ELECTRIC AVENUE: WHAT LAMBORGHINI’S RIVALS ARE DOING
LAMBORGHINI HAS PLENTY OF potential rivals, even within the VW Group, although this in itself will make future technologies possible that, pre-vw, would have been unthinkable.
Porsche’s all-electric future is nearly ready with the Mission E, but a full-on electric supercar is still an unknown. However, the firm has already shown its hybrid intentions with the 918 Spyder, and introduced hybrid power for the ultimate Panamera in the form of the Turbo S E-hybrid. Next up will be some form of hybrid 911, introduced with the new 992 generation due later this year.
Over at Audi, its e-tron sub-brand has already been applied to the first-gen R8 in limited numbers, and with the recent e-tron Vision Gran Turismo concept the hints are getting much stronger that an all-electric Audi supercar is imminent. It all ties in nicely with the Formula E involvement, of course.
Mclaren has already produced the hybrid P1, and the firm has stated that 50 per cent of its cars will have hybrid power by 2022. However, this may be a mild electric boost rather than a car capable of significant electric-only mileage.
Mercedes-amg is currently working fervently on the incredible Project One hypercar, but the 2017 concept version of the AMG GT Coupe showed that its relatively more affordable range of performance cars will also soon feature some form of hybrid power.
Yet it’s old rival Ferrari that so far seems the closest in approach to Sant’agata. The Laferrari has shown the firm has the technology to fuse bigcapacity, naturally aspirated engines with electric power, something that was clear way back in 2010 when the 599 HY-KERS experimental vehicle was shown. Much like its Italian rivals, Ferrari looks set to hang on to the big V12 for as long as possible by teaming it with the power of electricity.