The Draco GTE, a $1.25 million electric super sedan that makes Valentino Balboni smile.

If you want to find out if a new car is really high performance, give the keys to Valentino Balboni - having been a Lamborghini test driver for nearly 40 years, Balboni knows all about fast cars. But this time, instead of an angry Italian bull, Balboni was testing the Draco GTE electric super sedan.

Balboni started out as a mechanic's apprentice at Lamborghini, but was soon invited to test drive newly built cars. It is believed that during his career, Balboni test-drove 80 percent of all Lamborghini built. Lamborghini introduced a special edition car named in his honor, the Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni.

So what does Balboni think of the Draco GTE?

"It's completely different," Balboni said with a smile after the test drive. It gives you a feeling of power."

The Drako GTE certainly has power. California-based Drako Motors replaced the Fisker Karma body with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, making it all-electric. The electric motor produces 300 hp at each wheel, totaling 1,200 hp.

What makes the car different is not only the power, but how it transfers that power to the road. Each engine sends power to the individual wheels through a direct drive gearbox, which allows for very precise torque distribution. Top speed is claimed to be 206 mph.

It is powered by a 90 kWh battery pack with an estimated range of about 200 miles; the GTE is also capable of 150 kWh DC fast charging, as is the Audi E-Tron.

Prices start at $1.25 million. With prices starting at US$1.25 million, only 25 Drakos will be built. Reservations are currently being taken and deliveries should begin later this year.