Hyper Elegance: Lamborghini’s Fenómeno Revealed at The Quail

“Hyper elegant.” That is how Lamborghini’s Head of Design, Mitja Borkert, describes the Fenómeno, the brand’s latest Few-Off hypercar unveiled at The Quail during Monterey Car Week. Celebrating twenty years of Centro Stile, this latest limited-edition halo Lamborghini showcases the latest interpretation of the marque’s iconic design language with cues that hint towards future models.

But the Fenómeno is more than a design statement. It is the most powerful Lamborghini ever built, combining the 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 with three electric motors for a total output of about 1,080 CV, just over 1,060 horsepower. The result is staggering performance: 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 seconds and a top speed beyond 350 km/h. Only 29 will be made for customers, plus one for Lamborghini’s own collection, each priced at around €3 million.

Borkert explained that the design brief always begins with the iconic single silhouette line that makes a Lamborghini recognisable from a distance. He likens this silhouette line to a musical score, saying that within these boundaries, he can “play this music a bit more elegantly, or… create something very crazy.”

In the case of the Fenómeno, Borkert chose a design he calls “hyper elegant,” giving the car opulent proportions, flowing shapes in the form of the new “Speedy Hexagons” as seen on the new wheels, and a long tail inspired by Le Mans racing. Each Few-Off, he noted, allows him to interpret the Lamborghini “score” differently while still respecting the brand’s original design cues.

Mitja also described how his love for superbikes inspired the look of the exposed mechanical elements, presented on the Fenómeno in a way that emphasises form and function. “When you see a motorcycle, you have the brakes, you have the levers, you have the frame, you have all these elements,” he said.

“On a superbike, the engine is exposed. We do have the same in our cars. In the Revuelto, in the Temerario, and also now in the Fenómeno, you have the engine exposed. This is another Easter egg from the supermoto stuff.” He cited Italian motorcycles, such as the MV Agusta F4 and Ducati Panigale, as inspirations for the “flick up” design line behind the rear wheels seen in Lamborghini’s design.

For Lamborghini’s CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, the Few-Off tradition began as a response to the brand’s most exclusive clientele. In the mid-2000s, VVIP customers were asking for something beyond the “normal” production run, something truly bespoke that reflected their status.

The Reventón was the answer: a strictly limited car that introduced a new design language and technical innovations while setting the tone for what these projects would represent. “Since then, we do these types of cars from time to time to showcase what Lamborghini is able to do,” Winkelmann said.

With the new Fenómeno, that philosophy continues. When asked whether Driving or Style led the brief for this car, Winkelmann described it as an experience of dual impact: “It’s always about driving. The first wow is when you get to the car, the second wow is when you start to drive.”

The choice of The Quail for the unveiling was also deliberate. Traditional motor shows have diminished in importance, but The Quail has grown into Lamborghini’s and other marque’s preferred stage. With its open-air format and intimate mix of clients, potential buyers, and press, it offers the perfect setting. California, Winkelmann noted, remains one of Lamborghini’s most important markets, making The Quail an ideal backdrop for a car like the Fenómeno.

Borkert summed up the philosophy behind the car succinctly: it is an expression of Lamborghini’s DNA, a celebration of shape, and a canvas for adrenaline. “We give adrenaline a shape,” he said. With its long tail, exposed engine, and flowing forms, the Fenómeno embodies a rare combination of elegance and intensity, honouring the past while looking to the future.

With such incredible sculpture in every detail, the Fenómeno sets the stage for some truly spectacular customer specifications once these 29 cars hit the road. If this is Lamborghini’s idea of a Few-Off, the future of bespoke performance looks nothing short of phenomenal.

Photos by Jamie Ong

---

Car you sell, Carousell. Get the highest quote for your car in just 24 hours, with assistance on paperwork too.