Laws in the European Union expect all new vehicles to be zero emission by 2035. Lamborghini is looking for alternatives to keep their iconic combustion engines alive. The brand does already have a fully-electric vehicle planned down the pipeline by 2028. Yet, they don't want that to mean the death of their high-revving, high emotion heritage.

Thus, the Italian manufacturer has started a project for the development of synthetic fuels. Their VW Group sister company, Porsche, has launched a similar venture this year. Why have the two companies not decided to collaborate? This is where the situation gets a bit complicated. Thanks to an Australian news source, we explain more details about these new projects.

The best year ever for Lamborghini?

Lamborghini knows it's in the hot seat in our evolving automotive landscape. The Italian brand has been inspiring generations of enthusiasts with its emotive engines and crazy supercars. Almost to the point that if it doesn't have a V-10 or V-12 in it, is it really a Lamborghini? This poses a problem for the brand that doesn't want to lose its iconic engines due to regulation. It is no secret that 6.5-liter V-12s that rev to 8,000 RPM aren't fuel efficient. Thus, they first looked to hybrid technology in their supercars to compromise.

The brand plans to create a plug-in hybrid of the V-12 Aventador supercar by 2023. The V-10 Huracan will see a hybrid successor available in 2024. A hybrid version of the Urus SUV will hit the market by 2024. The Urus, being Lamborghini's best-selling car ever, has been a great success for the brand. Q1 2022 has been the brand's best quarter in their 59 year history.

This growth has paved the way for further developments in their technology. This gives us hope for their first all-electric vehicle in 2028. The unnamed vehicle will be a 2+2 crossover SUV priced under the Urus.

Making a shift

Lamborghini's Asia Pacific Region Director, Francesco Scardaoni, clarifies their stance on alternative fuels. He states that "the ideal scenario" is that their vehicle line-up will be all-electric. For their "super-sports cars" they will continue with combustion engines using synthetic fuels. Scardaoni states that their developmental venture is in collaboration with an oil company. Although sister brand Porsche has already invested in a similar program, they will not be collaborating. Yet, their path is "parallel".

Scardaoni states they want to have their "own way" of keeping their engines alive. Right now their investment is still in its very early stages. They are still unsure about fuel choice or its long-term application. Scardaoni states Porsche's development is "much more advanced".

Fossil-less Future?

Does that seem like the best solution given the current situation? We are unsure. Collaboration with Porsche as they did with the Urus and Cayenne SUV seems logical. Yet, there must be some ideological difference they aren't willing to discuss or compromise on. Even if it was your company's best year ever, is it worth it to take the financial strain of developing a new fuel? A partnership with their German sister company could have simplified the process and helped overhead costs.

Why not invest in existing alternative flex fuels such as E85? The corn-based ethanol is the most common alternative fuel available. It has better thermal efficiency and sustainability for performance applications than gasoline. Yet, since Lamborghini seems to be in the works with an oil company, you can see where the conflict arises. We remain uncertain how this alternative fuel project will pan out. Yet, we remain hopeful with Lamborghini's push to bring their vehicles to the modern age.