Lamborghini Aventador successor reveals hybrid secrets

It was a shock for fans of pure V12 violence when Lamborghini waved goodbye to the Aventador. Its successor no longer does it with just a combustion engine. It will get a V12 again, but it will work together with several electric motors. The Italians are now releasing exactly what the powertrain looks like.

The new top Lamborghini, still under code name LB744, is not the brand’s first hybrid, which was the Sián, but it is a much more electrified model. The beating heart of the LB744, like the Aventador, is a 6.5-liter V12. It is only completely new and lighter; 218 kg, 17 kg less than the V12 that was in the Aventador. It is Lamborghini’s most powerful V12 ever, with an output of 128 hp per litre. In itself, the V12 already delivers 825 hp and 725 Nm and then the electrical power must be added. The Aventador successor will receive no less than three electric motors that together bring the system power to 1,015 hp. Two of the electric motors drive the front wheels and enable driving in full electric mode (with front-wheel drive). The electric motors are each good for 150 hp and 350 Nm of torque.

The LB744 naturally has a battery on board to power the electric motors. It is located in the middle of the car and has a capacity of 3.8 kWh, which can be charged with up to 7 kW. The LB744 is a plug-in hybrid, just not one that allows you to cover serious distances fully electrically. The question is how often you will top up with a plug, because a full charge takes half an hour, while the battery is fully charged in just six minutes with regenerative braking or directly from the V12 according to Lamborghini.

Two electric motors in the front, followed by the battery, followed by the engine and gearbox with the third electric motor.

Because the battery is in the middle, the LB744 has its transmission behind the engine. The engine is therefore exactly the other way around compared to the V12 in the Aventador. Lamborghini has made every effort to keep the brand new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as compact as possible, in order to keep the center of gravity of the powertrain as central as possible despite this layout. It is 56 cm long, 75 cm wide and 58 cm high and weighs 193 kilos including the third electric motor placed on it. The rear electric motor works as a starter-generator. It can deliver power and can also supply the battery with power. In the first case, the LB744 can drive fully electric four-wheel drive.

All in all, a special piece of technology, but it is not yet entirely clear what the fantastic Aventador successor can achieve with it on the asphalt. I’m sure it won’t be long before we get those answers. Incidentally, the appearance of the car has few surprises in store for us.