A Pair of Automotive Bulls Birthed from Fire and Lightning
If you are looking for an Olympic wrestler in a bespoke Italian suit, or a supermodel who belongs to an underground fight club, look no further than Lamborghini’s latest offerings. Since its inception in 1963, Lamborghini has been one of the premier Italian supercar manufacturers to compete with the already well-established Ferrari. What better way to compete with Ferrari than to set up shop just down the road in Sant’Agata Bolognese, in what is now known as the Italian Motor Valley. Its residents include Maserati, Ducati, Pagani and the aforementioned motorheads playing around with engines in workshops. Lamborghini, the literal and metaphorical bull in the valley has separated itself from the other valley residents with its latest two offspring—the mature and understated Urus SE, and its rowdy cousin, the Revuelto. Both fuse the quiet elegance of electric motors and the raw power of naturally aspirated, fire breathing internal combustion engines. The sound and fury of fuel, air and fire now combine with the instantaneous power of lightning. These bulls will stomp on the terra.
The Urus SE (urus, oddly enough, is an extinct species of cow) has some impressive numbers. 800 horsepower (or CV to be accurate), 0-60 in just over three seconds, and an 80 percent reduction in emissions compared to its solely gas-powered predecessor. But those numbers barely scratch the surface of this marriage between a twin turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 and a 192-horsepower electric motor. This is not merely the addition of electricity on top of internal combustion, but multiplication where inputs create a sum that is exponentially greater. It is not just an academic exercise, but over-the-horizon theoretical mathematics. Initial testing of the Urus SE shows a 37-mile range on the electric motor. 37 miles may seem unimpressive, but keep in mind a 2025 Toyota RAV4 PHEV could only get you a few more miles down the road on its electric motor alone. What this really represents is a significant step forward for Lamborghini, a company that has traditionally prized uncompromising high-powered performance at any cost over efficiency. The folks at Lamborghini are combination of pale science nerds, brawny gas heads and elegant sartorialists. With skinny pedal underfoot is when the alchemy that Lamborghini’s chief technology officer Rouven Mohr’s work comes to life. Lamborghini’s design and technology teams have created a sophisticated PHEV SUV that can quietly slide through the drop-off line at school on the electric motor without frightening the children on the playground, and upon clearing the school zone, mash the loud pedal and wake the slumbering V-8 to feel the exhilaration of thundering hooves. The new Urus SE looks tough, muscular and exceptionally well dressed.
If a muscular SUV is not your cup of tea, then maybe the Urus SE’s cousin is. If the Urus SE is a theoretical math problem, the Revuelto is nothing short of automotive alchemy. The Revuelto (named after a famous Spanish fighting bull) is truly a supermodel that will punch you square in the face and you will still take it to dinner. The Revuelto is Lamborghini’s entry into the High-Performance Electric Vehicle space (HPEV). This is a machine crafted by placing two electric motors on the front wheels, and a third that is integrated into the eight-speed dual clutch transmission and also assists in powering the rear axle. This science experiment delivers 1001 combined horsepower and 739 lbs-ft of torque in a classic Lamborghini outrageously-styled body. That is tire shredding, push-you-into-your-seat power. This is Frankenstein’s monster in a little black dress. The electric motors are paired with the 6.5 liter V-12 to deliver instantaneous and unwavering power all the way through the power band. The application of supercar power has always been a brutal and sometimes violent experience. The Revuelto has turned the torque curve from a jagged mountain range of peaks and valleys into a nearly linear power arc. While other manufacturers have moved away from snarling big volume V-12s, Lamborghini has declared with magnificent defiance that you can have your cake and eat it, too. As for the styling, Lamborghini has not moved out of its comfort zone. This car looks bold, flat, and fast in park. It’s a Lamborghini. What did you expect?
Lamborghini has birthed two cars for the future. One a usable daily driver that you can take the family to the cabin in, and the other, a Saturday night special meant to be revved and let run. Leave the kids at home. These cars mark a new era for a company that is looking squarely into the future but also upholding its responsibility to the screaming exhausts and snarling engines of generations past. Lamborghini has not merely adopted electrification; it has put electrification on its shoulders and carried it forward. The other supercar offerings see hybrid systems as a path to efficiency and environmental responsibility. Lamborghini has recognized it as a key to unlocking unfathomable realms of performance. The electric age has arrived, and these two vehicles have maintained the sacred big bore V-8 and V-12 engines while augmenting them with electric assistance. These cars preserve the visceral and emotional connections that define Lamborghini. The Lamborghini badge remains alive and well suited for the new era of fire and lightning.
