There’s something almost poetic about Estoril. The Atlantic breeze carries echoes of racing history, and the circuit’s flowing curves still remember the 1984 Portuguese Grand Prix when Niki Lauda edged out Alain Prost by just half a point to claim his third Formula 1 title. It’s also the stage where Ayrton Senna, in 1985, announced his arrival with a mesmerising drive in the rain, his first F1 victory and a prelude to greatness.
So when I arrived at Estoril to test Lamborghini’s latest creation — the striking new Temerario, it wasn’t just about performance figures. It was about tracing a legacy, with a car that redefines how power, precision, and emotion can coexist in the modern era.
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A hybrid that doesn’t compromise
The Temerario marks a new chapter for Lamborghini, the brand’s first twin-turbo V8 hybrid, and perhaps its most audacious yet. With 920 CV on tap, it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds, and hits 200 km/h in 7.1. On Estoril’s main straight, I personally touched 304 km/h effortlessly.
But this isn’t just about speed. What impressed me most was the fluidity of power delivery, wave after wave of acceleration, underpinned by a thunderous engine note that rises into a 10,000-rpm crescendo. The flat-plane crank V8 is raw yet refined, and when combined with three electric motors, it offers not just muscle but sharp, instantaneous response.
Iconic by design
Lamborghini calls the Temerario’s styling ‘essential and iconic’ and it’s easy to see why. From the hexagonal DRLs to the shark-nose front, the car looks like it belongs in tomorrow’s world, while staying unmistakably Lamborghini. Sharp lines, functional aerodynamics, and a visible engine under glass give it theater and authenticity. Every visual element has purpose cooling ducts, rear diffusers, even the roof’s central channel that guides air to the integrated spoiler. It’s a car sculpted by wind and ambition.
Luxury meets precision
Step inside, and the Temerario surprises. It’s roomier than the Huracán, offering more head and legroom, and even luggage space. Seats are both supportive and indulgent, trimmed in Alcantara and carbon fiber, with just enough digital polish — including three intuitive displays to feel futuristic, not overwhelming.
With 13 drive modes, from fully electric ‘Città’ for city cruising to ‘Corsa’ for track thrills (plus a drift mode for those brave enough), it adapts to mood and moment. All-wheel drive and torque vectoring bring poise to every corner, while regenerative braking and hybrid assist offer everyday usability without diluting the fun.
Connected emotion
Tech doesn’t end with performance. The Lamborghini Vision Unit turns the Temerario into a storyteller capturing track laps, syncing data with heart-rate monitors, and even recording in-cabin moments via three cameras. It’s the kind of feature that transforms a great drive into a lasting memory.
And when the V8 quiets down, the Sonus faber sound system takes over, delivering Italian acoustics as detailed as the stitching in the seats.
Legacy, reimagined
With the Temerario, Lamborghini completes its hybrid journey — not with compromise, but with clarity. This is a car that’s louder in personality, lighter in weight, sharper in engineering, and more expressive than ever before.
To put it in perspective: While Senna’s Lotus 97T reached 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and topped out around 330 km/h with no electronic aids the Temerario does it faster, with more control, comfort, and connection to the road, making me think wishfully I might have had a chance against him.
Driving the Temerario at Estoril, where legends once danced with speed, I found myself asking: If Senna were here, what would he make of this hybrid hurricane from Sant’Agata?
Something tells me… he’d have smiled and floored it.
