Lamborghini’s LMDh Prototype Will Get A New V8 Twin-Turbo Hybrid Engine

Lamborghini is preparing for its entry into the highest echelon of endurance racing with a prototype race car that will be powered by a V8 engine.

More specifically, the engine will be an eight-cylinder, 90-degree V-angle, twin-turbo unit developed by the company’s motorsport department, Squadra Corse. It will work alongside a single-source ERS hybrid kit, as per regulations.

The electric motor will be developed by Bosch Motorsport, while power management and energy storage will be handled by Williams Advanced Engineering. The seven-speed P1359 hybrid gearbox, meanwhile, is being developed by Xtrac.

Read Also: Lamborghini’s Huracan Hybrid Successor To Get V8 Turbocharging Of A New Kind, Claims Report

As per FIA regulations, the power unit will be limited to 671 hp (500 kW/680 PS), the car to a minimum weight of 1,030 kg (2,271 lbs), and it will be able to reach a top speed of 340 km/h (211 mph). Its spine, meanwhile, will be developed together with Ligier Automotive and the carbon fiber elements will be produced in Italy by HP Composites, with which Lamborghini has long worked for the Super Trofeo and GT3 platforms.

Could It Be A Precursor To The Huracan’s Hybrid Replacement?

“With Automobili Lamborghini embarking on a future of hybridization in its road car production, the LMDh represents a specific energy/performance project based on the experiences of the upcoming generations of its sports cars, fully aligning with the Cor Tauri company strategy,” Lamborghini wrote in a statement.

Indeed, this announcement follows rumors that the followup to the Lamborghini Huracán will be powered by a newly-developed hybrid V8. That engine will reportedly use electrification to boost performance up to 7,000 rpm, after which point the turbos will boost engine performance all the way up to 10,000 rpm.

The automaker says its new racecar will make its competition debut for the 2024 racing season and will compete in both the IMSA Endurance Cup and the FIA World Endurance Championship, and is likely to compete at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans.