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Lamborghini planning electric 2+2 – report

Lamborghini may be getting a fourth model line next decade, a four-seat grand tourer with styling inspired by arguably one of its most beautiful concept cars.


To make things even more interesting, the production model will have an electrified drivetrain to match its electrifying looks.

According to Autocar, the fourth Lamborghini model – the brand’s first pure-electric car – will have styling inspired by the Estoque concept revealed at the 2008 Paris motor show.

The Estoque was tipped to reach production but never did, even though the concept appeared ready for showrooms. Despite the passage of time, its design still looks fresh.

The new Lamborghini line is set to arrive by 2025, with development taking a minimum of four years. The new four-seater reportedly won out against the prospect of a third mid-engined supercar line.

Lamborghini R&D boss Maurizio Reggiani told Autocar, “If you look at the timing for a fourth model line, there is the potential that this will be the right time for a full-electric vehicle”.

Though it would still be a high-performance model, he added: "We must be fast but not quite in the same way as we need to be in our super-sports cars. A fourth model line will be something a little bit different".

Reggiani also suggested the new model could use a Volkswagen Group platform. The most obvious choices are the J1 platform underpinning the Porsche Taycan and upcoming Audi e-tron GT, or the new PPE platform that’ll underpin a range of electric sedans, wagons and crossovers. Given the J1’s more overt sporting ambitions, it’d likely be Lamborghini’s choice.

Using one of these platforms fits with Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess’s ongoing mission to find efficiencies within the Volkswagen empire. Though the profitable Urus SUV has already dramatically increased Lamborghini volume, the 'Group' is still trying to minimise development costs across its huge portfolio of brands.

Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali told Autocar earlier this year a grand tourer could help Lamborghini reach 10,000 global sales annually.

Last year, the brand saw a 51 per cent jump in sales and shifted 5,750 cars worldwide. In the first half of this year, global sales increased by 96 per cent over the same period last year to a total of 4,554 sales, largely on the back of the Urus.

On introducing a fourth model line, Reggiani said, “We first need to establish and consolidate the [V8-powered] Urus line. It took 10 years to establish our V10 model, from when the Gallardo launched in 2003 through to the Huracán, so we need to make sure we do the same with the Urus.”

Of course, this century didn’t mark the first time Lamborghini deviated from its V12 heritage. Lamborghini offered the V8-powered Urraco, Silhouette and Jalpa throughout the 1970s and 1980s, though all were sold alongside a V12-powered Lamborghini.

Nevertheless, an electric Lamborghini represents even more of a paradigm shift for the Sant’Agata Bolognese brand.

Lamborghini has so far only experimented with hybrids. The Sián supercar, unveiled at this year’s Frankfurt motor show, uses Lamborghini’s 6.5-litre V12 engine mated to a 48V electric motor. If Volkswagen’s product planning committee approves Lamborghini’s pitch, the next Aventador will also get a hybridised V12.

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