Initially delayed until 2029 due to a lack of customer demand, it appears the first silent Lamborghini is now dead before it even reaches showroom floors. Motor1 reports that the first fully-electric model from Sant’Agata Bolognese has been cancelled.
According to Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann, the production model of the Lanzador concept has now been scrapped due to a total lack of interest from the carmaker’s clientele. Speaking to The Sunday Times, Winkelmann noted that customers have little desire to switch to electric power. He stated that interest in a “Raging Bull” without a V8 or a V12 is close to zero.
Winkelmann confirmed the decision to bin the EV came after extensive internal debates with customers and dealers. The suits at Lamborghini ultimately viewed the project as an “expensive hobby” that required significant financial investment with almost no hope of a return.
Had the Lanzador reached production, it was expected to feature a 980V architecture capable of producing up to 2,000 hp. However, even that astronomical figure was not enough to entice owners away from their screaming internal combustion engines.
Lamborghini now intends to launch a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of the Lanzador, equipped with a petrol engine, by the end of the decade. In the same vein, the next-generation Lamborghini Urus will also dodge a fully-electric future. Winkelmann claimed an electric Urus simply would not sell, so the SUV will instead adopt a hybrid powertrain alongside the Lanzador.
Regarding the potential powertrains for these two future models, they could be derivatives of the systems used in the Lamborghini Revuelto, Temerario, or the Urus SE. The Revuelto features a 6.5-litre V12 paired to three electric motors, producing a total of 1,015 hp. The Temerario, meanwhile, utilises a 4.0-litre V8 engine also paired to three electric motors, resulting in a combined output of 920 hp. Finally, the Urus SE employs a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 PHEV setup that produces a combined 800 hp.
This isn’t the first time a carmaker has backtracked on their EV plans. Porsche is also reportedly considering axing the EV variant of the next-generation 718 following development delays and rising costs. This pivot is largely catalysed by a staggering 99% drop in Stuttgart’s operating profits, proving that EV models are increasingly expensive and risky endeavours.
All eyes now turn to Lamborghini’s compatriot in Maranello. Ferrari recently unveiled the interior of its first EV model, dubbed the Ferrari Luce, which features a cabin penned by former Apple design chief Jony Ive. It remains to be seen whether the Ferraristi will be keen on a silent Prancing Horse, or if a Ferrari without the operatic scream of a petrol engine is simply a bridge too far for the Tifosi.
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