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Lamborghini hopes to keep combustion engines alive beyond 2030

FRANKFURT — Volkswagen's supercar brand Lamborghini is looking to keep combustion engine vehicles alive beyond the end of the decade, the unit's Chief Executive Stephan Winkelmann told a German weekly newspaper. "After hybridization, we will wait to see whether it will be possible to offer vehicles with an internal combustion engine beyond 2030," he told Welt am Sonntag. "One possibility would be to keep combustion engine vehicles alive via synthetic fuels." Winkelmann last month said Lamborghini planned to roll out its first fully electric model at the end of this decade, underscoring a more cautious approach after comments last year that a release was planned for second half of the decade. Lamborghini, as well as key rivals Ferrari, Aston Martin Lagonda and McLaren, are wrestling with how to shift their ranges to battery power without losing the high performance that supports their premium pricing. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Maurizio Reggiani talks racing, forced induction, and Lamborghini V12s

Maurizio Reggiani deserves his own chapter in Lamborghini's history. He joined the Italian company in 1995 and rose to the position of chief technical officer in 2006; he notably led the development of some of Lamborghini's greatest modern-day engines, including the 6.5-liter V12 that powers the Aventador. His time as the head of Lamborghini's research and development department ended earlier in 2022 and he now serves as vice president of motorsport. His successor, Rouven Mohr, is tasked with implementing an ambitious and far-reaching electrification strategy called Direzione Cor Tauri and outlined in 2021. As Lamborghini prepares to enter a new era, I sat down with Reggiani for a behind-the-scenes look at nearly 30 years of V12 development. [The following has been edited for clarity.] RG: Lamborghini has made other engines and other companies have made V12s. Why is the V12 so often associated with Lamborghini? MR: In a time when everybody started talking about downsizing and reducing cylinder count, we continued to say that the V12 is the flagship of the super-sports car. We were born with this: Lamborghini has made a V12 during every year of its history. We also did V8s in the time of the Jalpa, for example, but the V12 was every time the main pillar of this company. If you want to be considered the pinnacle of super-sports cars, no other engine can really speak to purists like a naturally-aspirated V12 can. In terms of power, in terms of sound, in terms of emotion, and in terms of, let me say, the coolest engine that's possible in terms of engineering definition. RG: What projects have stood out to you during your time at the head of Lamborghini's R&D department? MR: When I started my career, 40 years ago at Maserati, I worked in engine development. At Bugatti, I was responsible for powertrain, which of course includes the engine. For me, an engine is kind of like a first love, and you remain in love for all of your life. To look at an engine, to look inside, to discuss the components, to have an opinion, and to give a suggestion was my way of working every time. One of the projects that excited me the most was the Diablo GT. For the first time, we decided to put a single throttle per cylinder, and it was a level of sophistication that was more or less never used before by Lamborghini. You take experience from the past and try to apply it to [the present]. This improved a lot the performance, and it was really super exciting.

Listen to Lamborghini's 830-horsepower track special scream its heart out

Lamborghini's next V12-powered hypercar is around the corner, and there's a good chance you'll hear it coming before you see it. The company released a preview video that confirms its 12-cylinder sounds better than ever. The 17-second clip shows the as-yet-unnamed model lapping a race track as part of its shakedown testing program. We can clearly hear the naturally aspirated, 6.5-liter V12 whirring away as it approaches its redline. It's an evolution of the engine found in the mighty Aventador S, among other cars, but it's tuned to deliver 830 horsepower. As to the transmission it's paired with, your guess is as good as ours, but we wouldn't expect the manual gearbox to make a glorious comeback. Lamborghini's in-house design center, Centro Stile, and its triumphant racing division, Squadra Corse, joined forces to create the model. Developed exclusively for track use, it's decked out with numerous vents, wings, and scoops. The video suggests the widespread use of composite materials like carbon fiber keeps weight in check; we notably spot it on the massive rear diffuser and on the equally large spoiler. Odds are it's all over the interior, too. The company has pointed out the front sub-frame is manufactured from aluminum, and that an innovative self-locking-type differential makes the car more drivable as it approaches its limits. Center-locking wheels wrapped by sticky Pirelli tires are part of the package, too. The video does a formidable job of hiding the car's overall lines. It looks like the driver enters the cabin via a scissor door, which suggests the model is Aventador-sized (or, like rumors claim, Aventador-based). Alternatively, it might be a preview of the Aventador's replacement, which is due out in the early 2020s with hybrid power. What's certain is that it wears a low-slung design; it's no minivan, though Lamborghini has made one before. Lamborghini will release additional information in the coming months, and the car's full unveiling is scheduled to take place this summer. It's a limited-edition model, and while there's no word yet on how many examples will be built, it's reasonable to assume they'll all be spoken for by the time we see it. Lamborghini Performance