Following years of intense development, Lamborghini unveiled its first hybrid production car. Meet the 2020 Lamborghini Sian, the "hybrid super sports car" that combines technology from the Asterion and Terzo Millennio concepts into a limited-edition production model. Set to be unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the Sian also introduces Lamborghini's new design language. More importantly, it's the fastest Lamborghini ever produced!

The 2020 Lambo Sian is a Countach from the future

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The Sian is obviously a brand-new design, as it doesn't share any features with existing Lamborghini models. But it retains some of the angular lines seen on the Aventador and Huracan and blends them with design cues inspired by the iconic Countach. It's pretty much a futuristic take on the Countach, which is a very cool approach.

Up front, we can see the same V-shaped nose specific to modern Lambos. However, the headlamps occupy a larger area than usual. The lights are shaped like the letter Y, a Lambo trademark, but it's displaced horizontally. The base of the Y starts from the bumper grille, and while one arm extends toward the lower fender, the other one goes up, toward the edge of the front hood. At the top of this LED arm, there's a larger, round LED light.

The bumper is somewhat familiar with two winglets displaced on each side of the bumper vent. Down below, there's a three-piece splitter. Both the winglets and the headlamps feature carbon-fiber trim. The front hood features a big dent shaped like the letter V, but with a flat bottom and with the opening oriented toward the nose. This is a tribute to the Countach, which features a small front hood shaped just like this. The windscreen is also a tribute to the Countach due to its V-shaped lower section.

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The Sian's profile is a smart combination of aggressive, angular lines, seasoned with muscular, round shapes. The sharp nose and rear fascia are backed by really aggressive side skirts and rear fender vents, but the round wheel arches and the bubbly roof prevent this sports car from being a 1970s concept. The NACA air inlets on the doors feature the trademark Y shape, while the side windows are really narrow. This is yet another tribute to the Countach, but it also makes the cockpit look like that of a jet fighter, a common feature among modern supercars. Toward the back, we can see carbon-fiber winglets attached to the upper rear fenders.

While these elements suggest a fixed-wing, the Sian doesn't have one. And needless to say, it looks really cool and aerodynamic without one. The V-shaped glass on the engine hood becomes wider toward the fascia, but it eventually turns narrower just as it hits the edge of the deck lid. The taillights are integrated into massive triangular cutouts at each edge of the fascia. This feature is also borrowed from the Countach, as is the design of the taillights. Granted, the Sian's lights are hexagonal instead of square, but the arrangement is clearly borrowed from Lambo's iconic 1970s supercar.

The massive diffuser and hexagonal exhaust pipes below add even more character to this exclusive vehicle. The presentation model is finished in Verge Gea (green) with details in Oro Electrum (gold), but customers will be able to order other colors as well.

The 2020 Lambo Sian has an Aventador interior

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Sadly, the interior isn't as spectacular as the exterior. That's mainly because Lambo sourced most parts from the Aventador. Sure, it made a few notable changes, and it added new materials, but overall, it's just a small update from Aventador. The dashboard, the center console, and the shape of the instrument cluster hud are all taken from the company's range-topping supercar.

However, a closer inspection reveals new, sleeker A/C vents, a redesigned, vertical display in the center stack, and revised controls on the carbon-fiber center console. The steering wheel is also identical to the Aventador's, but it now features carbon-fiber spokes and a different type of Alcantara on the grip areas. The revised door panels now feature big slabs of carbon-fiber, while the upper dashboard is covered in fine Alcantara.

The Poltrona Frau leather upholstery is also special, now featuring 3D printed parts, a first for the automotive market. Lambo went with an inspired two-tone layout that combines black with burnt brown that has a gold tint. The exposed carbon-fiber and the white stitching round things up and prevent the Sian's cabin from looking identical to the Aventador's.

The 2020 Lambo Sian is the company's first production hybrid!

Front three-quarter look of Sian
Lamborghini

While it remains loyal to the Aventador's naturally aspirated, 6.5-liter V-12 engine, the Sian also incorporates a 48-volt system, which makes it a mild hybrid. The technology was previously showcased in the Terzo Millennio, a concept that Lamborghini showcased in 2018. While it's not Lambo first hybrid, this prize goes to the Asterion concept of 2014; it's the company's first production car to feature electrification. It's also worth noting that the Asterion featured the 5.2-liter V-10 instead of the range-topping 6.5-liter V-12.

The 48-volt system is integrated into the gearbox, which helps provide immediate response and increases performance. It also supports low-speed maneuvers, including reversing and parking, so you don't have to burn gas while doing them. Another big news about the Sian is that it doesn't feature a traditional lithium-ion battery.

The 2020 Lambo Sian boasts an innovative supercapacitor

Instead of the usual lithium-ion battery, the Sian is equipped with a supercapacitor. The Italians showcased the technology in the Terzo Millennio concept in 2018 and spent the year perfecting it for mass production. The supercapacitor comes with many advantages, starting with the fact that it's three times more powerful than a battery of the same weight. This also means that it's three times lighter than a battery producing the same power, solving one of the hybrid market's biggest problem by eliminating heavy batteries.

Combined with the electric motor, the supercapacitor tips the scales at only 34 kg (75 pounds). With the former rated at 34 horsepower, the combo boasts a power-to-weight ratio of one horsepower per kg. Impressive! Because it's small enough to fit between the cockpit and the engine, the supercapacitor helps the Sian achieve perfect weight distribution.

The 2020 Lambo Sian is the most powerful Lamborghini yet

Although it shares its 6.5-liter V-12 with the Aventador, the Sian benefits from extra horsepower. Lambo made some updates to the engine and increased output to 774 horsepower. That's 34 extra horses over the Aventador S and 15 horsepower more than the Aventador SVJ. No word on torque yet, but it's safe to say that the engine cranks out more than the SVJ's 531 pound-feet.

The 774-horsepower rating alone makes the Sian the most powerful Lamborghini in production, but it gets even better when the electric power kicks it. The 48-volt system adds an extra 34 horses, which takes total output to an amazing 808 horsepower. That's a whopping 68 horsepower more than the Aventador S and 49 horses more than the Aventador SVJ.

But is it quicker than the Aventador? Well, the Sian sprints to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds, a tenth-second quicker than the Aventador S. On the other, the sprint is identical to the Aventador SVJ if we compare official figures, which means that the extra power doesn't make the Sian quicker. This is a bit surprising since Lambo brags that the Sian's power-to-weight ratio is better than the Aventador SVJ.

But while it's not quicker to 62 mph, the Sian is two tenths faster than the Aventador SVJ from 19 to 37 mph (30 to 60 km/h). It's also 1.2 seconds quicker from 43 to 75 mph (70 to 120 km/h).

The Sian's top speed comes in at 217 mph, which is identical to both the Aventador S and Aventador SVJ.

The 2020 Lambo Sian features an advanced regenerative braking system

The supercapacitor isn't the only innovative features available in the Sian. Lamborghini also equipped the hybrid with an advanced regenerative braking system. The supercapacitor plays a key role here as well. Because it can be charged and discharged with the same power, it enables the storage system to fully charge every time the Sian brakes. This means that you won't have to wait too long to have the battery recharged. The electric power is instantly available when accelerating up to 81 mph, at which point the electric motor shuts down and the gas-fed V-12 kicks in.

The 2020 Lambo Sian is a very exclusive supercar

Although it's a full-fledged production model, the Sian won't be built in too many examples. Lambo says that only 63 units will be assembled, a number that celebrates the year when Ferruccio Lamborghini founded the company, 1963. All vehicles will be individually designed by each owner through Lamborghini Centro Stile in conjunction with Lamborghini Ad Personam. Needless to say, the Sian won't be cheap. Pricing information is not yet available, but the Sian will probably fetch in excess of $1 million.

2020 Lamborghini Sian specifications

Engine

V12, 60°, MPI (Multi Point Injection)

Displacement

6,498 cm³ (396.5 cu in)

Bore x Stroke

95 mm x 76.4 mm (3.74 x 3.01 in)

Compression ratio

11.8 ± 0.2

Max power

774 hp @ 8,500 rpm

Max torque

720 Nm @ 6,750 rpm + 40 Nm electric

Electric motor

Operating tension

48V

Max operating current

600A

Max Power

34 HP

Max Torque

38 Nm

Combined power

808 hp

Weight to power ratio

<1,98 kg/CV

Transmission

Electronically controlled all-wheel drive system (Haldex gen. IV) with rear mechanical self-locking differential

Gearbox

ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) gearbox with 7 speeds, shifting characteristic depending on drive select mode, electric motor works during the shifting and as boost

Top Speed

>350 km/h (217 mph)

0 to 62 mph

<2,8 s


Further reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Lamborghini Sian.

Read our full review on the 2019 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ.

Read our full review on the 2018 Lamborghini Aventador S.

Read our full review on the 2017 Lamborghini Terzo Millennio Concept.