Last year, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed that the next-generation Urus would be all-electric, and would be arriving in 2029. However, a recent interview with the automaker’s chief marketing and sales officer, Federico Foschini, suggests that this won’t be the case anymore. Lamborghini may be confident about the timing of its first full EV based on the Lanzador concept, but it has apparently changed its mind about the best-selling model in its range, and rightfully so.
Engine 4.0 V8 Plug-in Hybrid
Horsepower 789 hp
Torque 700 lb-ft
0-60 MPH ~3.3 Seconds
Top Speed 193.9 mph
Speaking to Auto Express, Foschini was asked whether a gasoline-powered Urus replacement would be introduced before the 2035 ban on internal combustion engines. He didn’t answer directly, but implied that a new one is coming before the switch because Lamborghini “can’t stay 10 years with the same car.” He was, of course, referring to the Urus SE plug-in hybrid SUV introduced this year, which is sold out until 2026.
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The change of heart with the Urus is understandable, given the current flattening of demand for EVs. With the Urus being a moneymaker for the brand, introducing an all-electric version in 2029 will greatly affect its numbers. More importantly, Foschini implied in the interview that Lamborghini will continue to share the plug-in hybrid V8 with the rest of VW’s high-end SUVs, namely the Audi RS Q8 and Porsche Cayenne.
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“We would be stupid not to keep using something that’s at the top of its technology. For us, it’s an advantage until the moment that we are not able to make a car that’s at the top of its game,” Foschini told Auto Express. He added that the automaker will continue to use a modified version of the platform used by the Porsche and Audi SUVs “as there’s continued innovation from the group that we are wanting to leverage.”
Lamborghini Will Be able To Hedge Its Bets In An Uncertain Future
Our key takeaway from this is that Lamborghini is practically delaying the all-electric Urus to get more from the hot-selling model. This also just fits the timeline, with the next-gen model arriving in the next few years and then the Lanzador-based EV by the end of the decade. More importantly, Porsche has also confirmed the development of the Cayenne as a high-performance SUV with hybrid, pure combustion, and battery-electric versions, to be offered from 2030 and beyond. The future of emissions legislation globally is uncertain, and Lamborghini’s priority will always be to make money. Offering both powertrains in the next decade means Lamborghini can do just that, regardless of what the market and lawmakers decide.
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Source:
Auto Express