LAMBO’S HURACAN REPLACEMENT
Lamborghini can do no wrong at the moment. The hybrid replacement for the Huracan promises to keep the success coming
Lamborghini is going from strength to strength. Sales are healthy and, though the Urus SUV is doing a lot of the heavy lifting, it’s backed up by strong performances by the special-edition supercars upon which the company was built. The recently revealed Lanzador is proof, too, that the great e-transition holds no fear for Sant’Agata, even if it is taking its sweet time.
But the two cars that really pave the way for the rest of the decade are the Revuelto, the recently released V12 plug-in hybrid flagship, and this, the related Huracan successor. Together they must keep the flame burning by futureproofing the visual, aural and dynamic drama so synonymous with the brand. And against all the odds it looks like they might just manage it…
On paper the Revuelto looked suspiciously like cause for concern, with its groaning kerbweight and all too apparent electro-mechanical complexity. Three e-motors? The Honda NSX and Ferrari SF90 both failed to make compelling arguments for the layout. But the Revuelto blends these elements into a cohesive and adrenaline-soaked driving experience. So there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic that the Huracan’s plug-in hybrid replacement will be pretty special, despite the demise of its naturally-aspirated V10.
Due to be revealed in late 2024, it’s known internally as Project LB634 and has been conceived as a car to eclipse the Ferrari 296 GTB and McLaren Artura. Crucially, though, CAR understands that it’ll distance itself from those rivals on a couple of key points.
Power comes from an all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 developed in-house by engine chief Davide Bizzarri and his team. Much of the carbonfibre monocoque, suspension layout and hybrid drivetrain are shared with the Revuelto, all of which is huge news. The Artura also uses a carbonfibre tub (the Ferrari’s structure is aluminium) but where both of those cars are rear-wheel drive and deploy single electric motors, the Huracan’s replacement looks set to use a tri-motor layout, as per the Revuelto.
Originally asked to deliver 920bhp, the powertrain was recently reportedly bench-tested at 1100bhp, thereby revealing the true potential of the high-performance engine, which redlines at a hardly tardy 10,000rpm. According to the Lamborghini grapevine, the mid-engined two-seater can accelerate from zero to 62mph in 2.8sec and reach a top speed of 208mph –that’s only three-tenths and 9mph slower than the twice-as-expensive Revuelto.
The 7.2kWh battery – an increase of 3.3kWh over the battery that accompanies the V12 in the Aventador-replacing Revuelto – powers the trio of e-motors, each good for circa 100bhp. One motor sits between the V8 and the eigh
