Gearing up for its 60th anniversary, Italian supercar extraordinaire Lamborghini plans to celebrate with something extra special: the launch of the first-ever HPEV (High Performance Electrified Vehicle) hybrid super sports car.
Currently codenamed the LB744, this eventual replacement for the Aventador will be one of Lamborghini’s most powerful cars to date. Complementing a mid-mounted, 6.5 liter V12 engine—something synonymous with the brand for many years—with three electric motors, the LB744 will output more than 1,000bhp. Performance specs are still under wraps for now, but experts estimate the combined power will mean 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph.
The V12 engine is certainly impressive in its own right: coming in at 17kg lighter than the previous iteration, enabling a maximum rev range of 9,500 rpm, and producing 814bhp even without the added electrical power, it is the lightest and most optimized 12-cylinder engine in the history of Lamborghini. However, it’s the hybrid elements of the car’s new architecture that really shine.
Equipped with a lightweight, high-power lithium ion battery (4500 W/kg) housed within the central transmission tunnel, the plug-in hybrid supercar is designed for reduced emissions (down 30 percent from the Aventador) without sacrificing performance in the process. Its ground-breaking double clutch, eight-speed gear box sits behind the V12 engine—leaving room for the battery that feeds the electric motors—and supports 13 different driving modes as well as both effective weight distribution and more efficient fuel usage while cruising. Capable of covering around six miles in 100 percent electric mode, the battery can be recharged in as little as six minutes directly through the engine or in only 30 minutes through a home wall box.
Although this model reflects a lot of firsts for the powerhouse supercar developer, it still retains quintessential Lamborghini features, including four-wheel drive. While the front wheels are powered by a pair of electric motors, the car’s rear wheels can either be fueled by the engine or the third electric motor, depending on the driving mode. That means you have the potential for zero-emissions four-wheel drive.
With reportedly over 3,000 preorders already, this high-performance hybrid is, literally and metaphorically, going fast. Instead of waiting until 2028, when Lamborghini’s first pure-electric car is set to be released, why not start reducing your sports car carbon footprint now with the LB744?
