Key Takeaways

• Lamborghini’s new plug-in hybrid V8 supercar could potentially output over 900 horsepower.
• The Temerario aims to avoid cannibalizing the bigger Revuelto’s V12 output with nearly 100 fewer horsepower.
• Despite similar base components, Lamborghini will make the V8 a more visceral experience with torque fill instead of outright power.

Lamborghini is getting ready to unveil the successor to the Huracan, and in the run-up to an official unveiling, has confirmed the loss of the naturally aspirated V10 engine in favor of a plug-in hybrid, twin-turbo V8 that revs to 10,000 rpm. But the one thing Lamborghini hasn’t told us about the powertrain is what the total output will be. However, in a recent LinkedIn post, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann gave us a better ballpark estimate of what the baby Lambo should deliver.

It wasn’t an exact output, but Herr Winkelmann confirmed that “the twin-turbo V8 engine, combined with a hybrid system incorporating three electric motors, optimized with a max output of over 900 CV.” CV is one of the units used to indicate metric horsepower, which, converted to American units, is 887.7 horsepower. This is by no means a final figure, but it gives us insight into what Lamborghini is aiming for and how it intends to avoid cannibalizing the Revuelto.

Recapping The 10,000-RPM V8’s Figures

The reason for concern over cannibalizing the bigger Revuelto is that the base figures from the new V8 in the Temerario – the expected name based on a slew of trademark filings across the globe discovered by CarBuzz – are remarkably close to those of the Revuelto’s V12.

For reference, the Revuelto’s naturally aspirated V12 produces 814 hp and 535 lb-ft, while its combined output is a monumental 1,001 hp. With just 25 hp separating the two cars and a torque deficit for the Revuelto, it’s not surprising there were concerns over the Temerario stepping on its big brother’s toes, especially once we learned that the Temerario’s rear e-motor would have 110 lb-ft more torque than that of the Revuelto.

The Temerario’s Turbos Are The Secret To Its Final Output

Turbocharged motors notoriously don’t rev particularly high, as when the emphasis is put on high power outputs, there’s a huge engine speed range where there simply isn’t enough exhaust flow to spool up the turbos. So, for the Temerario to reach 10,000 rpm is a pretty big deal. But it’s because of this sky-high redline that it won’t step on the Revuelto’s toes. Instead of the e-motors’ outputs being added to the engine’s peak power (as is the case with the Revuelto), we suspect Lamborghini will use them in an entirely different fashion, torque-filling below 4,000 rpm when the engine is off boost.

While there will be some top-end benefit, by capping the Temerario at circa 900 hp and using the electrification elsewhere, Lamborghini can give the baby Lambo an entirely different personality from the Revuelto without compromising on the engagement and freneticism of the old V10. With a reveal scheduled for later this year, there’s more to be learned about the next hybrid Lamborghini. But it’s already shaping up to be a monster.