Lamborghini confirms plug-in hybrid V12 for Aventador successor

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Lamborghini's Aventador is nearing the end of its life, eleven years after it first debuted. The Ultimae edition represents the last of the line, but also the final time Lamborghini will offer an unassisted V12 engine in its road cars.

The boss of Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann, spoke with Autocar UK recently, confirming the next supercar from the brand will be revealed in 2023 with a new plug-in hybrid, naturally aspirated V12 engine.

He said the Aventador was the “most successful V12 car” the brand has ever produced. Apparently, all the V12 cars before the Aventador, in total, sold less than the Aventador as a stand-alone model. That means its replacement has to be good, and a plug-in hybrid-assisted V12, not forced induction, is the best way to get there.

The Aventador is bowing out, after eleven years on the circuit.

There’s no doubt the new powertrain will make big power and sound fantastic, and for those worried about the extra weight of the batteries, Winkelmann is looking more at the power-to-weight ratio, which suggests the new supercar might rely on increased power to deal with the weight.

**READ MORE:

The plug-in replacement for the Aventador won’t use the Sian’s supercapacitor setup.

* Lamborghini slashes emissions using trains

* Lamborghini announces plan to release first all-electric car by 2030

Audi has made an electric R8 before, and it might be doing it again.

* Lamborghini and Bugatti boss wants the combustion engine around 'as long as possible'

The system won’t use supercapacitors, like the ultra-limited Sian, as Winkelmann views them as “a bridge technology which does not fulfil the needs we have for the future to reduce emissions.” Interesting.

He goes on to say that the entire Lamborghini line-up will be electrified to some degree by 2023-2024, and a capacitor system won’t be enough for that.

However, there may be another model to use the supercapacitor technology. When asked about the Huracan’s V10 engine (which will survive until 2024), Winkelmann said he is focusing on 2021, which will see “another car next to the Ultimae with a V12 engine and a supercapacitor.” It's unclear if he’s talking about the Sian or a different car altogether.

In any case, a fourth model will join the Lamborghini family after 2025, which will take the form of a fully electric 2+2 that is not an SUV.

Considering the brand is owned by Volkswagen, it could possibly use Audi’s Project Artemis, which may spawn an electric successor to the R8. Additionally, the boss said a hybridised V6 is not off the table as a replacement for the V10.

Finally, Winkelmann stressed the fact that while the death of the unassisted V12 is sad, it’s ultimately necessary. “I think we have to have the capability to adapt. We need to change and this is something that is paramount to the success of tomorrow. You have to perform better than before… In terms of CO2 emissions, it is an important change, but we are convinced that this is going to work.

“The plug-in hybrid car which will follow the Aventador will have a V12 engine, and so the sound and the history will stay alive.”