Lamborghini Reveulto Review: Electrifying for the sake of Performance

What we like:

Electrified V12 feels like a proper progress

Dual-clutch gearbox introduces everyday usability

Stunning looks

Comfy enough to daily

What we dislike:

V12 and electric motors may not respond as predictably as you're used to

How can we not celebrate this? Even if the Revuelto turned out to be a complete dud, the fact that it still has a naturally aspirated V12 in 2024 is something worth praise. It’s no coincidence too that Lamborghini is revealing this on its 60th anniversary year, as if it’s a show of defiance against powers that be that insist on killing the internal combustion engine. How many hoops did Lamborghini have to get through with regulators to get this on the road?

Umm, many?

I’m guessing one of them is marrying the V12 with a plug-in hybrid system, which gives the usual EV-only running capability (expect 10-12 km) and brake regeneration. Lamborghini calls the Revuelto a HPEV - High Performance Electrified Vehicle. As you can tell, the approach here is quite different. The V12 alone produces 127 PS per litre - already an impressive figure. But it doesn’t stop there. There are three electric motors in total, two at the front and one at the rear, powered by a 3.8 kWh lithium-ion battery. It works together with the V12 to generate 1015 PS - incredible by any measure.

Isn’t the Reveulto heavy with a PHEV drivetrain?

You can tell weight-saving is a high priority in the Reveulto, judging by the amount of carbon fibre (CF) you can see, and what you cannot see beneath the surface. CF is the principal structure element for the chassis, so when you open the doors you can see hints of it on the wheel arches and sills. Open the engine cover and you’ll realise that the whole cover is made of CF. So is the front bonnet. They look like bespoke, hand-made items too - so real that they might break if mishandled.

How do you charge the Lamborghini Reveulto?

Lamborghini placed the charging port at a very unusual location. It’s actually accessed under the front bonnet, with a special catch designed to lift the bonnet every so slightly to allow the cable to snake in while locked. Quite fussy, but also quite thoughtful at the same time. Not that you would be charging much, because when driven spiritedly in the sportier modes, the Reveulto is able to recharge its battery pretty quickly.

How crazy does the Lamborghini Reveulto look?

Inspired by aerospace elements, the Reveulto looks as out of this world as any V12 Lamborghini that came before it. Those scissor doors will stop swathes of people walking by. It’s absolutely wild, ridiculously low slung and has the most monstrous hexagonal-shaped exhausts that are mounted at the top of the rear. The pipes even come with a ‘Caution, Hot!’ sticker in both English and Chinese. I guess some unknowing people may try to touch it.

What are the other major differences in the Lamborghini Reveulto?

The other significant change with the Reveulto is the introduction of a 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox, a first for a 12-cylinder Lamborghini, and much welcomed to make the car way more usable and easy to live with. Some may lament the loss of the ‘rawness’ of the old gearbox, but rest assured the Reveulto is as involving as you wish. In fact, with the snappiness of the dual-clutch, the car feels even more responsive and exhilarating.

How fast is the Lamborghini Reveulto?

With a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 2.5 seconds and with a top speed of 350 km/h, the Reveulto is one of the fastest cars on the road. I didn’t feel the pace that much perhaps because I felt so at ease and confident in the driver’s seat. But passengers unequivocally said that the combination of the V12 and electric power was unlike anything they have ever felt before. I’d take their word for it.

How does the Lamborghini Reveulto handle?

When you push the Reveulto, the car is simply sensational. The V12 loves to sing, while the electric motors ensure it is never caught off-guard. No matter where you sit in the rev range, there is power. The brakes are terrifically good, enough to terrify passengers with late braking points, while road-holding is mind-blowingly magnificent.

One thing that takes getting used to though is the complex relationship between the electric motors and the V12. Rarely, it feels like they aren’t in sync for a split second, which in turn leads to a dash of unpredictability. This could be terrifying if your margin of error isn’t wide. However, the safety net is so good that you learn to trust the car anyway, and it delivers.

What if I just want to get to work in the Lamborghini Reveulto?

When you want to dial it down, EV mode is always there for you to dawdle about in silence. In this mode, four-wheel drive is still active, so there is a reasonably quick pace to be had without even switching on the V12.

At this tempo you will also appreciate the interior, which is finished in a spaceship-like design with a true cockpit feel. The sheer number of settings available on the steering wheel can be daunting at first, but it was surprisingly easy to get used to after a short while. There is a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 8.4-inch vertically-oriented display and the passenger gets their very own 9.1-inch display. The operating principle is based on the Audi systems, so in general it works really well, with pretty graphics and logical menus.

What’s the verdict on the Lamborghini Reveulto?

The car just feels so right for this often confused and misinformed world. Electrification for enthusiasts does not mean solely electric vehicles. For cars operating in this super luxury space, the engagement of a V12 is paramount. So the approach that Lamborghini took to meld the two contrasting ideals is dead clever, and oh so desirable. Hear hear, this is electrification done to perfection.

Photos by James Wong

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