Lamborghini says it has no plans to follow Aston Martin and Bentley in delaying its first electric car. In the meantime it will continue to sell its three existing hybrid models for the foreseeable future.
Company chief Stephan Winkelmann told AutoExpress recently that the firm’s electrification strategy was appropriate. For the Lanzador it is all about timing the EV’s entry correctly. He was speaking at the launch of the firm’s Huracan replacement, the Temerario, in Britain.
“For the last four years, we have worked very hard on this [hybridisation] and now we see that this was…the right decision.”
Others with similar production numbers – Aston, Bentley, Ineos – have pulled back on electrification, especially in light of slow demand for EVs. Lotus and Porsche, originally heading in an all-electric direction, have changed plans as well.
Winkelmann said that because Lanzador is an all-new model, fully electric, there is less risk of it impacting negatively on the company’s sales volumes. Besides, it is not due until around 2030.
“So far, we are not thinking about delaying anything.
“It’s an additional model… a new type of car… so it’s also going to attract new customers to Lamborghini.”
Winkelmann acknowledged that EV uptake is slower than forecast, especially for the super-sports segment. The company plans to “stay hybrid as long as possible…”.
Lamborghini’s three existing model lines are now fully hybridised and that won’t change even if synthetic fuel proves a viable means of cleaning up combustion engines in the future.
He added battery power is something that helps the performance, not inhibits it. “Battery technology will evolve, and if we stay hybrid, this is going to help the performance of the cars even more.”
As proof of the hybrid strategy success, the Revuelto, with its battery-assisted V12 engine, is sold out “well into 2026”. And the Urus SE plug-in hybrid SUV is a sellout to the end of next year.
Regarding the new Temerario, Winkelmann said “we have a lot of interest and already a lot of orders”.
The Temerario may only have a V6 but it is a larger engine than rivals like Ferrari 296, McLaren Artura and Maserati MC20 have. This, plus the 10,000rpm redline, he believes, are significant selling points for the firm’s entry-level model.
“When you buy a Lamborghini, it’s…a very emotional decision. “We have…to have a balance between achieving the desire of our clients and…having a lasting business case for the company.”
