While the auto industry seems to have lost its passion, its naming strategy is still pretty fun. After Rimac named its flagship Nevera, which means refrigerator in Spanish, Lamborghini decided to call its Huracán replacement Temerario. It’s more than just a name for an 1875 fighting bull; it means fearful. It’s a fitting name, especially considering it goes against everything car haters have imagined for the future.
These guys think software is more important than hardware. They prefer screens to regular buttons and switches, at least until they have to tow their cars when those screens break. They want their vehicles to get them places instead of being fun tools to get them there. Some even preach that you should always ride a bike or take public transportation instead of driving. While that may seem sensible, these aren’t always the best options, especially in cities with unreliable public transportation or mountainous terrain. If they’re even considering a car, it needs to be a battery electric vehicle (BEV). Don’t even mention a plug-in hybrid (Hybrid electric vehicle) might be a better option for most uses – they’ll ask you how often you plan to charge it just to argue how much better BEVs are (because you’ll have to charge them every time).
The Temerario goes against all these ideas, although it has made some concessions in terms of infotainment. It still uses an internal combustion engine (ICE) – and quite powerful. The flat-crankshaft V8 delivers 800 PS (789 hp) and redlines at 10,000 rpm. It's also a PHEV, although its tiny 3.8-kWh The battery pack won't take it very far in all-electric mode. Above all, it's a car for people who love cars, something a large portion of the world seems to consider “reckless” these days. For everyone else, that's great news.
Photo: Lamborghini
It would be scary if we didn’t see products that clearly stated that there is still room for those who love to drive. This shows that we are actually in a duel between two opposing visions of personal transportation: the car guys versus the tech guys. I first wrote about this in March 2023.
The Temerario has made quite a difference in the automotive landscape from that text to this one, in the sense that it has favored car enthusiasts. This is no small victory, even if it is currently reserved for those who can afford a Lamborghini. If these guys make this model a sales success, we will see other automakers try to follow a similar recipe in more accessible vehicles. Renault tried with the Alpine A110, but it is still far from the reach of the masses. Fun, accessible cars are probably what the auto industry and customers are missing to revive the passion for cars.
Could we see Temerario posters in children's bedrooms again? Probably not, but that's because we don't have car magazines like we used to. Any such posters would have to be bought online or in very specific stores. When they were in fashion, they were part of magazines, which could be bought anywhere: a sign of the times. If Temerario turns into screensavers or computer wallpapers, we should read it as a similar achievement.
Photo: Lamborghini
More than just a style that makes it worthy of the honor, this Lamborghini claims not to be afraid to adapt to lower carbon emissions, as long as it doesn’t compromise its core mission. I confess that I can’t imagine anyone using a Temerario to go grocery shopping (which would be scary in some places), but I also doubt that most of them will be taken to the racetrack. That said, when they’re simply driven to fancy parties or the occasional weekend getaway, carbon emissions shouldn’t be an issue. In fact, they aren’t at all, considering how many Temerarios will ever be sold. In any case, pollution problems where they matter most (big cities) will also disappear thanks to this vehicle’s PHEV build. That’s why it’s considered the first front-wheel drive Lamborghini: its electric motors drive the front axle and will probably power it most of the time, especially during rush hour. Will anyone use one to commute to work? I have no idea, but it would be fun to see it happen.
If we’re lucky enough to see the Temerario as a trend and not just an anomaly, we’ll be bracing for protests. The usual car haters will accuse PHEVs of being greenwashing machines, tearing their clothes off while crying that cars are bad for the environment, the human race, the planet, that sort of thing. And that will be a good sign, a trophy for any car enthusiast hoping for a turn of events. More than a specific model, they’re fighting the concept of personal transportation. In that sense, a fearful supporter is always welcome, especially one who proves that supercars can be sensible (at least as sensible as they can be).