Hybrid Lamborghini Coming in 2015

First Ferrari, now Lamborghini. Will high-end hybrid sports cars soon be stalking the world's boulevards?

By Mike Spinelli Posted 08.05.2009 at 2:45 pm 7 Comments

Lamborghini Gallardo Could Get New Hybrid System The Lamborghini Gallardo (pictured) could be the first of the company's models to test a new hybrid system, according to company CEO Stephan Winkelmann. The first Lamborghini hybrids are slated to arrive by 2015. Lamborghini

In an interview with Germany's Automobilewoche trade paper, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann says the Audi-owned sports car maker will launch a hybrid model by 2015. Surprising news for a company whose V10 and V12 engines are best known for converting large quantities of premium unleaded into blazing speed? Not really. Officials from rival Ferrari have said, as often as anyone will listen, that a hybrid Ferrari is on the way -- the exact same year. What a coincidence.

Not mentioning the Ferrari hybrid by name, Winkelmann did say the Lamborghini hybrid -- like the Toyota Prius -- will call on an electric motor to propel the car fully at slow speeds, like in city traffic. The traditional Lambo 10- or 12-cylinder gasoline engine will take over at higher speeds. That means the system likely won't be like the current hybrid-drive tech used in Formula One racing -- which provide a short-term boost of power -- some teams have been using this F1 season to uneven results. He also hinted that the company's Gallardo model would likely provide a test-bed for the first iteration of the company's hybrid system.

Winkelmann also confirmed Lamborghini won't be delving into all-electric power, like Mercedes-Benz.

[via Car Advice.au]

Previous Article: A Cocktail of Diesel and Gasoline Runs 20 Percent More Efficiently Than Either One Alone

Next Article: Ford MyKey System Puts the Brakes on Teen Drivers

Want to keep track of the latest concept cars, automotive innovations, and more? Subscribe to Popular Science today, for less than $1 per issue!

7 Comments

Link to this comment

whatsgoodson

08/06/09 at 1:26 am

I think new hybrid sports cars are an outstanding new invention. Can not wait to see it.

Link to this comment

mitEj

08/06/09 at 8:28 am

For the money I would rather buy a Tesla roadster. But to be honest I will likely never have the money for either.

Link to this comment

clayss

08/13/09 at 5:03 pm

Sad not to see my old home town of San Diego not on the list... all that sunshine not being put to good use - very disappointing
http://www.hedefnakliyat.com

Link to this comment

Sonicman10

09/11/09 at 11:25 am

Hey clayss, im with ya we got lotsa sunshine in Iowa...some times.

But the point is that a hybrid sports car is quite the innovative invention from a enviromental standpoint, and a sports car look standpoint.-DaSonicMan

Link to this comment

hunteroftech

11/04/09 at 5:11 pm

i think that people should try and make a hybrid semi because they use tons of gas and big cities like L.A or N.Y might clear up a bit

Link to this comment

Tina Humphries

06/29/10 at 5:24 am

Wow! I have been just claiming that a majority of the major car manufactures are a little slow making the change to more efficient fuel and today I read of three who are taking the leap. Lamborghini, if you get this right it will pave the way for all of them.

www.carhiremad.co.uk

Link to this comment

RelaxLucy

06/30/10 at 12:37 am

I have for a long time been claiming that a majority of the bigger car manufactures are too slow making the change to more efficient fuel, I salute Lamorghini for taking the leap.

www.relaxcarhire.co.uk

Popular Tags

Cars on Popular Science

All Tags All Photos All Videos

Cars

+ More Photo Galleries

June 2013: American Energy Independence

Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.