Lamborghini is bidding farewell to pure internal combustion engine vehicles with the current lineup being the last of the crop. Starting next year, the Italian brand will begin introducing its first electrified offerings with plug-in hybrids leading the charge. According to Bloomberg, the existing lineup has already sold out its production run for the 2022 model year. In an interview with Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Lamborghini, the brand will move quickly, electrifying its entire lineup by 2024.
Winkelmann noted that Lamborghini will unveil four new products in 2022 as it electrifies its lineup. The company has reserved $1.8 billion for the move to plug-in hybrid powertrains. Its first battery-electric vehicle won’t arrive until the second half of the decade. According to Winkelmann, the brand’s first EV is likely going to be a four-door model. He also noted that it must be suitable for use as a daily driver.
Dubbed Direzione Cor Tauri, Lamborghini’s electrification plans aim to put performance first via a sustainability-focused approach. The company aims to reduce the carbon footprint of its vehicles and the production facility at Sant’Agata Bolognese, which became carbon-neutral in 2015 and recently grew in size. Its lineup, however, will be small, consisting only of four vehicles. By 2025, Lamborghini aims to cut carbon emissions by 50 percent.
Lamborghini already has two electrified vehicles but they’re limited production ones. The latest is the Countach LPI 800-4, which will be limited to 112 units and gives us a preview of what the company’s future lineup of electrified vehicles could be like. It uses a naturally-aspirated V12 engine coupled to an electric motor and a seven-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission. Unlike other hybrids, the Countach uses a supercapacitor instead of a battery to supply energy to the electric motor just like the Sian FKP 37, the first vehicle to use this powertrain of which only 63 were made. The total system output is 814 hp, enabling the Countach to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.8 seconds before topping out at 220 mph. Like the Aventador that it’s based on, the Countach is AWD. It makes extensive use of carbon fiber to keep its weight down and increase torsional stiffness.
With only four models, we’re suspecting that the Urus will be among the first to get a plug-in hybrid. Seeing that it’s Lamborghini’s highest-volume vehicle, the Urus has broader appeal. As Winkelmann hinted during an interview with Bloomberg, the Urus will likely also be the first battery-electric vehicle in Lamborghini’s lineup. This could prove beneficial because of consumer demand for crossovers even in the high-end space. The Urus PHEV will compete with the upcoming Ferrari Purosangue and Aston Martin’s upcoming DBX PHEV. As with current Lamborghini models, expect the electrified Urus to double down on performance.
The other three models are possibly sports cars with one of them being the replacement for the Aventador. Another could be the successor to the Huracan, which could share its powertrain with other vehicles from other brands under the Volkswagen Group Umbrella. Lamborghini’s third plug-in hybrid model remains unknown. Although it may be another sports car, there’s a chance that the company could add a sedan that’s along the lines of the Estoque Concept from 2009.
