the Revuelto features scissor doors that can take a bit of force to open and close. To open the door, press the release latch just under the center portion of the door panel, where you’d expect to find it. The inside door release is intuitive: hold the grab bar on the door panel and press the button under your thumb, then lift and the door swings open. The doors are front-hinged and assisted by a hydraulic cylinder. Even with all the mechanisms to make them easy to open, it can still take a firm grip and some force to open and close the doors.

But that might be all the heavy lifting you’ll have to do all day with the Revuelto. Despite its complicated switches and the need for a tutorial before you get it up and running, it’s a gentle giant, welcoming when you need it and exciting when you’re ready.