With Ferrari receiving all sorts of backlash for its first EV, the Luce, all eyes appear to be on Lamborghini, which chose to back off. In an interaction with CNBC, Lamborghini CEO Stephen Winklemann did not reference the situation directly, but spoke about how focusing on plug-in hybrids has paid off for the carmaker. 

He also explained that the pivot was due to declining demand for fully electric cars in this segment. A plug-in hybrid allows them to innovate, while also still retaining the 6.5-litre V12s or the 4.0-litre twin-turbo engines. 

“Our decision to go from ICE to plug-in was a very important one for us, and it worked out. We don’t speak about our competitors, but everybody has their own strategy.

By observing the market, we saw that the acceptance curve [for EVs] for our type of customers is not increasing, and that therefore we decided to move away from a full-electric car into a plug-in hybrid.” 

As per its original plans, Lamborghini had unveiled a roadmap in 2021, which would see it ditch pure combustion engines entirely for hybrids, while its first EV was scheduled to come out in the second half of this decade. 

Then, in 2023, the car maker revealed the Lanzador electric GT concept, which was also meant to be a blueprint for future tech. It got delayed first to 2028, then 2029, and afterwards was postponed indefinitely. An electric version of the Urus SUV also followed a similar fate. 

So what is Lamborghini upto lately? 

The Sant'Agata Bolognese carmaker recently showcased the Fenomeno Roadster, which is the first roofless Lamborghini with the V12 plug-in hybrid powertrain from the Revuelto. However, the Fenomeno Coupe comes with many construction changes.

For example, the rollover protection bars have been placed flat behind the seats. The windscreen is flat, and it comes with a spoiler that directs airflow over the cockpit and sends it to the engine bay, without the need for an air scoop

The car’s silhouette, particularly the rear, takes inspiration from the Essenza SCV12 and the Manifesto. The Blu Cepheus paint scheme consists of the main blue bodywork and lower sections finished in Rosso Mars for contrast. The main blue body colour pays tribute to Lamborghini’s first roadster, the 1968 Miura Roadster. 

More recently, there has been some buzz around the revival of the Audi R8, using the Temerario’s twin-turbo V8 hybrid platform. 

Read more at Motor Culture! 

Written by

Aaradhya Singh

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason