Bespoke hybrid tech for next-gen Lamborghinis

LAMBORGHINI is entering phase two of its electrification plan, confirming performance will improve with hybrid systems and new engines to be designed in-house – rather than relying on VW Group tech – for successors to its Aventador and Huracan.

The aim is to set a new supercar benchmark while honouring the iconic V12, Lamborghini region director for Asia Pacific, Francesco, Scardaoni told GoAuto at a recent dealership opening in Brisbane.

“2023 is the year where we start phase two of our electrification plan,” he said.

“We wanted to do it with the flagship. What is the flagship of Lamborghini? It’s the V12.”

Lamborghini is intent on doing things its own way, developing the hybrid platforms in-house – from the combustion engine design to the electrification systems – and the Huracan and Aventador replacements will each have unique hybrid systems rather than a shared platform.

“Lamborghini became one of the most profitable brands within the (VW) group,” Mr Scardaoni said.

“Of course, then you have the power to do certain things and also to self-fund the project. For the electrification plan we released €1.8 billion to bring the company up to 2025.

“The powertrain is developed by Lamborghini. Everything is built in Italy in Sant'Agata.

“If you book a guided visit to the museum and production, we show everything except the V12 line, which is covered, because we have the new car in and the new line in.”

Mr Scardaoni said Lamborghini wanted its next V12 flagship to repeat the “breakthrough” status achieved by the Aventador, which is why its successor will go hybrid first.

“We decided to start with the Aventador, and we wanted to keep the V12. When Aventador was launched in 2011, it created a breakthrough,”he said.

“A car with pushrod suspension, V12, 700 horsepower, a gearbox that could change in 60 milliseconds, a carbon-fibre chassis and so on. Those were features only of hypercars, so we broke hypercars into production. We redefined the top of the super sport class.”

Mr Scardaoni confirmed the replacement flagship model aims to set a new benchmark, and says Lamborghini is sure it will be a success.

“The new Aventador has to create another success story like the one we started with in 2011. You will see the car soon, and we are sure that it will be a success,” he said.

The Raging Bull’s electrification plan is one that slowly phases out its trademark V10 and V12 engines, rather than abruptly swapping cylinders for batteries.

“The electrification plan has been designed across three steps,” Mr Scardaoni explained.

“The first one, today, is basically the celebration of internal combustion – pure ICE. The second that starts from 2023 up to 2025, is the hybridisation phase. By 2028 we will have the fire pure EV Lamborghini.”

As hybrids take over Lamborghini’s fleet of supercars and SUVs, the marque has decided to add a 2+2 two-door option as the first pure EV.

“This will be a fourth model that will be a four-seat car, not a super sport,” Mr Scardaoni confirmed of the brand’s first BEV.

Originally rumoured to be a GT car, Mr Scardaoni told GoAuto it is not yet confirmed and it may in fact be a crossover.

“This is what we don’t have in our product line right now … what we miss is a 2+2. Two doors, but body type is under discussion – if it’s a GT or crossover,” he said.

While details of the new flagship Aventador replacement are vague, Mr Scardaoni did confirm the cockpit will be more spacious.

“Let’s say the size of the cockpit is much better,” he said.

Performance will remain front and centre for the Raging Bull, with hybrid and eventually pure electric models expected to nudge closer to hypercar territory.

“It’s important the new car performs better than the previous one. It’s important that our performance is best in class within the competitor basket we play with,” Mr Scardaoni said.

“The performance offered with the Aventador SVJ or those kind of super sport cars is not really far away from the performance of hyper cars.

“We have the potential to get closer to those hyper cars.”

With Huracan delivery times sitting at about 18 months, the new model will be announced by the time owners receive their new cars.

However, for those thinking of holding out, it is unknown whether the hybrid replacement will feature a V10 or V8.

“We cannot disclose which engine we will fit in this car, but of course it will be hybrid,” Mr Scardaoni said when pressed on the engine for the Huracan replacement.

While many manufacturers are charging full-steam at BEV replacements, Lamborghini’s staggered approach is easing buyers into the next generation of supercars.

We just hope the mighty V10 gets one more run in the next Huracan equivalent, as the V12 will in the hybrid flagship.

Time will tell, but Lamborghini clearly feels as though it has a lot riding on its iconic lineage of twelve-cylinder engines.

“This is the masterpiece that Lamborghini started with back in ’63, carried over all those years and this is our legacy,” said Mr Scardaoni.