In the long and illustrious history of Italian car manufacturing, two giants have jostled to become the undisputed supercar king. Those giants - Ferrari and Lamborghini, are continuing their feud in the modern-day, with little sign of either relenting.
Historically speaking, it always appeared as if Ferrari held a marginal advantage over their domestic rivals. Ferrari became a by-word for class, beauty, elegance, and innovation. Lamborghini meanwhile, suffered from a series of commercial flops, while also being branded as a company that was far too obsessed with aesthetics - rather than what was underneath the hood.
However, fast forward to the modern-day, and the landscape is beginning to look very different. Lamborghini is at the forefront of innovation, while Ferrari is trying to rekindle former glories.
The question therefore has to be asked - have Lamborghini overtaken Ferrari, and if so, how did they achieve it?
Aesthetically, Lamborghini's Are Hard To Beat
When it comes to striking good looks, Lamborghini models seem to get better with age. The new Sian Roadster, for instance, scheduled for release this year, is breathtaking to look at. Meanwhile, Ferrari appears to have regressed somewhat in terms of design, attempting to reinvent previous form-factors that were popular in years gone by. Lamborghini's boldness and willingness to try new things is clearly yielding results, especially in the design department. Models like the Centenario Roadster are also stunningly beautiful, with sharp lines and a specially developed silver exterior that only adds to its futuristic look.
Lamborghini's Impressive Innovation
One of the most underappreciated aspects of Lamborghini in the modern-day is just how cutting-edge the company continues to be in terms of innovation. The SCV12 for instance, pictured above, is a perfect example of this. The limited-edition Hypercar is an experimental attempt to perfect the track-day experience - as its monstrous V12 engine indicates. It's quite simply the most powerful V12 engine that Lamborghini has ever built. Add superb aerodynamics - designed by Squadra Corse (Lambo’s racing unit), and you're left with one hell of a machine. Elsewhere, their Aventador line-up continues to inspire, with both the S and S Roadster capable of reaching 217 mph. Despite prioritizing track speed, straight-line grunt hasn't suffered, making for a winning combination.
The Performance Gap Is Widening
Ferrari meanwhile, are caught in the middle of a dilemma. With hybrid supercars now on the rise, the Maranello based company is attempting to phase out traditional engines - as 60% of their line-up is expected to be hybrid by 2022. This is in stark contrast to Lamborghini, who continues to produce cars with grunting V12's. The issue for Ferrari is that the hybridization can, at times, lead to a performance plateau. Ferrari's top models, including the 2020 A12 Superfast, are marginally slower in a straight line compared to the current Aaventador's. On the track meanwhile, the Aventador SVJ recently set a new record at the Nurburgring, clocking a time of 6:44:97. The gulf is beginning to widen.
Ferrari's Diversified Line-up
Ferrari has never been a company to put all their eggs in one basket - as this year's line-up demonstrates. They have a number of models available, from track-worthy supercars to 'family' four doors. The problem with this strategy is that it can lead to a lack of focus, and more worryingly, a lack of identity. Lamborghini's streamlined 2020 line-up leaves no doubt as to their focus, with powerful hypercars, and track specialists, clearly their primary interest. Ferrari has a number of GT models without any true distinguishing feature of note, putting them in a tough position in a crowded field, amidst a global economic recession.
Ferrari Have Been Sidetracked With Motorsport
Finally, we come to another key issue for Ferrari - their motorsport interests. Ferrari has had a successful, well-funded Formula 1 team since the 1950s, normally without a hitch. However, with the costs of competing at the sharp end mounting, and up against the commercial behemoth that is Mercedes, the pressure is starting to show. F1 is an immensely expensive endeavor, which can be an issue when you're trying to plow money into ambitious commercial ventures. Previously, the likes of McLaren and Mercedes struggled to balance the two pursuits, with road cars, for a period of time, suffering as a result of F1 ambition.
In summary, it isn't that Ferrari has massively misstepped. On the contrary, it merely appears that Lamborghini has simply evolved at a faster rate, while Ferrari has stagnated somewhat. In the competitive world of car production, momentum can swing very quickly, and so, there's nothing to suggest that Ferrari's move into an entirely hybrid future cant be a successful one. Time will tell, but the moment, they are certainly playing catch up to their Italian cousins.