Lamborghini is turning 60 in 2023. And you can bet the Raging Bull will make itself quite a few presents, one of which will be the replacement for the Aventador. And now that the latter has been retired following 12 years of service, only the camouflage on this prototype separates us from the machine that will keep Sant’Agata Bolognese’s V12 tradition alive.
The Italian automaker has already announced that the Aventador successor is set to be replaced in late March 2023, so it’s only natural for the test vehicle seen here to sport the production design. For the record, the newcomer could be called Revuelto (Spanish for scrambled, turned, or unruly). However, while the automaker filed a trademark with the European Intellectual Property Office for the said name earlier this year, we can’t be certain at the moment.
The numbers don’t tell the whole story, but they’ll be jaw-dropping
Regardless of the bull’s name, we know this will offer a naturally aspirated V12 as part of a hybrid powertrain. So far, the automaker has used supercapacitor technology for limited edition V12 models based on the Aventador (think: Sian, Countach LPI-800).
For the record, the Aventador successor should also sport the LPI moniker, which stands for Longitudinale Posteriore Ibrido. That stands for Hybrid Posterior Longitudinal, signaling the positioning of the internal combustion engine and the electric assistance. The three letters will be joined by a figure indicating the output, which has been speculated to go all the way to 1,050 hp.
Compared to conventional batteries, supercapacitors can charge and release energy much quicker and cope with multiple cycles, but they’re suitable for delivering quick bursts of energy rather than sustained electric power.
That may change for the Aventador successor. And while it’s still too early to tell, recent spyshots of the dashboard have shown an EV logo, which should mean the supercar will feature an all-electric driving mode.
The said images (you’ll also find them on Instagram via CarPix founder Andreas Mau, aka race356) delivered quite a bit of additional information. For one, the tachometer shows that the V12 will have a redline that kicks off at 8,500 rpm, while there will be active aero, at least at the rear.
And you can expect the spectacular-but-not-perfect Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) transmission of the Aventador to make room for a quicker, more efficient dual-clutch unit.
Returning to the exterior spy pics we have here, which come courtesy of Varryx, the first thing that strikes one is the preservation of Lamborghini’s traditional wedge shape.
Right now, it looks like the side air intake could accommodate cheese grater intakes borrowed from the 25th Anniversary Edition Countach of 1988 and we can only hope this is no prototype trick.
Despite the heavy camouflage, the serious aggression you’d expect from a Lamborghini design is fully present. Note that while these are the production light clusters, the Diablo-style separate light bras could be yet another trick. Oh, and make no mistake, underneath those Aventador taillight stickers, we have the real deal. In between them, the machine shows a pair of super-sized exhaust tips sporting the all-so-Lambo hexagonal design.
More so than any of its rivals, the Aventador has been about putting on a show, for those fortunate enough to admire it from the inside and bystanders alike. This wasn’t necessarily quicker than the V10 Huracan, which is also due for a replacement, but it triumphed via the said sense of occasion. And you can expect Lamborghini to make use of the fresh tech fitted to the newcomer not just to improve its performance, but also to maintain this status quo.
