Lamborghini focused on hybrid future, not manual transmissions

Lamborghini won't follow Ferrari in bringing back the manual transmission, with its focus instead firmly on further developing its new generation of hybrid supercars.

"I think there will always be Lamborghini customers asking for a manual transmission, and for everything that is rooted in our tradition," Temerario product line director Paolo Racchetti told CarExpert in Milan, Italy.

"But on the other hand, Lamborghini is defined by always evolving and thinking about the future. We are the most innovative brand in the super-sports car segment, and at this moment our target is to evolve this new architecture even further.

"It is already delivering a lot of performance and a lot of emotion, and we really think we can enhance both even further.

"So, for the moment, we will keep moving in this direction and continue with the product philosophy defined by our Cor Tauri [bull's heart] strategy."

First outlined in 2021, Direzione Cor Tauri is Lamborghini's strategic roadmap for electrifying its product range and decarbonising its operations.

As it stands, the Italian exotic automaker aims to reduce enterprise emissions by 40 per cent per car by 2030.

On the product side, Lamborghini has so far introduced two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) supercars – the Revuelto and Temerario – while also transitioning its SUV, the Urus, to PHEV power.

The roadmap makes no mention of manual transmissions, which have been absent from the Lamborghini lineup since the Gallardo ended production more than a decade ago.

Mr Racchetti's comments suggest there are currently no plans to reintroduce three pedals and a stick shift in future models.

Conversely, Ferrari is chasing the favour of traditionalists with the new 12Cilindri Manuale – its first factory-built manual model since the California.

That said, the gearbox in question isn't a true manual in the traditional sense. Rather than engineering a new H-pattern transmission, Ferrari has created what it calls a 'Manuale By-Wire' system, combining a traditional-looking gated gear shifter and clutch pedal with the company's existing eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

McLaren, meanwhile, is set to revive the manual with the McL 6GT, an ultra-exclusive production supercar due to enter production in 2028 – more than three decades after the legendary F1 became the brand's last manual road car.

Indeed, manual transmissions have become increasingly rare among modern supercars, often reserved for limited-run models or special projects.

MORE: Explore the Lamborghini showroom