Technically, the Sián isn’t the first hybrid car to come out of Lamborghini’s workshops. Back in 2014, the Italians revealed a prototype called Asterion at the Geneva Motor Show and it mixed the Huracán’s 5.2-liter V-10 with three electric motors powered by Li-ion batteries.
Fast forward to 2019 and we’re greeting the Lamborghini Sián, an Aventador-based production car (albeit limited to just 63 units) that uses supercapacitor technology. The Sián is at the time of writing Lambo’s fastest and most powerful car as it churns out 819 horsepower and needs less than 2.8 seconds to blast from naught to 62 mph en route to 218 mph.
| Engine | 6.5-liter V-12, naturally aspirated |
|---|---|
| Power | 785 hp |
| Torque | undisclosed |
| Electric motor | 34 horsepower |
| Combined system power | 819 hp |
| 0-100 km/h (62 mph) | 2.8 s |
| Top speed | 350 km/h (217.5 mph) |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 505 hp/ton |
Of course, the Aventador isn’t the youngster it used to be and a replacement is due very soon. Word is that its successor will drop next year as a 2022 model but until that happens, we’ve got news about what will power it.
Car and Driver had a chat with Lamborghini’s Chief Technical Officer Maurizio Reggiani, who made it clear that the brand won’t ditch the V-12 but instead opt to adapt it to the times.
“The V-12 has been part of the story of Lamborghini since the very beginning. It has been present in every year of our history, which is why our strategy and our vision for the future is to continue to have a V-12 coupled with a hybrid motor.”
On top of this, the V-12 will also remain naturally-aspirated because such engines “are how you prove engineering is good.” And of course, a Lamborghini must sound like a Lamborghini, and “when you have a turbo you have a damper on the sound, like a muffler,” Mr. Reggiani explains.
From what the Sián showed us, pairing an ICE with one e-motor isn’t just about sheer power. I mean, of the Sián’s 819 horsepower, just 34 come from the electric motor, and Lamborghini says that’s enough for quicker mid-range acceleration, crisper gear shifts, and more torque off the line. Plus, you can get your Lambo out of the garage and on the driveway in complete silence, without acoustically abusing your neighbors.
Looking at the big picture, the Sián is acting like a bridge between the internal combustion engined Lambos that were and the electrified ones that will be. About the latter we’ll learn more once the Aventador’s successor comes to take the throne.
Source: Car & Driver
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