by Mike Gulett –
Lamborghini has announced that its current models, Huracan, Aventador and the Urus sport utility vehicle will all be hybrids by 2024. They also plan to introduce a new all-electric model by 2030. Lamborghini will commit to investing 1.5 billion Euros over the next four years in this transformation.
From a Lamborghini press release;
Lamborghini’s roadmap, will comprise of three phases:
1) Celebrating the combustion engine (2021-2022) by presenting models paying tribute to the company’s recent period of continuous success.
2) Hybrid transition (by the end of 2024): in 2023 Lamborghini will launch its first hybrid series production car, and by the end of 2024 the entire range will be electrified. Leading the hybrid transition will be an unprecedented investment: more than 1.5 billion euros allocated over four years, the largest in Lamborghini’s history.
3) First fully-electric Lamborghini (second half of the decade): acceleration in the second part of the decade will be dedicated to full-electric vehicles, with the vision of a fourth model in the future.
Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini was quoted in The Guardian;
He admitted it could be a challenge to evoke the feel of a V12 engine in an electric car. “We have to define what sportiness is in the new era, in the battery electric era,” he said. “Range is the top priority. This is still something we have to work on.”
It is unclear what form the all-electric model will take, but Winkelmann said it was likely to be a four-seater. “In terms of the design, the sexier car is a two-door car,” he added.
That last statement caught my attention – a four-seater with two doors? Sounds like a modern Espada to me!
Ferrari has promised to launch an electric model by 2025 and Jaguar is going all electric by 2025. The Porsche Taycan introduced in 2019 is an all electric sport sedan. Lamborghini seems to be behind the competition but that may not really matter too much because I suspect their customers will be happy to keep buying their gas powered V12 and V10 engined cars for years to come.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
At Lemans in 1960, Ferrari factory team driver Paul Frere expressed a concern for the ungainly windshield on his Testa Rossa mandated by rules that year, and how it might effect aerodynamics. Enzo Ferrari famously replied
” Aerodynamics are for people who can’t build engines”. Enzo was clearly always focused on engines and so are his customers. I cannot envision the day when an all electric Ferrari or Lamborghini will deliver the same experience as firing up a 12 cylinder engine does. Electric motors do make massive amounts of torque that equates to brisk acceleration, but what about the seven speed dual clutch transmission? What about a manual transmission? I think the whole experience we love will be lost!
I don’t know if anyone is familiar with Shmee 150 on YouTube or not. If not, you might want to be, although his personality takes some getting used to. He has quite the car collection and visits a lot more very impressive ones.
He has in his stable a Porsche Taycan. Here is a story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwevvreoNjE
I am worried that it will be an experience lost to younger generations. It’s like horseback riding.I was a cowboy in Missoula in 1960 and just one time launched my horse into a full gallop.Similar to my experience winding out a Miura to 120, redlining it with each upshift. I was shocked when I met a young lady clerk the other day who said she had never ridden a horse and she looked at least 20.I thought how many Americans will only read about horses but never be in command of one? Maybe ten years from now we enthusiasts will meet young people who have never driven an internal combustion car.
It appears that the nature of being a car enthusiasts will change over the coming years. I have a difficult time imagining all electric Lamborghinis and Ferraris generating the kind of enthusiasm we are used to.
I just detailed a Ferrari 360 Spider in my shop last weekend. A big part of cleaning this car was going through the engine compartment and cleaning and dressing all of the engine bits because the 360 Spider engine is “under glass”, and that is one of the really neat parts of that car that enthusiasts enjoy. Not only are they going to steal the sound track, but what will we look at and admire under the hood?
I suppose just like horses are now confined to farms and horse tracks, we will have to visit museums and vintage driving and racing events. Sad!
I think Robert said it all!!!
Sad Sad sad