The Shape of Adrenaline

Presenting: the Lamborghini ­Temerario. But what is it exactly that ­characterizes its style? Design Director Mitja Borkert explains. A small warning before we get started: after reading this article, you might start looking for aliens in the center console.

The Shape of Adrenaline

When did you start working on the Temerario?

The project has been on my mind since 2016, when I joined Lamborghini and we started with the Revuelto. The most important aspect regarding the Temerario was to achieve maximum differentiation from the Revuelto. We wanted to realize the most compact proportions possible. With the Revuelto and the update to the Urus SE, we always went one step further towards the future with the new Essential & Iconic design language – as we did with the Temerario, of course. We wanted to convey the fun-to-drive feeling in every millimeter. As I always say: “We give adrenaline a shape.”

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What can you tell us about the design?

You can recognize a Lamborghini from far away because of its shape, the steep side windows and the spaceship-look from behind. We have translated our brand values into design values: brave, authentic, unexpected. The wheelbase of the Temerario has grown by 40 millimeters, but it is 27 centimeters shorter overall than the Revuelto. We have also worked on creating spaciousness in the Temerario because people are getting taller and we want all of our customers to be able to sit perfectly in the car, even when wearing a helmet.

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What other differences are there?

The basic body is clean and sculptural, with the typical Lamborghini silhouette, sharp lines and, most importantly, very athletic, muscular shapes. The cabin is classic Lamborghini again, even if it has become higher. For me, the starting point at the front is always the shark nose, and at the side we have the new, large air intake. At the back on the shoulder you can perhaps discover something like a futuristic Gallardo. In other words: very purist shapes. In the lower area, where the car chases shadows, you can see a light signature, the hexagon. I use this as an element to characterize the Temerario from a distance. On the Revuelto, it was the Y.

And when we look at the Temerario from behind?

The rear is dominated by a crisp motorcycle design, with a diffuser and wheels that look as brute as on a sports bike. We didn’t want to follow the trend with the light strips, instead opting for separate rear lights inspired by a jet fighter or aircraft so that the car can be recognized as a Lamborghini from a distance on the freeway. The main headlights are hidden like on a sports motorcycle, with an airflow, an “S-duct”, that meanders through them. We chose the same concept for the taillights: the air outlet underneath is also

reminiscent of a motorcycle, where you can look into the fairing and see the radiator. The same applies to the new twin-turbocharged V8, the heart of the vehicle. It looks like a motorcycle engine, with struts like on the Ducati Monster.

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Are there other relevant details?

We’ve improved the airflow and reduced the weight of the air intake. The front splitter has a carbon blade on the outside. The rear ducktail wing, which is also made of carbon fiber, is angled a little more and placed a little higher.

Let’s talk about the interior . . .

Important here was the driver’s position, with a light dashboard and an iconic element in the center console. I used the term “spaceship” earlier, and with a little imagination you can recognize an alien or a Transformer in the top of the center console. There’s also a new steering wheel with driving mode switches, a lift switch is located on the steering wheel so you can quickly raise up the car in the city, and – very important – you’ll find the drift mode at the bottom right of the steering wheel, allowing you to drift with the car in three levels of difficulty and angles. We’re also the only car manufacturer to have a style button on the screen in the center console. There you can watch the design DNA as a video, with a brief explanation of the silhouette, of what characterizes a Lamborghini in general and of the various elements that make up the Temerario.

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Does the Temerario also come with regular -pragmatic features?

Of course. There’s a trunk at the front of the car with enough space for two carry-on bags. We also have cup holders and plenty of space in the center console for everyday items.

Did we leave anything out?

We’re the world champions of color and offer more than four hundred different shades, so you can go wild and put together your own perfect Temerario.

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MITJA BORKERT was born in Herzberg in Brandenburg in 1974 and studied transportation design. Prior to Lamborghini, Borkert spent several years at Porsche, first as Head of Advanced Design, then as Director of Exterior Design. He has been Design Director at Lamborghini since 2016.

Interview: Michael Köckritz
Photos: Lamborghini
Handwritten Comments: Mitja Borkert

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