► Further hybrid variants of Temerario planned
► Non-PHEV models could follow
► Non-hybrid Temerario is unlikely, but not ruled out
Lamborghini’s technical boss has confirmed the firm is plotting different kinds of hybrid powertrains for its Temerario supercar, with a detuned rear-wheel-drive model next on the way.
The Temerario replaced the V10 Huracan last year and with its plug-in hybrid setup now means every new Lamborghini road car is electrically assisted. The current Temerario 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine produces 789bhp on its own, but is joined by three axial flux electric motors (two on the front axle, one sandwiched between the engine and eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox). All combined together, they produce a mammoth 907bhp.
But we now know Lamborghini is plotting less powerful, slightly cheaper versions of the Temerario, including – first on the way – a rear-wheel-drive model, following a similar path to what it did on the Huracan.
Rouven Mohr, chief technical officer at Lamborghini, told CAR that different kinds of hybrid powertrains are in the pipeline.
‘I’m not saying in the future you couldn’t see a 2WD version of the street car, and then perhaps a different kind of hybridisation,’ says Mohr.
Mohr wouldn’t go into details on this, but one option could be removing the front two electric motors capable of driving the wheels on their own and leaving the one between the engine and dual-clutch gearbox. This would make the Temerario rear-wheel-drive and more of a conventional hybrid, which also wouldn’t require plugging in to recharge.
‘This [sort of hybrid] is already available today,’ says Mohr, referring to the T-Hybrid system in the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (pictured below), which the technical boss calls a ‘super example of a completely different hybrid approach’.
The T-Hybrid system works with one electric motor in the 911’s PDK gearbox and a second tiny motor to help boost the turbo, and means it essentially eradicates any lag. The result is impressive, you don’t even realise you’re driving a hybrid.
Mohr was speaking ahead of the reveal of the new Temerario GT3 racing car – all the more interesting because it’s a Temerario that’s not a hybrid, owing to GT3 rules not permitting the technology, nor race teams wanting the additional complexity.
Asked if Lamborghini could make a road-going Temerario without any hybrid assistance, Mohr didn’t rule it out completely but said it wasn’t on the priority list.
I would not completely exclude [a non-hybrid Temerario], but it’s not on the priority list. The probability is quite low, never say never, but at the moment, we have a lot of other things to do, and I would not bet my money on it.
‘Just because we’re going racing and it’s not a hybrid, it doesn’t mean this would be the right approach for the street.’
Mohr also spoke more about Lamborghini’s EV plans, with the firm already pushing back the launch of its first electric car (previewed by the Lanzador concept in 2023) by a year to 2029. What’s clear is that the firm is happy to take a step back and watch the development of the EV market from afar, but says its hybrid strategy was the ‘right one’.
For sure we are observing carefully what happens on the market and what situation is going on. But this isn’t a secret, we know the transformation speed is different compared to to what we expected.
‘We are a little bit lucky because we are exactly in the time when everyone is wanting a hybrid and we have hybridised our entire line-up. Our strategy was exactly the right one.’
Senior staff writer, car reviewer, news hound, avid car detailer.
By Ted Welford
Senior staff writer at CAR and our sister website Parkers. Loves a car auction. Enjoys making things shiny
