Lamborghini Revuelto First Drive: A Power Monster With A Gentle Soul

It might be worth buying a Lamborghini for the smiles alone. Not yours, but those of passersby, pedestrians and other motorists who pause and smile, delighting their inner 10 year-old-boy—even if they are a 50 year old man or a 35 year old woman. Everyone feels like an adoring kid in the presence of this car.

But Lamborghinis are also intimidating. Aggressive horsepower, a sharp silhouette that looks forged into shape, a V12 engine that roars to life. And they are known to be complicated to drive, engineered for speed not just of the car, but of the driver, from paddle shifters to better control engine power to steering wheel buttons that control just about everything. Starting it feels more like the process of launching a rocket. And for the uninitiated, just shifting into gear can be head-scratching; there is no “drive” mode on the gear selector.

All those things continue to be true in the Revuelto, the first ever plug-in hybrid electric powertrain from Lamborghini. Revuelto, priced from $604,000, builds on the Lamborghini legacy of power and speed, increasing the output of the V12 engine with three electric motors powered by a 3.8 kWh battery that together produce 1,015 hp and the promise of lightning fast acceleration: a 0-60 time of 2.3 seconds.

A Stealth Start Lets You Choose When To Roar

It’s almost disappointing to press the starter button and only hear the electronics chime and see the graphics flash across the screens. But don’t let the Lamborghini Revuelto fool you; a quick twist of the glowing red metallic gear selector dial and instantly its roar shakes you, startling even when you’re expecting it. It’s that deeply reverberating.

On first ignition, the Reveulto is silent in Citta, or city, mode, as any electric car is. With four miles of electric driving range, it allows the driver to be considerate of those around who are not expecting the Raging Bull’s roar. Pulling the right paddle shifter to put the car into gear (this is the default for drive mode), I fell into line as our stealth procession of 6 Reveultos rolled out of the morning fog and onto a local road to begin our drive through New York’s Catskills mountains. The day, and the region, promised curves, hills and stretches to unwind the Revuelto’s power, at least just a little bit.

Engaging Your Co-Pilot On The Drive

Once on the road I set the drive mode selector to Strada, or street mode, and instantly heard and felt the power of the V12. A light tap of the accelerator filled the cabin with the engine’s sound. Soon, we were sailing along the back roads, the engine as a backdrop to conversation with Jana, my companion. She was able to follow the engine’s dynamics, charge level, speed and drive mode on the Reveulto’s co-pilot display, a narrow screen that spans the passenger’s side dashboard.

To ensure we had enough electric power for a stealth return to the neighborhood where we began our day, I flipped the EV mode dial to “recharge” which will recharge the battery as you drive. By the end of the drive the battery was fully charged with no need to plug it in, which I have to guess is how most owners will repower the battery. It’s so much more fun than plugging it in.

And Finally, Letting The Revuelto Whisk Us Away

As we rounded the highway’s curves and climbed to a higher altitude, Sport mode was in order. But the day’s fog was heavy and damp, so I resisted the urge to turn the dial to Corsa, or track mode. I wasn’t ready to risk losing the security of traction control despite the bespoke Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires, which were designed for the Reveulto alongside Lamborghini’s engineers to manage the supercar’s power for optimal grip on the road.

Even “only” in Sport mode the Revuelto delivers quick bursts of fun. Flooring the accelerator steals your breath for a moment, the Revuelto’s power assisted by a dual clutch-aided transmission that eliminates lag and shift shock, letting the instant torque whisk you away while the sound of the engine fills your ears. It’s glorious.

A Surprisingly…Relaxing?…Drive

About half way through our drive, I began to notice that my hands felt a little more relaxed than on previous Lamborghini outings, a surprise, since this particular model carries significantly more power than the 769 hp produced by Reveulto’s predecessor, the Aventador.

Adding to the relaxed feel is the cabin of the Reveulto, which is thoughtfully designed with places for things and people. Our test model was equipped with comfort seats which were, as intended, comfortable. A shelf behind the seats allowed me to stow my handbag and jacket, freeing up leg room for Jana. A pad under the multimedia screen held my phone securely and cup holders that extend from the passenger-side dash gave us a place to stow water bottles.

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

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

A Newbie Quells Her Nerves And Takes The Wheel

Soon, though, it was time to let my co-pilot take the wheel. We pulled over and traded positions, me taking my place in the co-pilot’s seat.

Jana was nervous. She’d never driven a Lamborghini, and as it’s not the usual layout of switch gear, it can be a little unnerving. Lamborghini’s pro driver, Dean, was there to walk through all the controls—the steering wheel has 26 buttons for everything from high beam headlights to windshield wipers—boosting her confidence. Soon Jana pulled back the right paddle and again we were on the road, the parade of Lamborghinis delighting people going about their midday routines in the small towns we passed through.

Before long, Jana was showing confidence. As the wooded hills gave way to sweeping vistas, the road curved and the Reveulto ahead of us pushed its speed. So did Jana, and the car responded, pulling tightly into each curve without even a thought of braking; it wasn’t necessary.

While Jana deserves credit for steeling her nerves for a successful first time behind the wheel of a Lamborghini, so does the Revuelto. Its engineers hoped to add comfort and confidence to the drive experience, and they were successful.

The Revuelto Has Plenty More Delights to Discover

With a price tag that starts at $604,000, and with options that can add another $130,000 or so to the price, the Revuelto delivers more than electric-boosted power. The rear-mounted engine lies open in its compartment, without glass or a cover, for all to see. And it’s perfectly positioned so it’s much of the view you’ll see in the rear view mirror.

The front boot is sizable for a super car; it’s about four cubic feet but Lamborghini says that’s enough space for two roll-aboard bags. This is also where the plug is found for charging the Revuelto and in our test model, where the charge cord was stored.

A rear spoiler deploys at speeds over 50 MPH, though there’s a “bar mode” button on the steering wheel that allows you to flex it at low speed whenever you like, as long as you’re in Sport or Corso mode (and of course, in front of a bar where you’ll surely draw a crowd). There’s a button to add a bit of lift to the front end to avoid scraping the front spoiler on speed bumps or angular driveways.

True to Lamborghini design, the Revuelto is outfitted with scissor doors that can demand a little muscle to open and close. To open the door, press the latch release just under the center portion of the door panel right where you’d expect to find it. The interior door release is intuitive; hold the grab bar on the door panel and press the button under your thumb and lift, and the door swings up. The doors are front-hinged and assisted by a hydraulic lift. Even with all the mechanics to make them easy to open, they can still can demand a solid grip and some muscle to both open and close the doors.

But that could be all the heavy lifting you’ll do all day in the Revuelto. Despite its complicated switches and need for a tutorial before putting it in gear, it’s a gentle giant, welcoming when you need it and thrilling when you’re ready for it.