Why Lamborghini Isn’t Rushing Into the Electric Supercar Market Lamborghini has made it no secret that they plan to build an electric supercar in the future. However, the raging bull’s chief technical officer, Rouven Mohr, believes it won’t be for some time. According to him the idea of just delivering mind-blowing acceleration and excessive power isn’t true to Lamborghini’s core principles. Lambos are known for their excessive flair, thunderous soundtrack, emotional engagement, and an obsession with standing out. Something an electric car can never do. We see this in the low-volume EV manufacturers like Rimac and Pininfarina. Despite being the fastest accelerating car on the planet, Rimac has still yet to sell out of all 150 Neveras. And it isn’t just Lamborghini treading carefully around the EV world. Ferrari, McLaren, and even Bugatti are also hesitant to launch fully electric supercars for the same reasons. Instead, most supercars now are hybrids to balance out the experience of a combustion engine with the tech of an EV motor. Mohr stresses that Lambo’s first electric car won’t arrive until it offers truly groundbreaking emotion. And not just those simulated engine noises and artificial gear changes you find in a Hyundai Ioniq 5N. Mohr has stated, “We have to go a step further than trying to imitate the combustion engine.” Exactly how is yet to be seen, but for now Lambo seems very content with its current range of high-performance hybrids. Lamborghini’s Hybrid Line-up: Combining the best of the old with new Instead of jumping straight into fully electric vehicles (EVs), Lamborghini has embraced hybrid technology. Their newest supercars, the Revuelto and Temerario both use a triad of electric motors alongside their combustion engines. The Temerario goes one stage further by being Lamborghini's first fully turbocharged supercar, using a flat-plane crank twin-turbo V8 as its primary source. Contrasting the historic and traditional naturally aspirated V12 used in the Revuelto. Recently a hybrid powered 790 horsepower variant of the Urus called the SE has joined the fleet. These models sit as test beds, not only to see if the hybrid power works in Lambos but also as a bridge. A bridge that connects this transition from pure petrol power to eventual EV usage. These hybrid approaches have allowed Lamborghini to maintain the theatre and drama of their combustion engines whilst providing the first steps to cleaner and more sustainable cars. Mohr believes this to be a winning strategy and its likely hybrid powertrains will be a staple at Lamborghini for the next decade. Lamborghini Lanzador: A glimpse into the future whilst harkening back to the past Mohr and CEO Stephan Winkelmann both believe the future is electric, but they are in no rush. As Winkelmann noted, “You need to think about that Lamborghini needs five years [of development], then a product cycle of at least eight years.” The first full EV Lambo won’t appear until 2028 and it won’t even be a supercar. Instead, it will be a 2+2 grand tourer inspired by the Lamborghini Lanzador. This 2023 concept GT boasted dual electric motors which delivered more than 1300 horsepower. It also featured a super high-tech four-wheel drive system, active aerodynamics, and cutting-edge AI systems to improve handling and performance. However, to emphasize its greenness, Lamborghini designed the interior of Lanzador with eco-friendly materials like recycled wood and regenerated carbon fiber. This concept stands as a testament to Lambo’s future shift to a greener future. Lamborghini has stated that this long-term approach to developing their EV is essential as it means they can be trailblazers in the EV market rather than trend-followers. However, there is one factor worth noting. Lamborghini’s Laid-Back Approach to Innovation Since the beginning Lamborghini have always stood out. Not only for its outlandish designs and different attitude but also for its long-lasting tenures and laid-back attitude to innovation. In under sixty years, Lamborghini has released only six flagship V12s. Contrast that to Ferrari’s 50-year tenure with their baby supercar, 11 variants of these exist. Not only do Lambo enjoy stretching out the timeline of their vehicles but quite often their cars tend to be 10 centuries out of date by the time the final rolls off the production line. Take the Huracan, Lambo’s final V10 supercar that will be dying this year. This V10 is 20 years old, the body and chassis are 10 and the whole car just felt decades behind a 296 or an Artura. This is the Lamborghini way, stretching out models for decades. Yet outshining their rivals for style and soundtrack. Even today with its E-performance hybrid, 8-speed dual-clutch, the Revuelto still uses a gargantuan, 10-year-old V12 instead of a turbocharged V6 or V8 like most of its competitors. Just to create thunder and stand out. It’s clear this V12 monster and the Temerario will be with us for another decade. And knowing that one day hybrids will be considered a thing of the past, it’s likely either one of these two will be the final time we see a production supercar use a combustion engine. That’s a truly sad thought. Lamborghini Knows Their Appeal From a practical perspective, Lamborghini’s decision to delay their first all-electric supercar would appear as dim-witted and daft as most of their cars. However, it is actually wise from both a production standpoint and an emotional one. By testing the waters with their current fleet hybrids, Lambo can garner whether their consumer base is open to the idea of EVs. So when they eventually build one they can ensure it delivers the emotion and drama of a true Lambo. And by still offering ICE-powered cars that create explosions and theatre shows they clearly understand their core appeal. Who would buy an axe-designed, mentalist Lambo and have it sound like a Vacuum? My case rests. Source: Motor1
