New data reveals that Londoners are more likely to choose an EV for their next car than drivers from any other region of the UK.
The research, undertaken by Kwik Fit, found that more than a quarter (27 percent) of motorists in the capital plan to own an electric car.
By comparison, just one in 14 (seven percent) of those in south-west England say they are likely to opt for an electric car in the near-future.
Regional disparities for EV ownership
The research found that nine percent of London-based motorists currently own an EV, the joint highest proportion in the survey.
This was tied with respondents from the West Midlands, although only 22 percent of drivers in that region were considering an EV as their next car.
A key takeaway from the survey was that UK regions with lower existing levels of EV ownership typically saw fewer drivers planning to go electric in the future.
For example, only three percent of those surveyed in south-west England currently own an electric car, with respondents in Yorkshire and Humberside at the same level. And motorists from these two regions also expressed the least intention to buy an EV.
The electric direction of travel
Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “Government and industry need to work together to ensure that some regions are not left behind as the national car parc transitions over the coming years. One could assume that the different driving patterns or traffic levels in different areas could lead to contrasting attitudes towards EVs, but the fact that the south west and the south east regions have very similar results show it’s not as simple as that.
“Infrastructure varies across the country, but not always in the way you might think. For instance, government data shows that there are three times more public EV charging devices per head in Cornwall or North Devon than there are in Basildon or Tunbridge Wells. Every driver will have their own reasons for choosing the car they do, but it’s important to ensure that they are making their decisions on the basis of equal opportunities.”
Once drivers have made the commitment to electric car ownership, however, the research suggests they are highly unlikely to swap back. An 80 percent majority of EV drivers said their next car would also be electric, with just one in 10 planning to buy a petrol or diesel car instead.
By contrast, less than half (46 percent) of petrol car owners, and 35 percent of diesel drivers, intend to stay with the same fuel for their replacement car.
Callum has revealed the interior of the new Skye – a mould-breaking, British-made electric off-roader, due in 2026.
The Skye’s cabin is surprisingly spacious for a compact car, including two child-sized rear seats that fold down to boost luggage capacity. Its minimalist aesthetic is combined with high-end materials, plus near-endless scope for personalisation.
I sat inside the Skye at a special preview in central London, then spoke to Callum’s chief designer about the car and what to expect when the production version arrives in 2026.
A history of great design
A quick recap first: Callum is a design and engineering consultancy established by Ian Callum CBE, who spent 20 years as design director at Jaguar. Highlights from Ian Callum’s career include the F-Type, 2009 XJ and C-X75 concept, along with the Aston Martin Vanquish and Ford Puma coupe.
One of Callum’s first projects was to give the original Vanquish the restomod treatment, with brawnier styling, more power and a six-speed manual gearbox. We drove the Callum Vanquish 25 in 2020, saying: ‘While its powertrain feels old-school, the Vanquish has impressively modern manners. Its ride is supple enough for British B-roads, yet controlled enough to inspire confidence. The steering bristles with detail and the chassis seems to roll up its sleeves and work with you, only shifting from neutrality to oversteer if provoked.’
More recently, Callum has also revisited the Jaguar C-X75 – famous for its role in James Bond film, Spectre – making it road-legal and fitting a supercharged V8 engine. However, the Skye is the first vehicle developed by the company from a clean slate.
For road or rough terrain
Intended as an all-terrain sports car, or even a ‘Tarmac rally car’, the Skye is propelled by two electric motors (one on each axle) and a 42kWh lithium-ion battery, providing a range of about 170 miles.
Power and torque outputs of 250hp and 227lb ft respectively, combined with target dry weight of 1,150kg, should mean 0-62mph in less than four seconds. Advanced battery tech could allow a full charge in just 10 minutes, too.
Two specifications will be offered. The ‘dynamic’ car seen here is targeted at sporty road driving, while the ‘capable’ version is designed for rough terrain, from sand dunes to ski slopes. Callum is aiming to build 50 cars per year, at prices ranging from £80,000 to £110,000.
Inside the Callum Skye
I first explore the interior of the Skye using a virtual reality headset, which is impressive but quite disorientating. Then I jump aboard prototype number 001 – finished in Callum’s signature shade of ‘Vitamin C’ orange – with head of design, Aleck Jones.
The windows are made of Perspex and many of the switches are dummies, but this car shows how the finished cabin will look. Its most striking feature is a ‘blade-like’ centre console that divides the front seats. The two protruding rotary controls for heating and ventilation feature inset touchscreens, while the lower buttons are haptic touchpads.
The horizontal bar graphic that runs around the exterior of the Skye is also visible inside, dividing beetle-wing doors that will have glass panels in their upper and lower sections – allowing you to see the road below while driving.
Tartan and tech
From the driver’s seat, the view is of two large, chronograph-like rotary dials, which sit behind domed glass. The speedometer on the left also shows motor and battery temperature, while the dial on the right shows power usage in kilowatts, plus the battery charge status and remaining range.
The Skye’s seats are trimmed in plush leather from Bridge of Weir (which supplies Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, McLaren and other luxury brands), while the floor has a grippy, rubberised finish. More bright white leather is used on the rear bench seat, with Callum’s signature ‘deconstructed tartan’ digitally printed on the door cards.
A pleasingly modest central touchscreen offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. And if those air vents look familiar, that’s because they come from a Volvo.
The Skye’s the limit
“When you’re trying to make a luxury interior that feels lightweight and agile, you need to be really clever about it,” explains Aleck Jones. “Working for an OEM, as I did at Jaguar Land Rover, the engineering requirements can soon water down a design. Thankfully, this is very much our own project. It’s been a case of working things out as we go along.”
Asked what the Skye’s rivals might be, Jones says: “There’s nothing quite like it. The Ariel Nomad is one possible comparison, but that car is more straightforward in its design and purpose. The Skye is designed to be genuinely usable every day, and its cab-forward proportions mean there’s more space in the back than you might expect.”
One interesting option could be paintwork in Callum’s Colour of the Year, recently named for 2025 as Aqua Mist: a ‘fresh pastel blend of green and blue’. Although it will be 2026 before the first customers take delivery, of course.
Interested? You can reserve a build slot now with a £500 deposit. And Motoring Research is hoping to get behind the wheel sometime next year. You can read our verdict first here.
Pope Francis will become the first pontiff to use an electric Popemobile, thanks to a special project from Mercedes-Benz.
The German company has supplied vehicles to the Vatican for 94 years – and has offered Popemobiles based on the G-Class SUV (formerly G-Wagen) for no less than 45 years.
However, the brand-new Popemobile is the very first to feature battery power, allowing Pope Francis to travel locally with zero exhaust emissions.
The conversion began with a Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, before a very special makeover…
The G-Class to be seen in
Developed over the course of a year, with input from the Vatican, the new Popemobile has been tailored specifically to the needs of the Holy Father.
As such, the G580’s four electric motors are tuned for driving at slow speeds, allowing audiences see the pontiff during his public appearances.
More radical is the removal of the roof behind the B-pillar, with a swivelling central seat for the Pope. A removable glass hardtop roof can be fitted in case of bad weather.
Along with the carpeted rear steps, a single rear door provides access, plus there are two additional seats for passengers. As has become tradition, the new Popemobile is painted in classic pearl white.
Ready for the Papal Jubilee
The new Popemobile was handed over during a special ceremony at the Vatican. Mercedes-Benz chairman Ola Källenius and the team involved in building the G-Class delivered it personally to the Pope. The vehicle will pressed into service for the 2025 Papal Jubilee, which begins on 24 December 2024.
Following the handover, Ola Källenius said: “With the new Popemobile, Pope Francis is the first pope to be travelling in a fully electric Mercedes-Benz when making public appearances.
“This is a special honour for our company, and I would like to thank His Holiness for his trust. With this Popemobile, we are also sending out a clear call for electromobility and decarbonisation.”
Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas has assisted with final testing for the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale supercar.
The retro-inspired 33 Stradale is limited to only 33 examples, and Bottas will become the owner of one of the completed cars.
The F1 ace spent an intensive day with the Alfa Romeo engineering team and a 33 Stradale at the Balocco Proving Ground in northern Italy.
Given his years at the top level of motorsport, Bottas was an obvious choice to evaluate the 33 Stradale ‘00 prototype’.
A true Alfisti
Valtteri Bottas has an existing association with the Italian marque, having driven for Sauber when it raced under the Alfa Romeo F1 Team banner. This helped the Finnish driver to secure one of 500 examples of the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm.
During his test session, Bottas was able to fully explore the potential of the 33 Stradale’s 620hp 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6. This allows the Alfa Romeo to accelerate from 0-62mph in less than 3.0 seconds, and reach a top speed of 207mph.
Bottas also made use of the 33 Stradale’s launch control system, and disengaged the stability systems to see how well the Alfa supercar could slide.
After driving the 33 Stradale, Bottas also tested the 280 Veloce version of the new Alfa Romeo Junior electric SUV.
No F1 experience required
Following the test session, Bottas said: “Being the first to drive the 33 Stradale was a very special opportunity, and I’m sure my feedback will be taken on by the expert development team at Alfa Romeo for the final fine-tuning. Configuring my personal car with the ‘Bottega Alfa Romeo’ was engaging and exciting, and testing it today was really exciting. Now all I have to do is wait for my 33 Stradale to be ready. I am extremely satisfied with the testing.”
He added: “Today’s experience is close to perfection, which for me means total symbiosis with the car. The car immediately puts you at ease: extremely responsive, precise. The feeling with the car is immediate, extremely easy and fun to understand, and you certainly don’t need to be an F1 driver to experience it. In addition, its sound envelops the passenger compartment and is unmistakably Alfa Romeo.”
Bottas has now completed his final race for the Sauber team, leaving him without a Formula 1 drive for the 2025 season. At least he will have the 33 Stradale to keep him occupied.
The venerable Mazda MX-5 has long been touted by car enthusiasts as the answer to most motoring questions.
Now, with the launch of a ‘plug and play’ EV conversion kit from Electrogenic, the classic MX-5 has become an option for those who wish to go electric.
British company Electrogenic has become a global leader in electric restomods, with experience in converting a wide range of classic cars, from the DeLorean DMC-12 to the Porsche 356.
More power, more weight
The EV hardware takes a few days to install in the MX-5. It includes a 42kWh battery pack beneath the bonnet, plus additional batteries in the area previously occupied by the fuel tank.
Electrogenic has aimed to keep the Mazda’s batteries as low down as possible to avoid compromising the car’s dynamics. Power goes to a single electric motor that drives the rear wheels. With 160hp and 229lb ft of torque, the EV comfortably outguns the petrol-powered MX-5.
Although going electric adds 100kg to the kerb weight, the higher output improves the MX-5’s power-to-weight ratio by 21 percent. Electrogenic also says the entire conversion is reversible.
A comprehensive conversion
More horsepower means the EV-converted MX-5 can sprint from 0-60mph in around six seconds, and reach a top speed of 115mph.
Electrogenic makes use of its own Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) technology, designed to ensure the EV components are tailored to suit the MX-5’s handling.
This includes allowing drivers to swap between Eco, Normal or Sport modes, tuning the response from the powertrain as required. Regenerative braking is also part of the package, helping to boost a modest EV range of up to 150 miles.
Electrogenic’s kit leaves the MX-5’s boot capacity unaltered. It can also be fitted to both manual and automatic models.
CEO Steve Drummond commented: “The MX-5, or Miata, is celebrated as a global automotive icon, with legions of fans all over the world, so we’ve taken our time developing the range of EV conversion kits for it. We wanted to get this package just right.
“We’ve been careful to ensure the kits are well judged in terms of performance, to thrill and delight without intimidating – while preserving the inherent lightweight, RWD character of the car.”
MX-5 conversions can be undertaken at Electrogenic’s workshop near Oxford. Alternatively, the drop-in kit can be fitted by one of the company’s network of approved installers.
Ford has released a fully electric version of the Puma SUV. It will join the marque’s UK range alongside existing petrol hybrid models.
The new Puma Gen-E is the latest EV launched by Ford in 2024, following the Explorer SUV and reborn Capri.
Last year, the Ford Puma was Britain’s best-selling new car, with some 49,500 examples registered. Its run as a top-seller has continued throughout 2024, too.
The electric Puma Gen-E will enter a competitive market, squaring up to the new Mini Aceman and Jeep Avenger.
Living for the city
Powering the Puma Gen-E is a single electric motor. Driving the front wheels, it produces a total of 168hp and 214lb ft of torque.
The instant torque characteristics of an EV help the Gen-E to accelerate from 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 99mph.
A 43kWh battery pack is fitted beneath the floor of the Puma Gen-E, providing an official, WLTP-certified range of 234 miles. Used solely for urban travel, this figure increases to 325 miles.
The Gen-E is capable of using DC fast chargers with speeds of up to 100kW. Replenishing the battery pack from 10 to 80 percent can potentially take only 23 minutes.
A more practical Puma
With a ‘GigaBox’ boot storage system instead of the usual ‘MegaBox’, practicality has been enhanced versus the regular Puma. In total, it offers 574 litres of storage capacity, plus a 45-litre ‘frunk’ beneath the bonnet.
All Puma Gen-E models come with a 12.8-inch digital instrument panel, plus a 12.0-inch central touchscreen running Ford’s SYNC4 operating system. Wireless smartphone charging, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera are all included on the entry-level Select version, priced at £29,995.
Moving up to the £31,995 Premium adds 18-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, a B&O sound system and a power-operated tailgate.
Ford dealers are accepting orders for the Puma Gen-E now, with the first deliveries expected in spring 2025.
Whatever your views on Jaguar’s dramatic reinvention and rebrand, the appeal of classic models such as the E-Type is undimmed.
This example is perhaps the most famous Jaguar E-Type of all, having starred in all three of the Austin Powers films.
It could also be yours very soon, as the infamous ‘Shaguar’ will be sold by Mecum Auctions as part of its Kissimmee sale in Florida.
It’s got the Powers
Austin Powers director Jay Roach and starring actor Mike Myers knew they needed a British car for the spoof spy movie. However, the duo were unsure of which model to choose.
Ray Claridge, owner of Cinema Vehicle Services, and Josh Hancock, owner of Joshcar, helped narrow down the search to this particular Jaguar.
Built in December 1967, the E-Type 4.2 left the Jaguar factory wearing Opalescent Silver Blue paintwork, combined with a blue convertible top and dark blue interior.
It is worth noting that the iconic Union Jack exterior now worn by the E-Type is not a simple wrap, but a bespoke painted livery. A ‘Shaguar’ badge on the boot lid provided the finishing touch.
Groovy, baby!
Forget any ideas of this being just another replica or promotional studio prop. Mecum Auctions confirms it was the only car used during filming, making its debut in 1997’s Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
The E-Type then appeared in the two subsequent parts of the comedy trilogy, with Mike Myers behind the wheel each time.
A further outing came in the music video for Madonna’sBeautiful Stranger single in 1999.
Following its life on the big screen, the Jaguar became part of a private collection. However, it was loaned to Jaguar Land Rover on several occasions, allowing the company to use it for promotional events.
“For… $1 million dollars!”
Jaguar Land Rover was responsible for much of this particular E-Type’s restoration during the 2000s. More recently, the 4.2-litre engine has been subject to a comprehensive mechanical update.
Included among the paperwork supplied with the car are letters of authenticity from Josh Hancock and Ray Claridge. The latter was responsible for maintaining the E-Type during its years on-screen, adding to the Jag’s provenance.
The Jaguar will cross the block on Saturday 18 January 2025, as part of Mecum Auction’s huge Kissimmee sale. No guide price has been given, but it should be less than the $1 million dollars demanded by Austin’s nemesis, Dr. Evil.
Orders have opened for the Abarth 600e: a sporty compact SUV and the second fully electric vehicle from the Italian marque.
With two versions on offer, including the limited edition 600e Scorpionissima, the new Abarth aims to combine performance and practicality.
Choosing the celebratory 600e Scorpionissima also puts you behind the wheel of the most powerful road-going Abarth ever made.
However, with dramatic styling and some very bold paint colours, there is no shortage of Abarth character however you choose to specify a 600e.
The most powerful Abarth yet
In standard form, the Abarth 600e comes with a single electric motor, sending all of its 240hp to the front wheels. This means a 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds, plus a top speed limited to 124mph.
Opting for the Scorpionissima ups power output to a record-setting 280hp, and reduces the 0-62mph time to 5.9 seconds.
Abarth has worked with motorsport suppliers, equipping the 600e with Alcon performance brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres.
There is also a TEKT Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential, which should help the 600e transfer its 254lb ft of torque to the road.
Inspired by a classic Abarth
For the exterior of the 600e, Abarth says it took inspiration from the bluff face of the classic 850 TC. The design pairs ‘square geometry with strong graphics’, with additional influence from the world of video games.
Lowered suspension, 20-inch alloy wheels and a substantial rear spoiler are also part of the package.
The Abarth 600e’s interior also looks bold, with bright contrasting colours against black trim. A two-spoke steering wheel is clad in a combination of leather and Alcantara, with aluminium pedals for good measure.
Both versions of the 600e come with Sabelt sports seats, although the Scorpionissima features a more sculpted design and Alcantara upholstery.
Making a sporty statement
When it comes to paint colours, the Abarth 600e is not for the shy and retiring. Options include Acid Green, Antidote White, Shock Orange and Venom Black.
The 600e Scorpionissima will be available in Acid Green or the exclusive Hypnotic Purple (seen above). It also gains a gloss black bodykit and painted front brake calipers.
Prices for the Abarth 600e will start from £36,975. To purchase one of 1,949 examples of the 600e Scorpionissima, you will require £41,975.
Orders for the 600e can be placed now at Abarth dealers, with the first UK deliveries expected in spring 2025.
The latest SUV in the Cupra range is now available to order, with prices starting from £37,805.
Slotting into the Cupra lineup above the existing Ateca, the new Terramar enters an increasingly competitive market for crossover-style cars.
Buyers will be able to choose from four engine options, along with four trim levels and two special edition models.
The UK launch of the Terramar follows a recent announcement that the Spanish brand plans to sell cars in North America by 2030.
Cupra’s last combustion car
Engine choices for the Cupra Terramar start with a 150hp 1.5-litre four-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol. Sold in front-wheel-drive form, like all Terramars it has a DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The 1.5-litre petrol is also available in two plug-in hybrid guises, with 204hp or 272hp. When fully charged, its 28.5kWh battery pack provides an electric range of up to 75 miles.
Joining the lineup later will be a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. This also produces 204hp, but has Cupra’s 4-Drive all-wheel drive system as standard.
The most intriguing option for keen drivers is the 265hp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol. The same engine used in the latest Volkswagen Golf GTI, with 4-Drive it can accelerate the Terramar to 62mph in 5.9 seconds.
Strong standard equipment
Starting specification in entry-level V1 trim includes LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, three-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera
Cupra will allow buyers to add options such as copper-finished alloy wheels on the pricier VZ trims – along with upgraded Akebono brakes for the 265hp version.
In First Edition form, only offered as a 1.5-litre 272hp plug-in hybrid, the Terramar will cost £51,790.
Standard equipment here includes 20-inch wheels, leather seats and a panoramic sunroof. Adaptive chassis control and a Sennheiser sound system are also on the list.
Up for the Cup
Cupra’s new partnership with the America’s Cup sailing competition has led to a special edition, too. The Terramar America’s Cup Edition is priced from £50,850 and comes with the 2.0-litre 265hp engine.
Painted in Enceladus Grey Matt with 20-inch black alloy wheels, the leather seats feature the America’s Cup logo. The same emblem is on the exterior B-pillars, too.
Other than the 204hp 2.0-litre engine, which will be available in January 2025, all Terramar models can be ordered now.
Marcus Gossen, director of Seat and Cupra UK, said: “We are delighted to announce that Terramar is now available for order in the UK. We thrive on pushing boundaries, and the Terramar is redefining what it means to be a sporty SUV.”
The new Lamborghini Temerario, due next summer, has made its UK debut at a special event in London.
The Temerario slots into Lamborghini’s range beneath the flagship Revuelto and replaces the long-serving Huracan, trading its predecessor’s naturally aspirated V10 for a turbocharged V8 and three electric motors. The headline numbers are 920hp, 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 211mph.
Fittingly, the latest Lamborghini was unveiled at Ladbroke Hall, an art gallery near Notting Hill with an automotive backstory. Opened in 1903, the site was originally home to the Sunbeam Talbot Motor Company – and was Britain’s first purpose-built car factory.
We joined several senior Lamborghini execs – including CEO Stephan Winkelmann – for a detailed look at 2025’s most exciting new supercar, from its design to its plug-in hybrid powertrain. Short of how the Temerario drives, here is what you need to know.
Let’s talk about six
Lamborghini design director Mitka Borkert waited a long time for this opportunity. “I went to the Geneva Motor Show in 2003, when the Gallardo was first presented,” he recalls. “If somebody had told me back then that I’d end up designing its second-generation successor, I’d have said ‘dream on’.”
The Temerario’s wedgy profile draws on every mid-engined Lamborghini since the Countach (“that silhouette is the star in the sky we always follow”), with further inspiration coming from the angular 1974 Lamborghini Bravo concept.
“A hexagon was the starting point for sketches,” says Borkert, drawing my attention to the car’s daytime running LEDs, tail lights, fuel flap and exhaust tailpipes – all of which echo the six-sided shape. “This is an honest design; there’s a combustion engine, so we decided to show it. But a Lamborghini also needs to look like a spaceship.”
As for size, the Temerario remains “compact and agile”. Its wheelbase has grown by 40mm versus the Huracan, but width has only increased by 10mm. Lamborghini’s ‘junior’ supercar is nearly a foot shorter than a Revuelto, too.
Hybrid with hypercar pace
At the heart of a (20 percent stiffer) aluminium spaceframe is the 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft and dizzying 10,000rpm redline. As chief engineer Rouven Mohr proudly explains: “If we are talking about turbocharged road cars, only the Mercedes-AMG One [a £2.4 million hypercar with an F1-derived V6] can rev higher.”
Mohr stresses the Temerario’s engine was “a clean-sheet project” unrelated to the V8 powering the Urus SUV – nor indeed the V8 in Lamborghini’s SC63 Le Mans racer. “It combines the power and torque of a turbocharged motor with the linearity and crescendo effect of a naturally aspirated one. The best of both worlds, I think.”
According to Mohr, Lamborghini also evaluated new V6 and V10 engines, but decided a V8 was the best fit. Like the Revuelto, it is supplemented by two electric motors on the front axle (providing four-wheel drive) and a third at the rear, sandwiched between the engine and eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
The resulting 920 horses at 9,450rpm would, until recently, have planted the Temerario’s flag well inside hypercar territory (the Huracan STO, for example, offers ‘just’ 640hp). Maximum torque of 538lb ft is available from 4,000-7,000rpm. Oh, and if you want a quiet getaway, the 3.8kWh lithium-ion battery provides an EV range of around six miles.
Inside the Lamborghini Temerario
Inside, the Temerario looks markedly more sophisticated than the dated Huracan, yet it still evokes the cockpit of a jet fighter, right down to the red ‘bomb switch’ cover on the start button.
There are three screens: a 12.3-inch digital display for the driver, an 8.4-inch central touchscreen and a slimline 9.1-inch readout for the passenger. The graphics are crisp and cartoonish, while some of the car’s functions, such as the security tracking system, can also be accessed via the Lamborghini Unica app.
An on-board telemetry data logger, combined with forward- and driver-facing cameras, means you can record your track day or a special road-trip, too.
Customers get a choice of electric comfort seats or hard-backed carbon fibre buckets. Both headroom and legroom are greater than the Huracan (up 34mm and 46mm respectively) and there is space for two flight cases inside the front boot, plus a few squashy bags behind the seats.
A superbike soundtrack?
We won’t get behind the wheel until next year, but Rouven Mohr confidently promises “the best in class for a driving experience”.
A rear-biased 4WD setup is said to place the Temerario “somewhere between a Huracan Performante and STO” for dynamic balance, while rear downforce is up by 103 percent compared with a Huracan Evo (or 158 percent if you spec the lightweight, carbon-tastic Alleggerita Package).
If the YouTube videos are anything to go by, Lamborghini’s new engine has a very different voice to the bombastic V10: smoother, much higher pitched and more like a superbike than, well, a supercar. A symposer channels extra V8 volume into the cabin, but there’s no artificial enhancement via the speakers.
Using the rotary controller on the steering wheel, you can cycle through Città (front-driven and fully electric), Strada, Sport and Corsa settings. Inspired by the acclaimed Huracan Sterrato, this is also the first Lamborghini to feature a drift mode.
“The difference between the Temerario and Revuelto is much greater than it was between the Huracan and Aventador,” says Mohr. “These cars have their own distinct characters.”
Bullish prospects for Lamborghini
Our afternoon at Ladbroke Hall ends in the company of Stephan Winkelmann, who has headed up Lamborghini since 2005 (with brief stints at Audi Sport and Bugatti along the way).
Highlighting that Sant’Agata is once again on course for record sales in 2024 (exceeding 10,000 cars for only the second time in its 61-year history), Winkelmann also talks about the marque’s motorsport plans. “A Temerario GT3 will compete in 2026, followed by the Super Trofeo version [for Lamborghini’s one-make race series] a year later,” he says. “Neither of the race cars will be hybrid, unlike the road model”
If the Temerario equals the longevity of the Huracan and remains on sale for 10 years, that will take it into 2035, by which time the motoring landscape could look very different. Winkelmann says Lamborghini is often “unexpected”, so the Temerario will doubtless evolve and spawn new variants. Perhaps a hardcore, track-focused version might ditch the hybrid hardware altogether, aligning with the race car? And maybe we’ll see a second-generation Sterrato? Whatever happens, it’s sure to be an exciting journey.
