Lamborghini unveils its plug-in hybrid V12
While everyone is dropping the engines V12 even Bentley, Lamborghini has developed a brand new one. Of course, modernity and social awareness oblige, in order to be acceptable, this engine, codenamed LB744 gets a heavy dose of electrification.
We are on the eve of the unveiling of a new generation of great Lamborghinis in the lineage of the Miura, Countach, Diablo, Murcielago and Aventador. While the design of the bodywork is still desired, the Italian manufacturer unveils technical characteristics affecting the engine. Particular fact, while everyone is abandoning the V12s, Lamborghini is reworking the 6.5-liter V12 (L545) in depth and adding plug-in hybrid electric assistance to it.
This powertrain is now known as the LB744 and consists of the 6.5-litre V12, 3 electric motors, a lithium-ion battery as well as an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. . If we take the V12 alone, it claims to be the most powerful engine of its kind in the manufacturer’s history with its 814 horsepower at 9,250 rpm and its torque of 535 lb-ft at 6,750 rpm.
The engineers started from the base of the V12 of the Aventador, but made a number of modifications in the air intake system, a higher compression ratio for the combustion chambers as well as the system of exhaust. The whole thing was done by reducing the mass to 218 kilos, 17 kilos less compared to the previous generation. These modifications resulted in a power gain of 55 horsepower.
The electric assistance quickly comes into operation. On the front axle, there are two electric motors each with a power of 148 horsepower and a torque of 258 lb-ft. The third, smaller engine sits in the back and adds a dash of 110 horsepower. By the count, this mechanical monster develops a combined power of 1001 horsepower. For the moment, the couple is not known.
With this cavalry, it will be the first production Lamborghini to exceed 1000 horsepower. There are still several questions like the battery size and what will be the electric range of the car.