The Lamborghini Urus, a popular performance SUV, is set to undergo a significant change. Starting from late 2024, Lamborghini plans to discontinue the use of its pure V8 engine in the Urus and transition to a hybrid-only powertrain.
This means that the Urus will exclusively be available as a hybrid vehicle. The decision to go hybrid is likely driven by factors such as stricter emissions regulations and the increasing demand for more environmentally friendly vehicles.
Lamborghini aims to align with these trends by offering a hybrid powertrain option for the Urus, combining the benefits of electric propulsion with the performance capabilities that Lamborghini is known for.
It has been previously reported that Lamborghini has been developing a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the Urus, expected to launch in 2024.
However, CEO Stephan Winkelmann has now revealed that the electrified version will completely replace the current variants of the highly sought-after SUV by late 2024. It’s worth noting that the Urus Performante was introduced in August 2022, followed by the Urus S a month later.
Lamborghini plans to retain the hybrid Urus until almost the end of the decade, at which point they will introduce a second-generation model that will be fully electric. The forthcoming plug-in hybrid SUV will mark Lamborghini’s second venture into the PHEV segment, following the Revuelto, and a third PHEV is anticipated next year with the release of the Huracan replacement.
The decision to embrace hybrid technology is likely driven by the necessity to comply with increasingly stringent emissions regulations, even for prestigious Italian brands like Lamborghini.
According to the CEO of Lamborghini, meeting the latest Euro 6 standard with large-displacement combustion engines is prohibitively expensive, and the cost burden will increase further with the introduction of Euro 7 regulations in mid-2025.
On a positive note, the Urus plug-in hybrid variant will retain its V8 configuration instead of downsizing to an electrified V6, as seen in some other high-end models within the VW Group.
In a departure from its naturally aspirated V10 engine, the upcoming iteration of the Huracan will adopt a smaller gasoline engine. Lamborghini CEO Winkelmann has confirmed that the new Huracan will receive a new name and feature a modified version of the powertrain used in the Urus PHEV.
This suggests that the Huracan will be equipped with a twin-turbo V8 engine, an electric motor, and the recently developed eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission found in the Revuelto.
The CEO of Lamborghini expresses a pessimistic outlook on the future of internal combustion engines (ICE), particularly in the European Union. He predicts that although a legal ban on new cars with combustion engines might not be imposed by 2035, the high taxation on such vehicles will likely drive consumers towards electric vehicles (EVs).
Winkelmann further suggests that synthetic fuels could serve as a means to sustain existing vehicles, indirectly indicating that the future of car production will predominantly revolve around battery-powered EVs.
In line with this vision, Lamborghini plans to release a 2+2 gran tourer in 2028, marking their first model to eliminate the combustion engine.
Although the recently revealed Revuelto is a step in that direction, an electric supercar is not on the immediate horizon. Winkelmann hinted that a concept car showcasing the technology will be unveiled before the production version is introduced.
Given the enduring lifespan of Lamborghini’s flagship vehicles, the Revuelto is expected to remain in the lineup until the early 2030s before a successor takes its place.
Source : motor1.com