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2026 Lamborghini Temerario review: we drive all-new replacement for the Huracan
Lamborghini's smallest sports car is now a plug-in hybrid, combining a frenetic high-revving V8 petrol engine with three electric motors to give the new Temerario Ferrari-beating pace
On sale Early 2026 Price from £260,035
If you’re a classical music fan who’s recently learned to appreciate heavy metal, you might appreciate the all-new Lamborghini Temerario.
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Why? Well, this sports car's predecessor, the Lamborghini Huracán, had a much-loved, naturally aspirated V10 engine. When you revved out it made automotive music akin to the London Symphony Orchestra in full swing: sweet, soulful, melodic. But, for emissions reasons, the Temerario has a new and rather unique plug-in hybrid (PHEV) set-up, which is more like Ozzy Osbourne (RIP) cranked up to eleventy.
Its new mid-mounted 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V8 is supported by three electric motors. One sits between the engine and the quick-shifting eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and drives the rear wheels. The other two power the front wheels.
Like the Huracán, then, the Temerario has four-wheel drive. Unlike the Huracán, it can run for around six miles on electric power from the 3.8kWh PHEV battery.
Stuart Milne
Updated: 24 July 2025
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Ferrari 296 GTB
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But that’s merely an aside. The big news is that the V8 is of the flat-plane-crank variety – a design synonymous with race-car V8s and some of the iconic mid-engined Ferraris of old. The Temerario’s V8 revs to a mind-boggling 10,000rpm, which is mesmerisingly high for a turbocharged production car.
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What’s the Lamborghini Temerario like to drive?
The point is, it’s no longer sweet and soulful like the old V10. It’s gruff, angry and churns vibrations into your body, rather like Black Sabbath. A very different character, then, but still musical and hugely thrilling. It makes the V6 in the Ferrari 296 GTB sound introverted.
It’s also exceedingly powerful. The V8 alone makes 789bhp, with the electric motors adding another 118bhp and helping to smooth out the power delivery. How fast? The 0-62mph sprint takes 2.7 seconds. At the end of the pit straight at the Estoril circuit in Portugal the Temerario was doing nearly 200mph. That’s as fast as the F1 cars were when they raced there.
Despite the rapidity it’s not frightening on track (we haven't driven it on a public road yet). The power is easy to meter so it doesn’t feel like it’ll spit you into the scenery every time you touch the accelerator.
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Similarly, the handling is engaging rather than spiteful, with masses of grip. And it’s also huge fun if you want it to be, because in Sport mode the Temerario slides effortlessly at the rear on the exit of corners. Corsa mode is more focused, sharpening its responses for more balanced handling and quicker lap times. There’s also a drift mode if you want to get silly.
The standard carbon-ceramic brakes are progressive and super strong, while the steering’s accurate and nicely weighted. It lacks the ultimate feel and dexterity of the steering in the Porsche 911 GT3 though. As for the ride, that’s hard to gauge on a track, but the Temerario rides the kerbs well, which bodes well.
What’s the Lamborghini Temerario like inside?
The performance is now off the scale but it’s more rational than the outgoing Huracán inside. There’s more head and leg room for a start, with plenty of room for a 6ft 3in tall driver. There's also more storage and a boot space big enough to swallow a weekend’s worth of luggage.
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It’s also beautifully finished and feels well screwed together, with a driving position that’s easy to get along with. The clear instruments help on that score, as do the physical buttons on the steering wheel – they’re much easier to operate than the fiddly haptic controls in the Ferrari 296 GTB. The standard comfort seats should leave you ache-free on long road trips, while the optional bucket seats offer more side support for quick cornering.
Another option is the lightweight Alleggerita Pack. That adds more carbon inside and out, reducing weight by 25kg – or 30kg if you add the carbon-fibre wheels – and adding more peak downforce.
2026 Lamborghini Temerario verdict
So the Temerario’s character is completely different to the Huracán’s but it's arguably no less thrilling. Its performance reaches new extremes and combines with playful, easy-to-access handling. It’s not as focused on track as a Porsche 911 GT3 RS but it’s more entertaining than the McLaren Artura. It might just outdo the Ferrari 296 GTB on that score too, but we’ll have to try the Temerario on the road to be absolutely sure. That's why, for now, it’s one star behind its key rival.
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What Car? Says
The Lamborghini Temerario delivers stunning pace from a V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain that’s different in character to its predecessor but still hugely exciting.
What Car? rating: 4 stars out of 5
Lamborghini Temerario
Price £260,035 Engine 8cyl, 3,995cc, turbocharged, petrol, three electric motors Power 907bhp at 9,000-9,750rpm Torque 538lb ft at 4,000- 7,000rpm Gearbox 8-spd dual-clutch automatic, four-wheel drive 0-62mph 2.7sec Top speed 213mph Official fuel economy 25.2mpg CO2, tax band 272g/km, 37%
Rivals:
Ferrari 296 GTB
Read more: The best sports cars
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