Lamborghini wants to delay the electrification of its range until it becomes unavoidable

Audi recently announced that its V10 and W12 engines (two units found in the Audi R8 V10 and the A8 W12) could be discontinued following the VAG group’s decision to focus on producing electric and hybrid cars.

A very different strategy seems to be followed by one of Audi’s sister brands in the German group: Lamborghini. The Santa Ágata firm will keep its naturally aspirated engines, and intends to do so until it becomes unavoidable.

“My dream is to be able to keep the atmospheric engine for as long as possible,” these were the words of Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini’s R&D director, during an interview with the British publication Autocar. According to Reggiani, atmospheric engines are part of Lamborghini’s DNA.

Lamborghini does not want to electrify its model range in the short term for one reason: weight. Electrified propulsion systems come with a significant weight penalty for a vehicle, and the Santa Ágata firm considers this unacceptable for a supercar.

However, Lamborghini knows this strategy will not work forever, which is why it has already begun developing a hybrid propulsion system for what will be its first SUV: the Urus. The crossover will offer a powertrain consisting of a twin-turbo V8 engine paired with an electric motor among its engine options.

Despite intending to keep its naturally aspirated engines for as long as possible, the Bologna firm is beginning work on developing a plug-in hybrid supercar, and proof of this is that it has asked its suppliers to design high-performance electric motors and high-performance electric batteries.