When Lamborghini unveiled the Sian back in 2019, it caught everyone’s eye for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it sported some of the most extreme styling seen on any Lamborghini of modern times. Secondly, there was the announcement from Lamborghini that the Sian would be their first car to feature a hybrid powertrain. Then the intrigue was further ramped up when Lamborghini announced that the Sian would feature a supercapacitor hybrid system, and not a conventional lithium-ion system.

This certainly raised a few eyebrows. It was quite the departure from what regular hybrid cars featured, and even the world of hybrid performance cars. Yet Lamborghini insisted that this was a crucial first step in its journey to hybridization. But while its system is novel, the supercapacitor is not a long-term solution. Nor is it a great solution as a whole.

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How The Sian’s Supercapacitor System Actually Works

2021 Lamborghini Sian Front View
via Lamborghini

At the heart of the Sian is a familiar Lamborghini V12 engine. This is a naturally aspirated V12 with 785 hp, and the same glorious soundtrack you’d expect from such an engine. But Lamborghini added in a supercapacitor that brings that power output back up to 819 hp. The supercapacitor itself gives the Sian an extra 34 hp. With a top speed of over 217 mph, it is also one of the fastest cars in the company’s history. How the whole hybrid system works though is quite novel.

The supercapacitor itself is able to charge three times faster than that of a regular battery pack in a hybrid vehicle. Weighing in at just 75 lbs it is also much lighter. The supercapacitor has better power density than a regular hybrid system, meaning the Sian can deploy that power much quicker. So every time you step on the brakes, you charge the battery up fully. And then that power is fully deployed incredibly quickly when you put your foot down. The system also improves throttle response, as well as torque feels during gear changing. This is a step up from the Aventador’s old transmission.

Lamborghini’s Novel Supercapacitor Is Not A Long-Term EV Solution

2021 Lamborghini Sian Front Quarter View At Night
via Lamborghini

While this does all sound quite good, the reality is a bit different. The supercapacitor is of course very small. An extra 34 hp really isn’t that much at all and it is all used up so quickly. It also means you can't cruise around to the shops or park your car up on EV power only. There just isn’t the capacity within the system to hold that much power. So it's difficult to see the Sian’s system as anything other than a bit of a gimmick.

Which in some ways, is fine. Because the Sian is of course a very limited edition to make it extra special. There are just 63 coupe versions and 19 roadsters. For a small, limited-number hypercar, a supercapacitor works great as a technological showcase. But as a mass solution for EVs? That’s where it falls flat. While the technology is interesting, we can’t help but feel it was nothing more than a bit of fun from Lamborghini to say “hey look, we can do hybrid as well.” Because the truth is, you don’t exactly feel that hybrid power when you are driving the Sian. You don’t even know it's there.

The Sian Does Bring Lamborghini Into The Hybrid World

2021 Lamborghini Sian Rear Quarter View
via Lamborghini

While the supercapacitor is a bit of a gimmick, it does at least bring Lamborghini into the hybrid and electric world. Something it was very slow at doing. Back in 2019, that was somewhat forgivable. But in 2023, with the world in a climate crisis and more and more EVs and hybrids on the road, it's unforgivable. Happily, it seems the next Lamborghini hybrid will be much more of a functional one than the Sian. It's highly unlikely the supercapacitor system from the Sian will become a long-term solution from the company.

For all the negatives, it was at least brave of Lamborghini to do something different. And we did at least get an actual hybrid from the company. But Lamborghini’s view of the Sian “previewing the future” when it was first launched doesn’t exactly ring true. It was more of a teaser than a preview.

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How Lamborghini Is Creating Its First Proper Hybrid

2021 Lamborghini Sian Side View
via Lamborghini

​​​​​We have seen various spy shots of the upcoming Aventador successor from Lamborghini. And we know that is going to be a hybrid, still retaining the fearsome Italian V12 engine. Lamborghini was recently caught testing a hybrid Ferrari 296 GTB as it prepares for its own hybrid supercar. It will have at least learned some lessons from creating the Sian. Namely, that the supercapacitor route is not the one to go down for a serious hybrid. This is the next step in the Lamborghini hybrid journey, which while it wasn’t the long-term solution, the Sian did at least commence it.

Source: Lamborghini