LAMBORGHINI VOWS TO KEEP THEIR V12'S AND V10'S – NO TURBOCHARGERS WELCOME!

Lamborghini has vowed to not downsize or turbocharge their sports car powertrains. Fans rejoice!

Although the trend with almost every manufacturer these days, including those who create some of the worlds most insane supercars, have switched to turbocharging for enhanced performance and to meet the demands of climate change.

Not Lamborghini though. The Italians are determined to stick with naturally aspirated engines for its super-sports models, with technical director, Maurizio Reggiani, stating he is "intent on resisting any pressure to reduce the number of cylinders in its next generation of supercars".

According to Reggiani, “Every car has a mission and, based on that mission, you have to choose the right engine. For the Urus SUV, the decision was turbo, but we will continue to choose natural aspiration for the super-sports cars. In the future, we will need to take account of fuel consumption and emissions. I am convinced the naturally aspirated engine coupled with a hybrid system can be the right answer”.

What this means then is that the next Aventador, which will make an appearance in the next couple of years, is likely to be a plug-in hybrid, as well as the Huracán replacement, due in 2022.

He said: “We need to reinvent this icon without losing the characteristics of the current car: carbon fibre, the V12 naturally aspirated engine and other components. Looking forward, if it is a hybrid then in what ways can we compensate for its weight?”

Lamborghini is working on a project with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, they're developing carbon fibre bodywork that can act as a storage battery as well as superconductors.

Reggiani says battery density is an issue as much as weight is for a supercar, thus the need for a unique solution such as last years electric Terzo Millennio concept, created with MIT, which showcased next-generation energy storage systems and innovative materials.

Another reason for an electrical drivetrain, according to Reggiani, is that it could smooth out the Aventador’s aggressive single-clutch transmission: “You could use the electric motor to ensure that you don’t have torque interruption.”

Reggiani's committed to natural aspiration for the Aventador's V12 as well as the next Huracán, which will entertain us with a non-turbo 10-cylinder powertrain. “The reaction you have to a 10-cylinder engine you cannot have from any other kind. This is what our customers love,” he said. “Why do I need to do something different? If I trust in the naturally aspirated engine, why downgrade my powertrain to a V8 or V6? I am Lamborghini, I am the top of the pinnacle of super-sports cars. I want to stay where I am.”

It's nice to know we still have a few more years of menacing decibels from supercars before the whine of the future takes over.