Lamborghini: big engines yes; lower emissions, never

Despite the battle raging against fuel consumption and emissions, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann says his company will never reach the goals set by governments like the EU, and it appears that he doesn't think it's a problem.

While cross-town competition Ferrari is considering a replacement of its big V10 and V12 engines with a smaller, more efficient, but just as powerful turbo V8 line, Lamborghini has decided dropping cylinders for snails isn't in the cards. And before the world gets up in arms about that fact, consider Winkelmann's very good point: only 2,604 Lamborghinis were sold last year, and nearly all owners drive fewer than 5,000mi (8,000km) annually, so the impact in terms of emissions is very small on a global scale. The Gallardo LP560-4's 560hp V10 isn't entirely outrageous on the fuel consumption side of things either: at 16.8mpg (US) (14L/100km) on the European combined cycle, it's actually ahead of many of the mass-consumption vehicles sold in the U.S.

But no matter the impact, Winkelmann thinks the company will never reach the emissions asked of it by governments like the EU or the U.S., reports Automotive News. That sort of thinking is dangerous and impractical for larger companies like parent company Audi or corporate cousins VW and even Porsche, whose 100,000-car annual sales volume seems gargantuan by comparison.

Lamborghini isn't looking to achieve big volume numbers, nor is it looking for quick growth. Selling to a targeted demographic and developing its loyal and privileged customer base may mean Lamborghini won't have to yield to the seemingly inevitable arrival of supercar-killing emissions and fuel consumption regulations. Winkelmann certainly seems to think so.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4