The head of Lamborghini says customers still crave the roar and emotion of combustion engines. The Italian supercar maker plans to keep them alive for at least another decade.
Hybrid power takes centre stage
Speaking at the brand’s London showroom, chief executive Stephan Winkelmann explained that interest in electric cars is fading. This, he said, gives Lamborghini room to focus on hybrid technology instead of going fully electric.
Within weeks, the company will decide whether its long-anticipated model, the Lanzador, will be a pure electric car or a plug-in hybrid. Winkelmann stressed that Lamborghini acts responsibly but added that as a small manufacturer, its impact on global emissions remains limited.
Supercars that still roar
Lamborghini belongs to the Volkswagen Group and currently produces three main models. The Temerario and Revuelto are plug-in hybrid supercars that combine powerful petrol engines with electric motors. They can drive short distances on electric power but remain focused on performance.
The Urus, a luxury SUV, comes both as a plug-in hybrid and as a traditional petrol version. It may be less flamboyant than the supercars but represents more than half of Lamborghini’s sales.
A special edition called the Fenomeno pushes performance even further. This limited model reaches over 215 mph, with only 30 units being built. Each costs at least €3 million before taxes.
Electric dreams delayed
Two years ago, Lamborghini promised an all-electric successor to the Urus for 2029. That plan has now been postponed, with the new electric version not expected before 2035.
The company also intended to launch a battery-powered grand tourer called the Lanzador. Its future is now uncertain. Winkelmann said Lamborghini still needs to decide whether to proceed with a full-electric version or instead create a plug-in hybrid.
He pointed to a cooling market for luxury electric vehicles. “Today enthusiasm for electric cars is going down,” he said. “We see a huge opportunity to keep combustion engines alongside batteries much longer than expected.”
Emotion beats silence
Winkelmann believes combustion engines will remain key to Lamborghini’s success for the next ten years. He insists that customers still desire the raw emotion that comes from traditional engines. “They want the sound, the thrill, the connection,” he said.
This approach stands in contrast to Ferrari’s strategy. The rival brand continues to push ahead with its own all-electric model, the Elettrica, which will debut next year. Ferrari says the car will keep the unique spirit that defines its driving experience while being powered entirely by electricity.
Responsibility without illusion
Winkelmann emphasised that Lamborghini does not ignore environmental concerns. But he said the brand’s overall emissions impact is small. “We are selling 10,000 cars in a world that produces 80 million a year, so our CO₂ footprint is limited,” he explained.
He added, “We are socially responsible, but our influence is modest.”
From 2035, new petrol and diesel cars, including plug-in hybrids, will be banned in both the EU and the UK. However, EU manufacturers are lobbying to extend the transition to electric power, arguing that current global and industrial conditions demand flexibility.
If approved, combustion engines could stay on the market beyond the deadline. The UK will also allow small carmakers that sell fewer than 2,500 vehicles per year to continue production. Lamborghini, which sold only 795 cars in the UK last year, would qualify for this exemption.
