Photo: Lamborghini
2013 was the year of the hybrid hypercars, with the Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder throwing their petrol-electric venom at each other. Nonetheless, Lamborghin did not rush to follow suit and, as CEO Stephan Winkelmann explained in Geneva, it won’t do this too soon.
Lamborghini’s CEO told CarAdvice that his company sees the current hybrid proposals as being non-sutainable. He added that the three aforementioned hybrids are ways of showcasing their makers’ powers rather than propositions that are actually viable.
Focusing on the fact that all three cost north of US$ 1 million, Winkelmann said: “There is no market which is a constant one million euro. I made this experience myself more than one time, so I know what I’m talking about. So if [high-performance hybrid cars] is something, then it needs more time. It needs more time.”
The executive explained that, with the current battery technology, there are only two ways of making a performance hybrid and both include compromises that Lamborghini doesn’t want to make - such a development would either use heavy batteries, which would defeat the purpose, or push the cost through the sky.
Winkelmann pointed out that Lamborghini’s VW Group ownership meant the company has access to plenty of tech resources. Still, he insisted that a Lamborghini hybrid with the current technology would have simply been built for the pride of it.
We’ll remind you that Bentley announced a hybrid in every one of its future models. Despite having the VW Group as a parent , Lamborghini and Bentley are actually at the opposite ends in terms of weight.
Some of you may remember that Lamborghini released a performance manifesto a few years ago, pledging to increase perfromance by reducing weight. Subsequently, they came up with the Sesto Elemento, a Gallardo-like supercar concept that weighed less than one ton (lbs).
The Sesto Elemento went into limited production and now Lamborghini reminds us of this direction, explaining that it wants to use this pathway to improve efficiency instead of turning to hybrid power.
Lamborghini has, of course, considered all sorts of propulsion types, from turbocharged units to hybrids, plug-in hybrids and even electric. However, unlike Ferrari, which has returned to turbocharging with the California T, the Raging Bull sticks to its natural aspiration. Winkelman made a clear point, explaining that the company will continue to do so for as long as possible.
Via: CarAdvice
Focusing on the fact that all three cost north of US$ 1 million, Winkelmann said: “There is no market which is a constant one million euro. I made this experience myself more than one time, so I know what I’m talking about. So if [high-performance hybrid cars] is something, then it needs more time. It needs more time.”
The executive explained that, with the current battery technology, there are only two ways of making a performance hybrid and both include compromises that Lamborghini doesn’t want to make - such a development would either use heavy batteries, which would defeat the purpose, or push the cost through the sky.
Winkelmann pointed out that Lamborghini’s VW Group ownership meant the company has access to plenty of tech resources. Still, he insisted that a Lamborghini hybrid with the current technology would have simply been built for the pride of it.
We’ll remind you that Bentley announced a hybrid in every one of its future models. Despite having the VW Group as a parent , Lamborghini and Bentley are actually at the opposite ends in terms of weight.
Some of you may remember that Lamborghini released a performance manifesto a few years ago, pledging to increase perfromance by reducing weight. Subsequently, they came up with the Sesto Elemento, a Gallardo-like supercar concept that weighed less than one ton (lbs).
The Sesto Elemento went into limited production and now Lamborghini reminds us of this direction, explaining that it wants to use this pathway to improve efficiency instead of turning to hybrid power.
Lamborghini has, of course, considered all sorts of propulsion types, from turbocharged units to hybrids, plug-in hybrids and even electric. However, unlike Ferrari, which has returned to turbocharging with the California T, the Raging Bull sticks to its natural aspiration. Winkelman made a clear point, explaining that the company will continue to do so for as long as possible.
Via: CarAdvice
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