Lamborghini reveals its first electric car, a four-door ultra-GT with over 1,300bhp
Will it attract Lanzador-ation?
Lamborghini has shown off a concept for a fourth series production model in its range, and the first car in the Italian firm’s history to come with a pure-electric powertrain.
The Lanzador concept is described as an “ultra-GT” but comes with a high ground clearance, making it a crossover that leans towards an SUV stance. It comes with a 2+2 seating arrangement, which means a pair of seats in the rear will be included but they will be aimed at storing luggage rather than people.
Its design was inspired by spaceships, Lamborghini said, though the proportions are those of a super sports car with the driving position of the bonkers Huracan Sterrato off-road supercar. Other influences were the Sesto Elemento, Murciélago and Countach LPI 800-4; in other words, it looks like a Lamborghini.
The rear seats are expected to be used for luggage, though there’s extra space under the Lanzador’s bonnet for bags, according to Lamborghini.
Under the skin is a dual-electric motor set-up delivering “peak power of over one megawatt”, which in English means it’ll have more than 1,341bhp.
That’s obviously extremely potent for a grand tourer but as it’s just a concept at this stage, we don’t have performance figures. Lamborghini has simply said that the Lanzador “combines the inherent performance of a Lamborghini super sports car with an enhanced fun-to-drive personality, plus the versatility of a car that is driveable daily.”
It’s also aimed at a “rising cluster of ‘tech forerunner’ customers”, according to the press release.
With an electric motor on each axle, the ample power goes to all four wheels and an e-torque vectoring system for the rear axle is designed to provide optimal cornering ability as well as grip on a variety of surfaces.
Drivers can control three settings from behind the wheel. The first is a newly-developed vehicle dynamics system that will be rolled out to other future electric models, called Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata (LDVI). This includes new radar sensors behind the windscreen that monitor the road ahead.
The second is for the active aerodynamic elements, which for Lamborghini’s electric models are even more important than for super sports cars as they can be used to increase the range between charges when on motorways as well as increase downforce when needed for extra grip around corners.
The active aero will include a front air shutter and movable splitter, which open or close to increase or decrease airflow to the cooling systems and brakes. Closing them off reduces air resistance, and therefore improves efficiency, at higher speeds. Turbulance is further reduced with aero blade wheels — featuring massive 23in rims.
For ultra-focused cornering, though, Lamborghini even mentions “blowing the diffuser”, a technology developed in F1 that blasts air over the aero element to create artificially large amounts of pressure, as well as “narrow airblades” that extend out of the sides and from the diffuser, all of which increase downforce.
Further enhancing the vehicle dynamics will be active suspension, which can be adjusted from the cockpit, and four-wheel steering.
Inside, the concept features “entirely sustainable” materials, all made in Italy, including leather that is tanned with water that is a byproduct of the olive oil production process, Merino wool and “regenerated carbon”, which features recycled carbon and PET. Additional synthetic fibres come from plastic that was recovered from oceans.
“With the fourth model concept, we are opening a new car segment: the Ultra GT. This will offer customers a new, unparalleled Lamborghini driving experience thanks to pioneering technologies,” said Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.
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- Did you know that last year was Lamborghini’s biggest ever for turnover, topping €2bn for first time?
- You might also be interested in Ferrari’s electric car plans … and the fact that it will continue producing V6, V8 and V12 engines beyond 2030
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