Reportedly, you can’t have a new gasoline-only Lamborghini, and neither can I. No, I’m not saying we’re all poor, but instead that Lamborghini’s allegedly sold out of combustion-only new cars forever. Excuse me, for I need to scream.
Actually, hold the hysterics for now. Just because combustion-only models are all spoken for doesn’t mean that Lamborghini is nixing controlled fireballs altogether. Here’s what Reuters has to say:
Lamborghini’s combustion engine models are sold out until the end of production, its chief executive was quoted as saying in the WELT newspaper on Wednesday, as the luxury carmaker transitions towards a pure hybrid lineup.
Yeah, that makes sense. Given typical product cycles, we’re going to realistically see a year-and-a-half or so of combustion-only Lamborghinis before things go all hybrid, and the hybrid Lamborghinis that we know are coming look pretty damn good.
The Revuelto? Sure, it looks like Edward Scissorhands’ personal Aventador, but I bet it will be brilliant. The inevitable plug-in hybrid Urus? Nobody really cares. Look, it’s a multi-ton road hippo that looks like the result of Balenciaga having a go at the Pontiac Aztek. Commercial real estate agents will actually appreciate a plug-in setup provided they can mob through the HOV lanes unaccompanied, and Greenpeace will appreciate a plug-in setup because the current Urus is thirsty enough that it comes with a direct line to OPEC. It’s not even the silliest Porsche Cayenne you can buy anymore (shoutout to the window-licking Turbo GT), so why not make it a bit more sensible?
Plus, Lamborghini seems to be doing hybrids right. Big cylinder count, big power, big poster car numbers, keep the weight respectable. That last line is a weird one to say about a big bull, but that’s the way it goes. And honestly? Lamborghini doesn’t have much reason to stick with combustion-only powertrains.
Unless attached to a manual gearbox or used in the pursuit of absolute lightness, having a combustion-only powertrain just doesn’t sound practical these days. Modern battery packs for series-parallel hybrids are light enough that going small means most cars don’t suffer a huge weight penalty, and if a car’s going to be heavy anyway, might as well give it some proper EV range. This isn’t even an environmental thing either, it’s a cheapness thing. Stop-and-go driving is boring, so why not spend pennies on the dollar and do it on electricity?
I, for one, welcome our new hybrid Lamborghini poster cars. A world with loud, fast dreams is unquestionably better than one without, and if those dreams need hybridization to happen, so be it. Even if the idea of a juiced-up Lambo doesn’t do anything for you, think of the next generation. This is for the ballers, shot-callers, and kids at Scholastic book fairs everywhere. More proof that even in an onslaught of electrification, supercars are super fun.
(Photo credits: Lamborghini)
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Don’t care. As I’ve pointed out before, this isn’t 2004.
I kind of feel like the all electric Challenger trumped them. Though it likely will not come out before Lambo enacts theirs. Considering how little the supercars get driven, as long as the 12V battery does not sulfate, the chance of the all electric versions to actually make it to a cars and coffee increase dramatically
TBH in the past decade any desire to own a supercar has just evaporated (not that I’d ever be in that position regardless). There’s no way to use anywhere near all the power on the street, there are better/faster/cheaper cars for the track, and it’s not much fun just cruising around breathing on the throttle while the computer nannies hold your hand. Adding hybrid power just decreases the amount of enjoyment you can get before having to pump the brakes or die. It just doesn’t feel special anymore, which defeats the purpose.
I think I’d have to do like Adrian and buy a vintage Ferrari-not necessarily fast by todays standards, but sexy, and you can hear that glorious motor rev through a few gated manual gear changes without an airfield. Bonus points for a targa top.
I think this attitude is exactly why GT3s have become so desirable. It’s what “supercars” used to be: high revving, light, simple.
So much this. I started losing interest twenty years ago; all that probably means I am ten years older than you.
No, it’s okay. you can go there. It’s a fair assessment.
The weirdest thing about Lambo is that their designs age well. When I see an Aventador or Huracan I think to myself, “Man, you could release that car today and it’d look fresh”.
Sure, other “supercars” are faster in a straight line, or around a lap…but who cares? They’re all so fast that it’s immaterial at this point, if you want lap times buy a Radical.
HRRRRRNG I want to hoon the Sterrato so much.
Get friend with doug
IMO the hybrid supercars are doing what we all should be doing – using electric for putzing around in traffic, and then using electrons and dinosaur juice when you want to go zoom-zoom and/or need to go hundreds of miles from the nearest reliable charger.
The McLaren P1 was probably the first to do this epically well, and the argument for an all-combustion powertrain has long since evaporated.
Parallel hybrid is the obvious choice for performance cars, what I’m even more surprised about is that series hybrids aren’t mainstream for the everyday crossover. They should all have 60 hp ICE engines with small battery packs and a 200 hp electric motor.
Because cheapness is diametrically opposed to Lamborghini ownership?
The death of every non-electrified, naturally-aspirated engine is a tragedy and should be treated as such. There’s plenty of hybrids out there for those who enjoy them.
Literally the end of the world, maybe even the cause of it !!!
/s
/s is for cowards
Meh. Lamborghini is a VAG brand and has to defer to corporate interests. Hopefully the small niche brands like Caterham and Morgan continue on with their ICE powerplants as that’s where they are at their rawest.
This is a sad day. Pour one out.
With that said, it’s going to be SWEEEEEEET to here a Lambo pull away in silence then fire the engine like an IMSA car.
Whether they have none or a million I will surely be buying the same amount. Frankly, after turning 18 i dont see why anyone would want one other than to say hey look i got a Lambo. That is a big deutsch play. Yeah spend a couple try to cram yourself into one, go cruising for chicks and once you get one impress her by driving 55mph in busy traffic. It is cheaper to just rent a hooker.
I can relate. I used to dream of Porsches and Lambos when I was I kid, until one day when I grew up and drove a VW Type 2 through a flood, rescuing a few stranded neighbours. It was not a biblical flood, mind you, but it was enough for me to really, truly forget about impractical cars forever.
Today, I firmly believe that hauling less than seven butts is a waste of automotive real state.
I dig it my brother. I really dig it
This….this is a car enthusiast website, you know that right?
Not all car enthusiasts are enthused by or have any interest in superhypercars.
For a lot of car enthusiasts thousandare Camry doors work just fine.
Last night I was drifting off to sleep while telling my daughter a good-night story. As I started to dream a bit, all of the characters changed to cars (the main character was suddenly a Citroën Dyane), and she immediately knew I was falling asleep as this is my modus operandi. Cars is my brain’s default setting.
I have no interest whatsoever in modern super cars. I admire the Carrera GT but anything later than the Diablo VT is of very little interest to me.