The Lamborghini Temerario Is the Quicker V8 We’ve Ever Tracked
When it comes to pure speed, electricity may be the king, but for the thrill of the ride, the 10,250-rpm V-8 in the Temerario reigns supreme.
By Eric Tingwall
February 3, 2026
Take a step back, Ferrari. The Lamborghini Temerario has now secured its place as the fastest combustion-powered vehicle that MotorTrend has ever tested. Lamborghini’s 907-hp “entry-level” supercar earned this distinction with a blazing 9.58-second quarter-mile pass and a trap speed of 148.5 mph, narrowly surpassing the 2021 Ferrari SF90 Stradale Assetto Fiorano by just 0.03 seconds.
Of course, there are electric vehicles (EVs) that can outrun the Temerario in a direct drag race. Cars like the Tesla Model S Plaid, the Lucid Air Sapphire, and a few variations of the Porsche Taycan Turbo have achieved quicker lap times in MotorTrend’s testing. However, none of them can match the sheer excitement and emotional punch of the Lamborghini. The Temerario features a plug-in hybrid system that fuses the immediate low-end power of three electric motors with the relentless top-end pull of a twin-turbo, flat-plane-crank 4.0-liter V-8, delivering an utterly wild experience.
Lamborghini has perfected the art of supercar spectacle. For the quickest runs, the driver switches the steering-wheel-mounted dials to Corsa handling mode and Performance powertrain mode, then hits the small checkered-flag button to engage launch control. Pressing both pedals locks the engine at 4,000 rpm before launching the car forward with controlled force. All four Bridgestone Potenza Race tires shriek as they leave the line, the V-8 screams to 10,250 rpm, and then the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission executes a brutally efficient upshift into second gear. The tires chirp once more, and the cycle repeats.
How Quick Is the Lamborghini Temerario’s 0–60 MPH Sprint?
You don’t achieve a 9.6-second quarter mile by accelerating slowly. The Temerario sprints from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 2.2 seconds. While incredibly fast, it doesn’t claim the title of the quickest among internal combustion engine vehicles. The Lambo sits in third place on our all-time records for a gas-powered car, trailing the Ferrari SF90 Stradale Assetto Fiorano and the 2026 Porsche 911 Turbo S. But the lead is within reach—it takes just 4.6 seconds to hit 100 mph, at which point the Lamborghini is ahead of the Ferrari and Porsche.
The Hybrid Powertrain’s Impact on Braking Distances
When it’s time to slow down, the standard carbon-ceramic brakes bring the Temerario to a stop from 60 mph in 96 feet. This is respectable but not as remarkable as its acceleration numbers. The plug-in hybrid powertrain likely hinders the Lamborghini’s stopping performance more than it helps. Our test unit was equipped with the $84,100 Alleggerita package, which saves 55 pounds, but it still weighed in at a hefty 4,185 pounds. As with the acceleration times, higher speeds put the Lambo in a more favorable light. Stopping from 100 mph in 266 feet, the Temerario ties for 12th place on our list of thousands of tested vehicles.
How the Raging Bull Handles the Handling Gauntlet
MotorTrend’s figure-eight course is the ultimate test of performance, blending cornering, braking, and acceleration into a single lap. This circuit reveals a car’s dynamics through both objective measurements and subjective feedback. When pushed to its limits, the Temerario grips the corners with 1.14 g of force, completing the lap in 22.3 seconds. This places it 0.7 seconds behind our record holder, which is actually a three-way tie between the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring, and the 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider. The Temerario’s lap matches times set by the 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, the 2025 Lucid Air Sapphire, and two lighter predecessors: the 2020 Huracán Evo AWD (3,645 pounds) and the 2021 Huracán STO (3,390 pounds).
We also look at the average g-force experienced during the entire lap, which combines acceleration, braking, and cornering. The Temerario’s 1.05 g average means that throughout the lap, you are constantly feeling forces stronger than gravity—whether you’re being pushed from behind, pressed against the seatbelt, or pinned against the bolster.
While the Temerario’s performance is impressive, the most significant takeaway from testing it is that Lamborghini hasn’t sacrificed the exhilarating driving experience in its pursuit of speed records. The Corsa mode keeps everything tightly controlled for focused, fast laps, but the Lambo really shines in Sport mode with playful yet manageable rotation. If that’s still not wild enough, the three-stage Drift mode allows for impressive slides. The Lamborghini Temerario is a potent mix of adrenaline, raw power, and pure excitement—a true four-wheeled thrill ride. We’ll have more details on this future legend in a full road test soon.