Lamborghini’s CEO Stephan Winkelmann just dropped a bombshell: his flock of ultra-rich speed demons aren’t ditching the guttural growl of petrol engines anytime soon. Instead, the Italian fire-breather vows to keep internal combustion hearts pounding for at least the next 10 years, because apparently, nothing says “luxury thrill” like a symphony of exhaust notes that could wake the neighbors in Monaco.
“Enthusiasm for electric cars is going down,” Winkelmann quips, spotting a golden window to hybridize – not electrify – the future. It’s as if the world suddenly realized that zipping along in silence feels about as exciting as a library on wheels.
The upcoming Lanzador, a grand tourer that’s been teasing an all-electric debut but now flirts shamelessly with plug-in hybrid status. Lamborghini’s board will hash it out next month, weighing whether to go full zap or keep that petrol purr as backup. One can’t help but imagine the car whispering, “Babe, let’s not rush this – I’ve got commitment issues with batteries.”
Meanwhile, the current lineup is a love letter to hybridization with a side of unapologetic gas-guzzling flair. Take the Temerario and Revuelto supercars: they’re plug-in hybrids that pair beastly petrol engines with electric motors, offering all-electric mode for jaunts shorter than a celebrity apology tour. Why go full EV when you can have the best of both worlds – thunderous acceleration and just enough green cred to quiet the tree-huggers at the next gala?
Then there’s the Urus, Lamborghini’s luxury SUV that’s less “exotic predator” and more “ostentatious family hauler,” outselling its flashier siblings by over half. Available as a plug-in hybrid or straight-up petrol powerhouse, it’s proof that even when hauling kids to soccer, you deserve an engine note that drowns out the minivan masses. Who knew practicality could sound so gloriously rude?
For the truly extravagant, enter the Fenomeno – a limited-edition “super-sports” car with a top speed north of 215 mph and a price tag starting at €3 million before Uncle Sam (or his European cousin) takes his cut. Only 30 of these rolling symphonies will exist, each one a bespoke roar factory for collectors who treat parking lots like concert halls. It’s the automotive equivalent of commissioning a Michelangelo to paint your garage door.
Two years back, Lamborghini teased an all-electric Urus successor for 2029, only to slam the brakes and push it to 2035 – because why electrify tomorrow when you can roar today? The Lanzador’s battery dreams are equally wobbly, with Winkelmann eyeing the market’s cooling EV fever among high-rollers. “We see a huge opportunity to stay with internal combustion engines… much longer than expected,” he beams, as if discovering that caviar tastes better with a side of carbon emissions.
Customers, he insists, crave “the sound and the emotion” of a proper engine – that visceral snarl evoking Italian summers, forbidden racetracks, and perhaps a touch of midlife rebellion. It’s a stark contrast to arch-rival Ferrari, whose upcoming Elettrica EV debut next year promises “unique traits in the heart and soul” of buyers – code for “silent but deadly posh.” While Ferrari races toward the plug, Lamborghini’s playing the long game, betting that true passion can’t be Tesla’d away.
Of course, Winkelmann swears Lamborghini’s eco-game is strong, just… microscopically so. As a low-volume wizard slinging 10,000 cars against the globe’s 80 million annual churn, their CO2 footprint is “not that important.” It’s the kind of humblebrag that makes you chuckle: “We’re saving the planet, one V12 at a time – or at least not ruining it faster than everyone else.”
Regulations loom like a stern traffic cop: EU and UK bans on new petrol/diesel sales by 2035, though low-volume exemptions spare Lamborghini’s 795 UK sales last year. Lobbyists are already whispering for delays, citing “industrial realities” – translation: “Our engines are too pretty to retire early.” If extended, it could mean hybrids harmonizing with ICEs well into the 2040s, turning the supercar lane into a nostalgic noise festival.
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