When the engine in the car is stored longitudinally, the transmission copies it in the vast majority of cases – its main shafts are also in a longitudinal position. It is the same with the engine mounted transversely. Until recently, the Lamborghini car company followed the same procedure, but its latest car, called the Revuelto, changes this order.
The 12-cylinder engine is mounted longitudinally, but the transmission connected to it has a pair of shafts installed transversely in a system developed specifically for the revuelto. And in addition, the gearbox also includes an electric motor.
Photo: Lamborghinis
An “X-ray” of the Lamborghini Revuelto’s guts shows the mass of the transmission behind the centers of the rear wheels.
There are several reasons for such an arrangement. One is that while the older Murcielago and Aventador had a gearbox in front of the engine, basically between the seats, and from it the power went to the front and rear wheels via cardan shafts, the revuelto has a 3.8kWh battery of a hybrid arrangement. The gearbox is thus behind the engine and “only” half axles lead from it to the rear wheels.
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The transmission is an eight-speed dual-clutch and was developed by the automaker itself in Sant’Agata Bolognese, but of course it can be assumed that it used the rich experience of the parent concern Volkswagen with this technology.
Its principle is, as with any dual-clutch transmission, that even and odd speeds have their own clutch, and when the driver accelerates, the control unit engages a higher gear, but leaves his clutch disengaged for now. When it’s time to change gears, one clutch disengages and the other engages at the same moment, so there’s no shift lag – in theory.
Photo: Lamborghinis
Gearbox Lamborghini Revuelta.
The transmission is lighter and quicker than the Huracán’s seven-speed despite having one more gear at first glance. At first glance, because the gears are the same – osmiqualt has no reverse. Electric motors on the front axle of the Revolt take care of reversing.
In addition to gears, the gearbox also includes an electric motor, which is equipped with a clutch mechanism that connects it to the internal combustion engine. This is so that it is possible to charge the traction battery of the twelve-cylinder car, and this electric motor is also used to start the internal combustion engine. Disconnection is necessary in cases where the car runs exclusively on electricity, to ensure all-wheel drive.
The Revuelto is currently the only Lamborghini with this engine and transmission arrangement; it’s also the only plug-in hybrid. However, the successor of the smaller Huracán should come to the market already next year, which is also to receive a plug-in hybrid powertrain. If he copies the technique of the revolt, he is still in the stars.
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