CARMEL, Calif. — Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann will possible go down as one of the vital influential leaders within the Italian luxurious automaker’s historical past.
From getting the Gallardo supercar launched again within the early 2000s, to shepherding the Urus SUV into {the marketplace} 15 years or so later to a smashing gross sales success, a lot has occurred over time, throughout his two stints at Lamborghini.
Now with the much-loved Huracán supercar heading out to pasture, Winkelmann’s newest launch is the Temerario, the successor to the Huracán.
Although the Temerario lacks the much-loved V-10 naturally aspirated motor that powered the Huracán, Winkelmann believes its evolution will nonetheless deliver the fervour for the Lamborghini trustworthy. The brand new Lambo’s V8 bi-turbo engine nonetheless revs to an astounding 10,000 RPM. That mixed with three electrical motors — two on the entrance axle, one between the engine and the gearbox — present 907 horsepower, taking the Temerario from from zero to 60 mph in simply 2.7 seconds, all the best way as much as a 212 mph prime pace.
“It’s important to be extra performing than the technology earlier than, and this together with dealing with conduct, so the load to energy ratio is paramount for the success for us, as a result of this is likely one of the peculiarities of Lamborghini,” Winkelmann stated to Yahoo Finance from the Lamborghini stand on the Quail occasion, held throughout Monterey Automobile Week.
Winkelmann believes the power for the hybrid powertrain to cut back emissions by means of its battery system, and enhance efficiency with the electrical motors is “the appropriate course for Lamborghini.”
It’s the recipe the corporate is following with the success of the Revuelto hypercar, the large brother to the Temerario which has a V12 hybrid powertrain. The Revuelto is bought out for no less than the following 12 months of manufacturing, if not longer.
Whereas introducing a model new, leading edge supercar is a good success for the automaker, it comes as the posh shopper has hit some pace bumps. Issues a couple of slowdown within the US and overseas, international tensions, and excessive rates of interest are taking their toll.
Winkelmann acknowledges these considerations, however for his explicit clientele, they’re nonetheless shopping for.
“For the reason that finish of the covid, we have now this ‘YOLO’ impact — you solely stay as soon as — which, regardless of the worldwide disaster we have now right here, or the disaster we have now right here and there, within the markets, geopolitics altering, we’re nonetheless going sturdy, and the individuals nonetheless wish to purchase these automobiles, and we have now an extended ready time,” he stated when requested about his patrons.
Whereas his fingers are “crossed,” he stated, the gross sales knowledge exhibits the Italian firm — a part of the Volkswagen (VWAGY) empire — is likely one of the few successes within the luxurious automotive world.
One doesn’t should comply with within the footsteps of a storied rival like Ferrari, if it may well construct its personal natural ardour by means of daring design for its supercars just like the Temerario, and leading edge powertrains that now rely hybrid energy throughout all its automobiles. Winkelmann has proven because the launch of the Gallardo some 20 years in the past, that that is certainly potential.
“This 12 months goes in an ideal method, we had one other report first six months in 2024,” Winklemann notes. “So if issues are going forward like this, the 12 months 2024 might be an excellent one for Lamborghini.”
Can the YOLO impact final by means of the steadiness of the 12 months, and past? Winkelmann and Lamborghini imagine they’ve the appropriate recipe in place.
Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance masking the auto trade. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter and on Instagram.