Lamborghini plans to use a synthetic blend of methanol, hydrogen, and CO2 to keep its internal combustion engines alive, but the technology might prove very costly.
Although hesitant at first, most automakers accepted that the industry’s future lies in electrification. Every car manufacturer is slowly is getting rid of engines in favor of electric motors and batteries, and the customers usually accept it well. However, it’s not that easy for manufacturers of supercars, as their customers expect the drama and noise associated with internal combustion engines. Fortunately, Lamborghini will try to keep its V12 engine alive by using synthetic fuels, the same as Porsche.
This news could be a godsend to Lamborghini enthusiasts, who swear by the brand’s naturally-aspirated units. The visceral experience of driving Lambo V12 engines is something else, as they are not only designed to be quick but also to provide driving joy. They give a soul to the drive if you want.
Eradicating these engineering art pieces from supercars will be like watching Iron man without Tony Stark. But we can’t deny the fact that firing an internal combustion engine requires non-renewable fuel for another million years. But the hopes for blessings the ears from the enchanting harmony of V10s and V12s are still alive as Lambo started working on net-zero synthetic fuel with Porsche.
Lamborghini is still on its course to introduce an all-electric hypercar in 2024. The brand will rely on the outstanding acceleration that electric motors provide to entice buyers, but it is also aware that many customers would sacrifice performance for some theatrics.
“We expect our customers to accept these cars – if the promise is kept that the performance of the vehicle is better than that of the previous generation,” Lamborghini CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, has told a German newspaper.
But Lambo will also keep alive its combustion engine beyond 2030 by working on a fuel created by a blend of menthol and a combination of carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Nonetheless, this is unlikely to happen before 2029, as investing in synthetic fuel production might prove very expensive for Lamborghini and Porsche.
For now, let’s see what Lamborghini works on for the next few years and see if the hybrid and electric powertrains are enough to keep customers happy.