Lamborghini Temerario Super Trofeo Drops Hybrid, Goes Rear-Wheel Drive
▼ Summary
– Lamborghini’s new Super Trofeo race car uses a pure internal combustion engine without hybridization, unlike its road-going models which are all hybrids.
– The Super Trofeo is a rear-wheel-drive version of the Huracan successor, designed for Lamborghini’s one-make championship series.
– It features a twin-turbo V-8 engine producing 641 horsepower and a six-speed sequential gearbox instead of the road car’s dual-clutch automatic.
– The track-only model has an aggressive body kit with a large rear wing, an FIA-compliant roll cage, and specialized interior materials.
– Lamborghini hints at a future street-legal rear-wheel-drive version, but the Super Trofeo won’t begin racing until the 2027 season.
While Lamborghini has embraced hybrid technology for its road cars to meet emissions standards, its latest racing machine takes a different path. The new Temerario Super Trofeo, designed for the brand’s one-make championship, completely abandons electrification in favor of a purely internal combustion engine setup. This strategic move results in a rear-wheel-drive configuration, a significant departure from the all-wheel-drive hybrid system found in the standard road-going Temerario.
Following the earlier GT3 model, this Super Trofeo version continues the tradition of track-focused machines that forego electric assistance. Lamborghini is already hinting at a potential street-legal rear-wheel-drive special edition, though for now this exciting layout remains exclusive to the racetrack. The car is built for Lamborghini’s Super Trofeo series, which has been running since 2009.
Under the hood, a major change occurs. Gone is the naturally aspirated V-10 that powered previous Gallardo and Huracan Super Trofeo cars. In its place sits a twin-turbocharged V-8 engine, tuned specifically for racing duty. This powerplant generates 641 horsepower in the Super Trofeo, which is 148 horsepower less than the output of the gas engine in the street-legal Temerario.
Power reaches the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox, replacing the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission used in the road car. The Super Trofeo shares this transmission, along with several other key components, with the GT3 racing version. The GT3 model produces 577 horsepower, though this figure can be adjusted based on Balance of Performance regulations to ensure fair competition across different cars.
Beyond its non-electrified powertrain and new gearbox, the Temerario Super Trofeo features a dramatically aggressive body kit dominated by an enormous rear wing. While interior photos have not yet been released, Lamborghini confirms the track-only model includes a fully integrated FIA-compliant roll cage for safety. The dashboard is covered in a material called Dinamica Infinity, which the company claims is the automotive world’s first application of a specific polyester mono-component non-woven suede fabric.
The race car receives numerous performance upgrades over the standard model. These include a sophisticated 12-point adjustable traction control system, a high-performance Capristo exhaust, specialized BMC air filters, and a KW suspension setup. Lamborghini has not released an official weight figure for the Super Trofeo, but the related GT3 version weighs in at 2,866 pounds (1,300 kilograms) without fluids. For context, the street-legal Temerario is a substantial 860 pounds (390 kilograms) heavier.
This significant weight difference stems not only from the removal of the all-wheel-drive hybrid system but also from the absence of sound-deadening materials, comfort features, and other components required for road legality. Given Lamborghini’s history, the development of a stripped-down, rear-wheel-drive model for public roads appears almost certain, especially since CEO Rouven Mohr has dropped strong hints in that direction.
Just as the Huracan eventually led to the creation of the track-focused STO variant, a similar high-performance Temerario model is very likely in development. Lamborghini has also teased more off-road-oriented versions, suggesting a high-riding Sterrato-style derivative could be part of the future lineup. However, the company’s immediate priority remains commencing customer deliveries of the standard production model.
The Temerario Super Trofeo will not begin its racing career until the 2027 season, giving teams and drivers time to prepare for this new chapter in Lamborghini’s motorsport history.
(Source: Motor1)