Lamborghini’s flagship sports car may well have ditched its V12 by the 2030s in favour of fully-electric propulsion but the brand’s CEO says it will still offer a thoroughly engaging driving experience.
“What we have to prove is that the emotional performance, and by that I mean lateral acceleration, braking, and accelerating out of the corner feels even better than it would in one of our combustion engine super sports cars,” said Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann.
“For sure there’s a chance we can do this with the software we are working on for next-generation of Lamborghinis and we strongly believe it’s absolutely possible.
Revuelto
“But what we cannot replicate is the sound of the engine, which means we’re going to have to open another chapter at Lamborghini.
“I think there will be a trade-off between sustainability and performance with our future customers. These people will likely accept the fact there’s no longer the same emotional soundtrack, provided we give them more performance.
Lamborghini has already started the process of electrifying its range with its new flagship – the plug-in hybrid Revuelto – boasting huge performance numbers thanks to three electric motors and a battery in addition to the mid-mounted 6.5-litre V12.
“Right now our customers are happy we’re going hybrid, because it’s the first step and the best of both worlds. But in the future we have to prove we can do it with a different form of power and that’s a bigger challenge,” said Mr Winkelmann.
Lamborghini will electrify its line-up over the next two years, allowing it to reduce its CO2 emissions by 50 per cent by 2025.
“The next step is to have two battery-electric cars for 2028 and 2029, which will also introduce our fourth and all-new Lamborghini model that will further reduce our emissions footprint by up to 80 per cent by the end of the decade,” said Mr Winkelmann.
Mr Winkelmann says Lamborghini has to look 10 years ahead (or more) in the planning cycle, due to the upfront investment and recoupment once the cars go on sale.
“If you had asked me 10 years ago would we be doing hybrids, I would have said no way, but it’s not only become acceptable now even for a super sports car, but it’s also digestible, even,” he said.
“Nevertheless, the latest technology we have in the Revuelto actually makes it an easier car to drive than any of our previous cars, better performing and even a better sound.”
It teased its upcoming fourth model line – a electric 2+2 – back in 2021.
Current Urus
Lamborghini says the 2+2 will have a “new body style, new tech, [and] lots of opportunities to remake Lamborghini” and will be “very recognisable but it should also be something completely new”.
The other EV due by decade’s end is an electric Urus.
Lamborghini has yet to decide what its first electric supercars will look like.
“For the two super sports cars we have a bit more time and we can decide what we do in the 2030s,” said Mr Winkelmann.
“While we can’t decide at the last moment, we can observe the market, the progression of electrification and importantly, what the public has decided is acceptable in terms of government regulations and emissions regulations.”
