Lamborghini Revuelto Review

"I think we're alone now", I whisper, toes tingling as my shaking hands gently brush along her hips, my fingers tapping just the right spot to open her elegant scissor doors.

I've just been put nearly half asleep by Lamborghini as part of the day's Movember activities (full story here), but the excitement is now beyond containable. A quick glance at my phone reveals that it's almost 4:00pm.

The Lamborghini Revuelto is awash with eye-catching details throughout

Pianissimo

There's not much time left - like a stern father in-law, Lamborghini Singapore expects this car to be returned to its showroom by 6:00pm and the photos you see above have yet to be shot - but then again, if there's a car that can get an urgent job dispatched, it must be this.

We need to get going then. One flick of the hood that covers her start/stop switch button and the application of gentle pressure later yields… silence.

In other supercars, all these moves would have been enough to tease a fearsome roar from an engine, but this Revuelto isn't like any regular Italian contessa. Her 1,001bhp output dominates the headlines, sure, but the full story is a bit more complicated than that (as all trysts ought to be).

The car's 6.5-litre V12 engine is paired with a slick eight-speed double-clutch transverse gearbox and gets assistance from a total of three electric motors

I tuck myself into her cossetting seats, her wide centre console a reminder of the fact that housed within it is a high-performance lithium-ion battery. This is paired with two the electric motors that rest within the front axle (a third electric motor rests within her transmission), making it Lamborghini's first proper foray into the world of electrification, following the limited run of the supercapacitor-equipped Sian.

But don't think that this Lamborghini will be found lacking for the drama. There's still a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated engine that rests aft of a minuscule rear windscreen. And it's a proper scorcher - the firm is keen to point out that it revs to a stratospheric 9,500rpm while delivering a total of 814bhp, making it Lamborghini's most powerful 12-cylinder yet.

I dare not call upon it just yet - not within the sound-amplifying confines of the carpark of Marina Bay Sands - but even in her all-electric 'Citta' drive mode, she proves to be one easy ride.

The massive diffuser at the rear not only aids the generation of aerodynamic downforce, but also helps to cool the Revuelto's V12 engine

The steering here is light, and her monofuselage carbon fibre chassis delivers plenty of space in the cabin so you should be able to find a comfortable driving position. There's even a 360-degree camera system here, so you need not fear scraping her corners against the kerb.

But two things irritate at this point. The first being the fact that the Revuelto's indicators are activated via buttons on the steering wheel, making them a chore to use. The second is less likely to perturb a potential owner, but having kept a comfortable distance away from the exit gantry, I soon found those butterfly doors make it impossible to gracefully stretch out and scan my exit coupon.

The controls to switch between drive modes and the setup of the hybrid system are all conveniently located on the steering wheel, but those buttons for the indicators are a bother to use

Fortissimo 

Still, the BMW next in the queue waits patiently and even keeps a safe distance as I make my way up the ramp onto Bayfront Avenue. Driving a supercar does come with its own set of unique privileges.

Freed from the yoke of the carpark's restrictive width, I let her breathe some life into her engine. 'Sport' mode it is then, and she bursts to life with a fearsome snarl.

One quick sprint down Central Boulevard immediately puts all fears about a sedated driving experience resultant from the plug-in hybrid drivetrain to a dead rest. Acceleration here can only be described as explosive, accompanied by quick jumps of a thin blue bar (indicating the amount of electric power deployed) around the central tachometer. But keep the pedal pinned and let the rpms chase this blue bar all the way to the limiter, and the car continues to deliver accelerative force in a soaring crescendo that pushes right into the back of your kidneys.

And the sound that accompanies - let's just say that you'll have people ready with their smartphones before you're even in visual range. It's raw, thunderous, and visceral, as you'd expect. Need to come to a quick stop? There are strong brakes here to deploy as well, which you operate via a reassuringly firm pedal.

Lamborghini states that the new monofuselage from which the Revuelto is based has allowed it to offer more leg room and head room compared to the Aventador Ultimae

Mezzo-forte

5:00pm, it states on my phone - just about enough time to swoop through the two locations for the photos. The rain makes a visit and I respond by heading for the shelter of the first destination, dialling the car back into its road oriented 'Strada' drive mode.

That steering remains remarkably light, but what's really remarkable about the Revuelto now that the there's some sensibility to the pace we take is just what a refined machine she is.

The throttle is easy to modulate even if you're giving it the lightest touch and her semi-active wishbone suspension is firm yet does sufficiently well to shield you from any harsh edges on the road. Couple this with the slick operation of her eight-speed transmission and what you end up with is a car that's genuinely effortless to drive and easy to live with.

But that's nothing compared to how easy she is to photograph. As the mythical Europa was charmed by her abductor, all who spot the Revuelto approach with nothing but praise. Screaming with intent, full of drama, and yet surprisingly elegant - these are my main takeaways of the exterior of the Revuelto. I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking. It's now time to send her home.

The Revuelto is one stunningly capable foray into the world of electrification from Lamborghini

Fermata

So, should you add one example to your own garage? I frankly see no reason not to.

Lamborghini's first foray into the world of electrification proved all competent, meeting the urgency of the day's short drive with pace and strength aplenty, all alongside a level of refinement that left me wishing I still had more time with her even after we had bid our farewells.

But more important, I think, is the fact that she managed to do all these without the loss of any of the drama that we have come to expect from Lamborghini's V12-powered lineage.

It's 8:30pm, and I'm finally home to catch some rest. But Cor Tauri has barely begun to shine at its brightest.

Need to add more performance plug-in hybrids into your car collection? You might want to catch these stories:

The McLaren Artura merges everyday usability without any compromise on performance

The BMW M5 comes with enough power to both shock and awe

The Mercedes-AMG C63, meanwhile, combines earth-shattering performance and everyday drivability