It wasn't long ago that supercar manufacturers were scoffing at the idea of introducing hybrid variants of their models, but with Porsche and even the usually traditionalist Ferrari hard at work on their own respective hybrid drivetrains, it wasn't going to be long before other supercar manufacturers cottoned on to the idea - including Lamborghini.
Speaking with Automobilwoche, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann said that he could easily imagine Lamborghini models adopting a small electric motor in conjunction with gasoline power - in other words, a mild hybrid that should help the Lamborghini models of the future cut down on their fuel consumption in urban areas, but not rob them of too much performance when it comes time to let loose. The timetable for such a powertrain points to a possible 2015 debut for a mild hybrid Lamborghini, but as for a completely electric Lamborghini even Winkelmann acknowledges that building such a model is something the company is not too interested in at the moment.
2015 is, coincidentally, the date Ferrari has very tentatively offered as a reasonable time to expect one of its own hybrid models, giving both manufacturers a fairly well-matched schedule - even though Ferrari has already confirmed that hybrid prototypes of the 599 are undergoing testing at the moment.
Lamborghini's plan to offer hybrids in the future is part of a larger plan to reduce costs and emissions, and according to Winkelmann the company will be spending around €35 million ($50.3 million) over the next 5 years to bring emissions levels down. Lamborghini will also be hoping to cut costs in production in order to remain profitable - the first half of the year has already seen pre-tax profits drop by over 80% to €5.4 million ($7.8 million).
In other hybrid supercar news, a strange looking Porsche 911 prototype has been photographed recently with an odd bump in the bonnet featuring a lightning-bolt motif and a 'Batman' badge on the front--either a clever joke from the usually straight-faced Porsche engineers or a hint at what may actually lie under the sheet-metal.