The future of high-performance motoring could yet lie in internal combustion engines, according to Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann.
Speaking in a recent interview, the Lamborghini boss expressed his hesitance to transition towards fully electric sports cars and supercars, due to a lack of customer demand.
“[Electric supercars are] not something that is selling so far,” Mr Winkelmann told Bloomberg.
“It’s too early, and we have to see down the road if and when this is going to happen.”
Mr Winkelmann’s comments comes less than a month after Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Rimac, said only about 50 of its 150 Nevera electric hypercars had sold, blaming EVs becoming mainstream and being pushed by regulatory authorities.
Despite casting doubt over pure EV supercars, Lamborghini is introducing electrification across its range.
The new flagship Revuelto is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), with power sourced from the combination of a 6.5-litre V12 petrol engine and three electric motors.
Likewise, the upcoming replacement for the Huracan will feature V8 PHEV power, as will the 2025 Urus SE SUV.
A pure electric Lamborghini is on the way in the form of the two-door Lanzador crossover, but it’s not due until 2028.
Mr Winkelmann stressed that while EVs are capable of supercar performance, the emotional experience they elicit cannot yet match that of a high-performance internal combustion engine.
That’s why he remains interested in the prospect of using synthetic fuels in future models, although that relies on new combustion-engine car sales continuing beyond 2035, when the European Union plans to ban them altogether.
The EU will review its stance in two years.
“There might be an opportunity if things change,” Mr Winkelmann said.
Lamborghini falls under the Volkswagen Group umbrella alongside German manufacturer Porsche, and the latter is known to be heavily researching the viability of E-fuels in production vehicles.
Mr Winkelmann’s opinion on electric sports cars is not shared by all in the industry. Ferrari is pushing ahead with the development of performance EVs and is expected to launch its first electric model late next year.
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