Lamborghini will stick with hybrids to retain brand’s unique engine sound

Lamborghini has made it a point for its future vehicles to have the same renowned exhaust note. That is why the automaker has put the focus on hybrids instead of going full throttle on building fully electric vehicles. Hybrids are perfect because they reduce dangerous emissions but customers and onlookers alike still get to enjoy the sound of its powerplant.

In an interview between CarAdvice and Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini’s Chief Technical Officer, we learned that the automaker looks at hybrid machines as the answer to carbon dioxide requirements. With a hybrid, they’re able to keep the natural aspirated appeal but reduce the CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.

Reggiani also mentioned that the future Aventador and Huracan will still retain their naturally aspirated engine, but it is not impossible for them to have hybrid assistance. The chief technical officer believes that this will have two major advantages: a better throttle response and the fact that it will provide a differentiating factor over turbocharged, supercar competitors like Ferrari and McLaren cars.

When asked about the company’s future plans, we would say that Reggiani is pretty open about discussing the possibility of future hybrid models. During the 2018 Detroit Auto Show, he mentioned that he was thinking of ways in which he can address the increase in weight of the new Aventador due to the added motors and batteries. Some of these could be from using cutting edge parts like solid state batteries.

Yes, Lamborghini is transitioning into hybrid vehicles. However, there have not been any expressed intentions of developing a fully electric model just yet. The limitation is said to be because its technology is still not ready. This is solely related to performance, handling, maximum speed, and some other parameters. Reggiani also told CarAdvice that a pure electric vehicle is not feasible for their brand just yet.

As we all know, the Urus is Lamborghini’s first ever hybrid vehicle, and this model will go on sale in 2019. The PHEV version of it will be using the powertrain of the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid with a 4.0 liter biturbo V8 and electric motor that delivers as much as 680 horsepower (507 kilowatts) and 626 pound feet (850 Newton metres). Its 14.1 kilowatt hour lithium ion battery then allows for a 31 mile (50 kilometer) electric range in the sedan.

We don’t really know whether Lamborghini will completely stay away from electric vehicles in the future. If we’re brave enough to venture a guess, we believe that as long as Lamborghini’s appeal is affected largely by its exhaust note then it might never go there.