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 Audi took over Lamborghini in 1998, and for almost 20 years the Germans have kept the angry bull in a cramped stall, limiting the portfolio to multiple versions of two seemingly unrelated models: the Murcielago / Aventador and the Gallardo / Huracan. Under CEO Stefan Winckelmann, who was replaced in 2016 by Stefano Domenicali, Lamborghini tried to revive the legendary Miura and added the four-door Estoque to the lineup, but both failed.
The breakthrough came in 2012, when the Urus concept was greeted with such enthusiasm that the production version received the green light in 2018. In general terms reminiscent of Porsche's third-generation Cayenne and the latest Audi Q7, the Urus will be sold in two variants: a hybrid V-6 with power 458 h.p. and a 4.0-liter V-8 fitted to the Performante model, capable of squeezing 660 hp out of the car. Once production reaches full steam, the hyper-SUV is expected to nearly double Lamborghini's sales to over 6,000 vehicles a year.
In the meantime, which is quite expected, the picture is seen rather vaguely. According to rumors flying from Sant'Agata, there is talk that Lambo will be taken over by Porsche. At the same time, news is coming from Wolfsburg that Audi will also come under the control of Porsche, joining Bentley and Bugatti. Such a solution will not only leave individual brands intact, but also create many opportunities for joint activities.
Meanwhile, the Huracan lineup will continue to build muscle. This will be helped by new versions of the Speedster and Barchetta, which are already on the way, as well as the hardcore SV model and the even hotter GT3 Stradale. The Huracan Targa, in turn, complements the roadster and lightweight Superleggera.
But undoubtedly the most daring iteration will be the Huracan Safari, featuring high adjustable suspension, tall wheel arches, off-road body panels, four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. While there is no willingness to cross the Rubicon yet, Lamborghini R&D says the versatile Huracan, which will be sold in both coupe and roadster versions, is absolutely unrivaled on the bumpy roads of Italy, where ground clearance and tire distance before the arch matters.
The first new Lamborghini to be developed under the supervision of Domenicali will be the Aventad or its equivalent, expected to arrive in 2020. Codenamed LB634 / 635 (coupe / roadster), the car will be an extensive development of an existing concept, so don't be afraid of the steroid Huracan or the Italian Porsche 960. When the charismatic V-10 eventually swallows the dust, the classic V-12 will go away. further and further. A 6-liter twin-turbo version that, on paper at least, would have put out 900 hp was not considered for long. Instead, Lamborghini opted for a naturally aspirated 7-liter powertrain that reportedly produced 800bhp. at the dino stand. Not cool enough? Maybe. But when Lamborghini adds electric front-wheel drive, which will provide a minimum of 160 horses per wheel, the total power will exceed 1,000 hp and 885 lb-ft of torque will complete the picture.
The Aventador MkII will boast a lightweight version of an extremely rigid mono-fuselage carbon fiber stretched hull that houses the transmission tunnel with batteries and / or the fuel tank and propeller shaft, providing a low center of gravity and precisely balanced weight distribution. Early in development, engineers experimented with a Miura-like transverse V-12 engine. But the advantages of placement were lost due to the complexity of the installation.
Like the Huracan Performante, the top-of-the-line Aventador boasts active aerodynamics, any chassis element magically linked by electronics, large brakes, lots of exotic materials, and relatively competitive control unit connectivity.A less expensive 700 hp V-8 hybrid model. is a possible contender for the Aventador family, but the powerful and lightweight SV Essenza and the pure street Jota definitely make it into the package.
A year after the launch of the new Aventador, the next-generation Huracan will be unveiled. Unlike the current model, which shares a so-called MSS matrix with the Audi R8, the new Huracan will reportedly be closer in concept to its V-12 siblings.
As the current V-10 Huracan will be a thing of the past along with the MSS, the mid-displacement Lambo will switch to a Porsche-supplied 4.0-liter V-8 producing 650 hp. On some models, the electric propulsion system will potentially provide up to 900 hp. The corresponding torque allows you to expect acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 2.5 seconds. Tires and downforce will limit the top speed to 350 km / h.
While a chassis option is under consideration, we can hope that the Huracan II will inherit the Aventador's lightness and rigidity from a mono-body body, dual A-arm independent suspension, a new electro-hydraulic steering gear and a carbon ceramic braking system.
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