Lamborghini is putting the finishing touches on the extreme Aventador SV Jota but bigger changes are on the horizon.
In an interview with Top Gear, Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali reaffirmed the replacements for the Aventador and Huracan will have a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The models are expected to arrive in the early 2020s and Lamborghini technical director Maurizio Reggiani once again stated they will continue to use naturally aspirated engines.
The exact setup remains unclear but Reggiani suggested the models will have V10 and V12 engines that are backed up by a performance-oriented plug-in hybrid system. This likely means we can expect a relatively small battery pack to keep weight down while also enabling the models to travel short distances on electricity alone.
Reggiani didn’t go into details but told the publication, “This will be a silent Lamborghini, but push the accelerator and the engine will come.” He went on to say “Silence will only last for some seconds then comes the sound.”
Future Lamborghini models might not have a roaring engine at all as Reggiani said an electric supercar could eventually join the lineup. As he explained, battery technology could become advanced enough to enable Lamborghini to offer an electric vehicle as early as 2026. This depends on a variety of different factors but Domenicali said the company’s engineers are already working on solid state batteries.
Domenicali also made a rather surprising revelation by saying the company is toying around with the idea of a hydrogen-powered model far into the future. Any such vehicle would reportedly be at least 15-20 years off but Domenicali suggested the company needs to keep an open mind about technologies and consumer preferences.
Note: Lamborghini Terzo Millennio Concept pictured
