Lamborghini Aventador replacement to get hybrid V12

Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann has confirmed that the Lamborghini Aventador successor due in 2023 will retain its trademark V12 but gain high levels of electrification to stay relevant.

Set to pick up where the ultra-limited 602kW Lamborghini Sian coupe and roadster left off, Winkelmann told Autocar in an interview that the Italian car-maker's new flagship coupe would not adopt the Sian's advanced supercapacitor-assisted and 48-volt electrical system because such an arrangement would not meet future stringent emissions regulations.

Instead, it will feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain centred around an all-new V12 engine.

Winkelmann wouldn't be drawn on specifying how the famous Italian marque would offset the considerable weight of the electric motors and batteries in the plug-in hybrid set-up.

During the same interview, Winkelmann also confirmed the company will introduce two new models based on the Lamborghini Huracan and the Urus in 2022.

When asked if the naturally-aspirated 5.2-litre V10 would live on, he replied that it was "too early to say". Interestingly, Lamborghini's CEO was careful not to rule out a switch to a hybrid V6 in the future.

Winkelman also discussed a mystery fourth model line, confirming that it was set to be introduced in 2025 with a pure-electric powertrain.

Ruling out an SUV, he confirmed it would take the shape of "at least a 2+2, so a car that's daily driven".

This has led some to suggest a fast GT is in the pipeline, which could draw stylistic inspiration from the legendary Lamborghini Espada that was built from 1968-1978.