- Lamborghini announced a new, hybridized 6.5-liter V-12 powertrain that makes up to 1001 horsepower.
- It has three electric motors, two at the front and one integrated with a new, Lamborghini-designed, eight-speed double-clutch transmission.
- The completed car will be shown—and its name will be revealed—at the end of the month.
We can’t yet show you what the Lamborghini Aventador’s replacement looks like, or even tell you its name—the company refers to it exclusively by the internal code, LB744. But we can share details on its extraordinary new plug-in-hybrid powertrain.
The good news is the continued existence of the naturally aspirated V-12 engine, which has been central to the appeal of the company’s more expensive models since its inception. The new 6.5-litre L545 engine is effectively a heavy evolution of the engine powering the Aventador, but with more power, higher revs, less weight and a compression ratio raised to 12.6:1. Lamborghini says the new engine’s 481-pound mass makes it 37 pounds lighter than the Aventador’s V-12, while its power output has increased to 814 horsepower, delivered at 9250 rpm—with the limiter at 9500 rpm. Till doesn’t call. It also makes 535 pound-feet of torque at 6750 rpm. But when the Aventador’s V-12 sent power to its forward-located single-clutch gearbox, the new engine was flipped 180 degrees, with power routed through a new, Lamborghini-designed eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. They were engaged diagonally. behind it.
But that V-12 is only part of the new powertrain, which is being assisted by at least three electric motors. At the front, a pair of axial-flow motors power each wheel separately, allowing for torque vectoring. There is no mechanical link from the engine to the front axle; The LB744’s all-wheel-drive system has always been part electric.
At the rear, a third motor is incorporated into the transmission, which can switch between acting as a starter motor and generator, or adding power to the rear axle, thanks to a clever clutching mechanism. Each motor can deliver up to 148 horsepower, although the combined peak is always less than three times that due to increased current flow supported by the battery. Maximum combined output is quoted as an impressively mighty 1001 horsepower – slightly more than a Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
Electrical charge is stored in a compact 3.8-kWh battery pack inside what was previously believed to be a transmission tunnel within the cabin, allowing for a lower seating position on either side of it. Lamborghini hasn’t released a weight claim for the battery, but for reference the claimed capacity is much lower than the respective figures for the Ferrari 296GTB and SF90, and also the McLaren Artura, should the Lambo be lighter and provide fewer electric miles. should do. We have weight figures for the front motors—41 pounds—and the double-clutch transmission, which is 425 pounds including the weight of the integral electric motor.
When depleted, the battery could be recharged from a socket, via regenerative braking using the front motors, or with the V-12 acting as a generator. The latter is claimed to completely refill the pack in just six minutes. Therefore, it should be possible to get it back to full power quickly when running on the track. Lamborghini also says that the new DCT gearbox will support a “continuous downshifting” function, selecting the lowest possible gear when slowly depressing the left pedal and as the speed falls.
Lamborghini has promised to release more technical details of the new car ahead of the formal unveiling of the finished version at the end of the month. we’ll keep you posted.
European Editor
Mike Duff has been writing about the auto industry for over two decades and calls the UK home, although he usually lives life on the road. He loves vintage cars and adventures in unlikely places, with career highlights including driving up to Chernobyl in a Lada.