Fenomeno! Welcome to the most powerful, fastest Lamborghini ever

Every once in a while Lamborghini grabs its latest V12 supercar, dresses it with edgier bodywork and sells a handful to its most fanatical collectors. Occasionally these ‘few-offs’ debut new technology, like the Reventon’s digital instruments, or the Sián’s (slightly) hybridised boost.

This is the latest in the line. The Fenomeno. Named after a Mexican fighting bull so brave and relentless he ‘won his freedom’, the Fenomeno is quite simply the fastest, most powerful Lamborghini road car... ever.

With 1,065bhp and a 0-62mph time (on optional sticky track-day tyres) of 2.4 seconds, it earns King Lambo bragging rights over the 1,001bhp Revuelto on which it’s based. What’s controversial is that only 10bhp of the power bump comes from an upgraded 6.5-litre V12, with Lamborghini engineers admitting it’s been very difficult to find those gains in an engine that already revs to 9,500rpm while complying with worldwide emissions rules.

So it’s actually the electric half that’s doing more heavy lifting. Three electric motors generate a combined 242bhp – 50bhp more than the Revuelto’s hybrid system. That’s been unlocked with a new 7kWh battery, which is the same physical size (and slightly heavier) than the Revuelto’s cells, but offers up twice the capacity. So, more power in reserve means the motors have a higher oomph ceiling. Science.

Because it wouldn’t do for this limited-run special to be lardier than the base car, Lamborghini threw away the regular Revuelto bodywork and – like the V10 Sesto Elemento from 2010 – started all over again with carbon fibre. That offsets the heavier battery, so it’s claimed the Fenomeno matches the Revuelto’s 1,770kg dry weight and thus has the best power-to-weight ratio of any Lambo yet.

Top speed is over 217mph, with 0-124mph being rattled off in 6.7sec if you’ve specced the smaller-sized rims with Bridgestone’s stickiest rubber. As standard you get these 21/22in Reventon-inspired rims with centrelock hubs.

Right, enough technical wotnot. It’s a big bad V12 Lambo, and they’re only building 30 then selling 29, with one retained at the factory’s museum. So you won’t see one every day unless you work in the gift shop. Better enjoy the looks here then.

Only the Revuelto’s glass remains: everything else is new. The Fenomeno is wider and lengthier, the rear especially tapering to a proper longtail. Up front, an S-duct generates downforce by funnelling air through the bonnet. At the back, there’s an active rear wing with three positions, helping generate 30 per cent more downforce than a Revuelto. Meanwhile all the Countach-inspired intakes, ducts and vents are functional – engineers say the upgraded battery provided cooling headaches – while a roof scoop and fully exposed engine bay keep the V12 well supplied with fresh air.

The hooded headlights are menacing, but the Revuelto’s big spidery LED running lights are gone. Vertical tail lights are unusual for a Lambo, but the mega-exposed rear tyre is fast becoming a company trademark. And just look at the size of that exhaust! You could post an entire pizza box through that.

Inside, it’s much more like the standard Revuelto, but new carbon door cards hint at the lightweight brief while the designers say the dashboard has a more ‘alien’ look. Hopefully the friendly sort, not the ones that try to overthrow Earth.

Oh, two more nerd facts since you’re still here. This is the first street-legal Lambo ever to feature CCM-R brakes: basically next-gen carbon-ceramic discs that last longer and generate more friction than before. The owners will be delighted about saving a few quid on disc wear.

Meanwhile, Lamborghini has thrown away the Revuelto’s adaptive dampers and fitted manually adjustable suspension. Why? It saves weight, but it’s also a statement, that this is supposed to be a simpler, more old-school fun drive, able to dial-in a track set-up and lap like a madman but also be tuneable to an owner’s Goldilocks settings on-road.

Nice idea, except we hear the average Lambo ‘few-off’ owner drives their ultra-rare Lambos less than 1,000 miles per year. So they may never actually notice, let along get the spanners out.

So, the Fenomeno’s main job is to sound, well, phenomenal. And look spectacular. It’s another bedroom poster car. The price? Millions. But irrelevant. They’re all sold. Worth buying the poster instead?