Twin-turbo V8 hybrid power for Lamborghini Huracan replacement

The Lamborghini Huracan’s sonorous 5.2-litre naturally-aspirated V10 will be retired – along with the model it powers – within the next 12 months, but it will be replaced by a new twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain said to rev out to a staggering 10,000rpm.

That’s the latest word from American publication MotorTrend, which cites anonymous sources within Lamborghini who claim the Huracan replacement will be powered by a new-generation 4.0-litre V8 with intermittent turbo boost and some form of hybrid system.

According to the report, the turbos won’t come on boost until 7000rpm, leaving the electrified bent-eight to fend for itself across the low and medium rev range.

With a supposed redline of 10,000rpm, the powertrain sounds like something lifted straight out of motorsport and it seems that’s exactly the case given Lamborghini has just confirmed its 2024 LMDh prototype racer will be powered by a 90-degree twin-turbo V8 fitted with an Energy Recovery System (ERS).

The endurance racing donk has been developed entirely in-house by Lamborghini’s Squadra Corse motorsport department and is good for a category-mandated 500kW, with the ERS comprising a Bosch Motorsport electric motor, Williams Advanced Engineering power management and energy storage systems, and an Xtrac-developed seven-speed ‘P1359’ hybrid transmission.

This potential and logical connection between the powertrains of Lamborghini’s next-generation entry-level supercar and its LMDh endurance racer was hammered home by the Italian car-maker when it confirmed details of the latter.

“With Automobili Lamborghini embarking on a future of hybridisation in its road car production, the LMDh represents a specific energy/performance project based on the experiences of the upcoming generations of its sports cars, fully aligning with the Cor Tauri company strategy,” said Lamborghini.

“Squadra Corse, therefore, by making the step into a motorsport landscape driven by hybrid propulsion and is the perfect fit with Lamborghini’s transition to hybrid technologies.”

The Raging Bull brand’s electrification journey will start formally next year with the release of the Lamborghini Aventador replacement, which will be offered with both s plug-in hybrid powertrain and a free-breathing V12 combustion engine.

The Huracan successor will follow in 2024, as will a plug-in hybrid version of the Lamborghini Urus SUV.

Squadra Corse also confirmed it did indeed partner with Ligier Automotive, a proven LMDh platform specialist, to help develop the spine of the racing car that will compete in the IMSA Endurance Cup and the FIA World Endurance Championship as of 2024.

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