2026 Lamborghini Temerario: Raging Bull vs. Mother Nature

As one would imagine, we were super excited about the prospect of ​​driving the all-new Lamborghini Temerario at the prestigious Sonoma Raceway. That car on that track? Talk about an exhilarating experience—made even sweeter by the thought of escaping the first few snowflakes of the season up in the Great White North. However, things didn't go exactly as planned, as torrential rain battered the region during the six hours we were allotted at the track.

This was part of a nearly three-week-long drive program hosted by Lamborghini and aimed at select customers in addition to members of the media. With Mother Nature screwing everything up on the day we were there, officials and driving instructors racked their brains to try and find a plan B, knowing that time was limited and that the tarmac would be soaked.

• Also: 2025 Lamborghini Revuelto: Delicately Violent
• Also: Lamborghini Temerario Debuts in Toronto, Canadian Pricing Announced

At one point, the rain was so heavy that attempting any kind of manoeuvre on the track was unfathomable. But then, against all odds and following a few safety reminders, we were given the green light to explore the formidable twists and turns of Sonoma—weather be damned.

While personnel were busy reconfiguring the track and setting up an autocross course, we seized the opportunity to learn more about the Temerario’s design, powertrain, chassis and interior layout. Honestly, the latest Lambo is a real looker, both refined and raging, and is likely to stand the test of time. While the high-mounted tailpipes are anything but subtle, the cat-like appearance of the long and slim headlights contributes to a more elegant front fascia than that of the extravagant Revuelto.

Only the coupe has been introduced so far. The Temerario Spyder is set to join the lineup shortly, and both will be followed by even more performance-focused models—similar to the outgoing Huracán Technica, Performante and STO. Let’s not forget the sensational Huracán Sterrato. We bet Lamborghini has an off-road variant of the Temerario in mind, but no one knows when it might come out.  

Sexy and Accommodating

The Temerario can be personalized with a choice of over 400 standard body colours, in addition to bespoke options. Lamborghini says that it never refuses a customer’s preferred colour, no matter how wild, because everyone has their own taste. Has there ever been units with dubious or even tasteless colour and material combinations? Sure, the company admits, but that’s more of a problem with certain other automakers (whose names we won't mention).

The interior, which is more spacious and easier to access than the late Huracán’s, allows more users to feel comfortable. Legroom is increased by 45 mm and headroom by 35 mm. Plus, there’s space for two suitcases behind the seats. The Temerario definitely can't be called practical, but a couple could go on a short getaway without feeling too restricted. Incidentally, the front trunk has a capacity of 112 litres—perfect for extra luggage.

Behind the wheel, we quite enjoyed the easy-to-read instrument panel and driver-friendly, 8.4-inch centre touch screen in a vertical layout, the latter offering nearly flawless ergonomics. On that note, the Temerario could teach the Ferrari 296 GTB a few lessons. The various drive modes are easily located, although they do require a little getting used to. You see, the Huracán’s successor incorporates much more advanced technology, making it vital for customers to pay attention to everything the salesperson says upon taking delivery of the car.

Full Hybrid Trio

By joining the aforementioned Revuelto and the Urus SE, the Temerario completes a trio of electrified Lamborghinis. This entry-level supercar houses a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that generates 789 horsepower through a new dual-clutch transmission and pairs with three electric motors including one sandwiched between the engine and transmission and two others on the front axle. Total output is 907 horsepower.

In Citta mode (city), the Temerario can operate on pure battery power using only the front motors. Zero-emission range is approximately 10 km, allowing drivers to exit their peaceful neighbourhood or an urban area in silent fashion before the V8 starts to roar. Depending on the selected drive mode, the engine can charge the 3.8kWh battery mounted between the two seats, eliminating the need to plug in the car to drive in electric mode again.

Those two front motors also help significantly improve the car's handling, acting as torque-vectoring units on the front axle to stabilize the chassis regardless of the conditions. Not only that, but they also provide exceptional torque from a standstill, while the turbocharger takes over after 2,000 rpm, allowing the V8 to finally deliver its maximum output between 7,000-10,000 rpm. That’s right: the Temerario can rev up to 10,000 rpm and sounds just like a Formula 1 car in the process. As you can imagine, it's a treat for the ears.

Of course, given the soaking wet track and the windshield wipers working almost as hard as the tires, we couldn’t possibly push the new Temerario to the limit at Sonoma. However, a few straight runs allowed us to get a feel for the capabilities of this magnificent machine. Later, as we drove around the small autocross course hastily laid out by the team, we discovered the benefits of its powertrain setup in Sport and Corsa (race) modes. As for Strada (street) mode, it's best used off-track.

Combining these modes with the ability to drive in Hybrid, Recharge or Performance mode results in no fewer than 13 driving combinations. Just so you know, it’s possible to send almost all of the available torque to the rear wheels and leverage variable torque management on the rear axle to make use of Drift mode which, from our experience, is when the V8 truly roars to life.

Simply Solid

While the Ferrari 296 GTB feels lighter and displays more razor-sharp handling, we must admit that the Temerario proves more robust and more solid. And yet, it makes absolutely no compromises when it comes to driving pleasure, which is exceptional. This Lamborghini also benefits from shared technology with the Volkswagen Group, leading us to believe that it could trump McLarens and Ferraris in terms of reliability.

The Temerario is not as demanding as the Huracán, and as a result the driver feels much more in control. Purists shouldn’t worry—it retains the allure of a true exotic car and doesn’t feel like an excessively complicated hybrid with tangible compromises.

Naturally, we can’t wait to take it for a spin on public roads and again on a track—this time under dry and sunny conditions—just to feel the grip of the tires and discover how well it handles in various settings. We also want to spend more time analyzing each of its numerous components. But sure enough, the Temerario lived up to its name on that particular rainy day in California.