In the latest sign of the changing times, Lamborghini is now looking into a future where hybrid powertrains will play bigger roles in shaping its future portfolio of supercars, one that includes the successor to the Lamborghini Aventador. The company’s chief technical officer, Maurizio Reggiani, said that government emissions regulations will play a big part in determining the future of Lamborghini’s engine offerings. That’s not to say that its trademark V-12 engines will bite the dust, but it is indicative of the changing landscape that’s affecting all segments of the auto industry.
As worrying as it is to imagine a world without any V-12 Lamborghinis in it, the situation isn’t as apocalyptic as that. According to Reggiani, Lamborghini’s decision-making will not just be predicated on what the regulations may be in the future; it will also be about keeping the company’s core values intact. That means a naturally aspirated V-12 engine, lots and lots of carbon fiber, and whatever new technology the automaker comes up with in the future. But Reggiani also admitted that the company needs to take into account the changing rules of its environment. So the challenge the company faces is marrying the two principles without compromising one over the other. “We need to take account of fuel consumption and emissions and so on,” he said.
A decision will likely have to be made soon because the company’s flagship model, the Lamborghini Aventador, is nearing its life cycle. It’s currently the oldest model in Lambo’s lineup, so a change is imminent. Fortunately, Lamborghini seems to have made progress in determining the fate of the Aventador's successor. The model getting a V-12 unit and a hybrid powertrain is a good place to start. It’s not exactly going to thrill purists seeing a hybrid motor on Lambo’s flagship, but it is a better option than seeing it without a V-12 engine. Reggiani even believes that the current setup would be a good way to kill two birds with one stone. “I am convinced that the naturally aspirated engine coupled with a hybrid system can be the right answer to the super sports car of the future.”
If that’s the case, then we can all breathe a sigh of relief, at least for the time being. That’s not to say that Lamborghini’s plans aren’t going to change in the future, but it seems that the company already has a good handle on what it plans to do with the Aventador successor. Keeping a naturally aspirated V-12 engine in that model is important to keep the brand’s core values alive. It could tweak it to include a hybrid motor to address upcoming emissions regulations, but at the end of the day, Lamborghini can’t shortchange its legacy by acquiescing completely to what these regulations could look like in the future.
Fortunately, the company’s chief technical officer is of the same mind. “In the super-sport field — that’s the segment where the Aventador plays in — natural aspiration is the best choice you have, for the emotion, the sound, the responsiveness.”
References
Read our full review on the 2012 Lamborghini Aventador.
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