Is Lamborghini Betting on Hybrid Electric Performance?
- Within the seek for trendy efficiency features, Lamborghini is committing to its first road-going, electrified supercar, codenamed the LB744.
- Set for debut later this yr, the LB744 might be powered by a newly developed 6.5-liter V12 and three 110-kW electrical motors, for a complete of 1001 hp and 534 lb-ft of torque.
- A brand new eight-speed double-clutch transmission was additionally developed for the incoming mannequin, with an electrical motor embedded within the transmission itself to offer further torque off the road.
The Lamborghini identify is synonymous with a symphony of 48 valves opening and shutting, gated shifters clicking into place, and an overriding boisterousness that accompanies driving an Italian supercar. However inside these wedged-shaped packages is a historic pedigree of true efficiency, with each pace and dealing with honed and maximized by Bolognese engineers. As we transfer additional into the twenty first century, nonetheless, producing emissions-compliant large-displacement, naturally aspirated engines is more and more troublesome—and the outcomes are sometimes not as quick.
From Chevrolet and its new Corvette E-Ray to nationwide competitor Ferrari and its transfer to hybrid energy, electrification is now not for environmentalists solely. In truth, electrification has confirmed itself to be a useful gizmo within the growth of energy, and Lamborghini is now able to faucet into this expertise. The corporate is unveiling some preliminary particulars about its first high-performance electrified vehicle, codenamed LB744, set to be debuted later this yr.
For starters, the mannequin might be powered by a naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 mid-mounted engine augmented by three electrical motors, with a lithium-ion battery pack put in within the transmission tunnel. Altogether, the LB744 is claimed to make 1001 hp and 534 lb-ft of torque, fed by means of a rear-mounted, electric-motor-driven double-clutch transmission. Better of all, the addition of those electrical motors will enable the mannequin to drive quick distances in full-electric mode.
The LB744 won’t be the primary Lamborghini to make use of an electrical motor—that honor belongs to the 2019 Lamborghini Sian—but it surely indicators a brand new starting for Lamborghini. And that is not only a results of electrification. Lamborghini says that the L545 V12 it plans to make use of might be a newly developed one with a singular orientation, rotating it 180 levels right into a transverse place as in comparison with the current V12 Aventador. The corporate additionally claims this V12 has the very best output per liter of any Lamborghini V12 (set at 126-hp per liter), will weigh solely 480 kilos, and has a most revolution vary of 9500 rpm.
Augmenting this beast of an engine are three 110-kW electric motors, with two positioned within the entrance axle and one on high of the double-clutch transmission itself. Whereas the eight-speed double-clutch transmission sends rear energy to the rear wheels by means of a standard means, the 2 electrical motors positioned on every of the entrance wheels assist present further traction and create a type of electrical four-wheel drive for the LB744. The third electrical motor that works together with the transmission is used to provide further torque to the rear wheels below sure driving conditions, corresponding to exhausting acceleration. Including these electrical motors not solely advantages outright acceleration however permits the LB744 to learn from a torque vectoring system and regenerative braking as effectively. EV mode on the incoming LB744 will propel the automotive by means of its entrance wheels, that means there might be some choose cases the place the mannequin is front-wheel-drive.
Just like the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore, the three.8-kWh battery pack is T-shaped and connects on to all three electrical motors in addition to an inside recharging unit. With the intention to retain an analogous inside really feel and chassis design, the pack is positioned the place the transmission would usually be, permitting for comparable weight distribution and a low middle of gravity. When it comes time to recharge the battery, Lamborghini says it presents a 7-kW charging capacity that’s appropriate with abnormal Degree 1 and a couple of chargers, although the battery can be absolutely charged by means of front-wheel regenerative braking or from the V12 engine itself.
Whereas this addition to the Lamborghini lineup is historic by itself, the technological developments aren’t something notably new, apart from the transmission design. With the intention to combine each electrical torque and V12 energy, the corporate says it wanted to engineer a complete new transmission unit that may function the nerve middle of the hybrid plug-in unit, and the ultimate product was an eight-speed, moist double-clutch transmission. And it is positioned behind the V12 engine, in a transmission placement transfer that Lamborghini hasn’t employed on a road-going automotive for the reason that launch of the Miura in 1966.
It is a notably small and lightweight transmission, weighing solely 425 kilos and taking on round 4.5 sq. toes of area. The gearbox makes use of two distinct shafts versus the same old three, with one managing the even-numbered gears whereas the opposite manages the odd gears, and each shafts have interaction the identical rotor. New options of this gearbox embody completely different modes relying on the usage of its electrical motors, a real overdrive eighth gear, and a steady downshift behavior below braking when in computerized mode. Reversing can also be dealt with by means of electrical motors completely.
The long run is wanting increasingly electric and it is no shock that Lamborghini has determined to hitch the membership. And whereas its newly introduced hybrid expertise is not notably groundbreaking—save for its all-electric, front-wheel-drive reversing—leaping into the electrified efficiency market lastly provides some strain to its competitors from Maranello.
