Lamborghini Revuelto First Drive: What It’s Like to Drive This Supercar

Before we hit the road, we got a run-through and systems check with a pro driver. There is a lot to remember, though you’ll get the hang of it quickly. Starting the Revuelto isn’t unlike starting other Lamborghinis: lift the red starter button cover, press the button and it comes to life. Pull the “R” yoke back to put it in reverse. To park it, tap the “P” button and to put it into manual, tap the “M.” There is no drive button; simply pull the right paddle back for drive.

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From turn signals to windshield wipers, drive modes to EV mode, almost all the Lamborghini Revuelto’s controls are on the steering wheel. You’ll be able to see most of them, though there are two button panels on the rear of the steering wheel that can be sued to customize the driver display and change the radio station. Not having to take your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road is a great thing.

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Sliding into the Revuelto’s interior is welcoming. This car has a very low center of gravity, which means getting in and out takes a bit of core strength, but once inside you’ll be comfortable. Our seats may look sporty, but they were less bolstered and more comfortable than racing seats typically are. And they were fine for our drive, which did include some fast curves and high speeds.

Once inside the Revuelto I was able to stow my phone on the rubber phone charge pad (where it stayed anchored all day without sliding around) and our handbags and jackets went on the rear shelf.

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Nor should this hectagon-stitched leather headliner on the ceiling. That Lamborghini didn’t overlook a single detail was delightful. I was able to place my handbag and jacket on the shelf behind the seats and there it stayed, mostly, sliding a bit through several curves. But in general this was a great feature; it kept my handbag from having to sit under my passenger’s feet.

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As you adjust the rear view mirror, look closely; you’ll have a slender view of the road behind and wide view of the engine, an open compartment that allows this V12 beast to shine to all who pass by, or you pass.

With the engine compartment occupying your rear view mirror, this rear view camera comes in handy. The new screen, which hangs in suspension over the center console, offers multiple views including a surround view. With the low center of gravity and limited rear views, this is a great thing to have.

We can now classify the right seat in a supercar as before co-pilot screen and after: this screen, embedded into the dashboard on the passenger’s side, allows for true co-piloting. It can be customized to display a number of engine specs and driving dynamics so your passenger can advise on things like upcoming navigation needs or answer questions about g force, speed or driver assistance features that are engaged.

The glowing red dial on the steering wheel is where you’ll find the Revuelto’s drive modes (you or your co-pilot can access them via the center screen, too). The Revuelto starts off in Citta mode, or city, which is all electric, and of course, silent, which is a bit unexpected for a Lamborghini. But dial to the right for Strada, or street mode, and the V12 engine is instantly engaged with the roar we’ve come to expect. From there, you can choose Sport, for even more power and sound; and Corsa, or track mode, which is paddle-shifter manual only and turns off the car’s traction control.

On the right side of the steering wheel is the EV dial which allows you to select how you want the electric power to assist. Recharge will recharge the battery as you drive; hybrid pairs gas and electric power and Performance mode, when paired with Corsa, will maximize the car’s 1,015 HP.

The Lamborghini Revuelto’s rear wing deploys automatically at speeds over 50 MPH and in Sport or Corsa mode. This, of course, allows more downforce to enhance the car’s speed and performance.

But you have to look carefully in the rear view mirror to see it when behind the wheel, or even more carefully when a Revuelto is driving by. It’s such a stunning visual that Lamborghini’s engineers added a “Bar Mode” button that extends the wing whenever you’d like as long as you’re in Sport or Corso mode. It’s called ‘bar mode’ so you can show it off while driving by a bar packed with people who will surely turn their heads to see the Revuelto.

It took us no time to get up to speed on the car; it’s not a get in and go sort of car but it’s not overwhelming either. The controls are intuitive and easy to understand. And driving it is not as anxiety-inducing as you might expect, either. The cabin is comfortable and not overly loud; you can hear and feel the engine but it doesn’t dominate the cabin or the conversation.

As we took to the local highways and climbed a thousand feet, the Revuelto was a happy girl. She easily delivered power with a slight squeeze of the accelerator, and purred a bit louder in Sport mode. As we headed out of town and into the mountains, paddle shifters were in order; I popped the selector into M, not wanting to go into full Corsa mode on a foggy day that had dampened the roads. The paddles were fun, adding to the power in my hands and the responsiveness of the Revuelto.

After a few hours of driving I expected to be a little exhausted, tired from the physicality of driving a super car. And while I was ready to relax from taking curves and roads at the top of the speed limit, I was also surprisingly chill. The Lamborghini Revuelto didn’t wear me out. It pumped me up. After a quick lunch I was ready to drive again, anxious to get back behind the wheel of this gentle giant of a supercar.