It’s becoming increasingly difficult to press on with internal combustion engines, especially if you’re an exotic carmaker. Shouldering the inefficiencies of a century-old technology with constant pestering in the name of pollution and particulate filters is a bit overwhelming.
Ferrari succumbed to the pressure, inviting twin-turbo V8s and half-electric V6s to its non-flagship stable. Lamborghini, on the other hand, showed more resilience. While the brand had to use a twin-turbo V8 for the Urus SUV, the Huracan and Aventador remained naturally aspirated, despite facing intense regulatory scrutiny.
But as you may know, the Aventador is discontinued, with a replacement on its way. The baby Lambo a.k.a, the Huracan has a bit more life in it, says Lamborghini. New reports suggest that the Huracan replacement will arrive in 2024, and no—it’s not going turbo. The NA V10 will live on, albeit in a symbiotic relationship with electricity. Or, in other words, a plug-in hybrid. Top brass at Lamborghini says the Huracan successor will be closely related to the upcoming Aventador replacement.
Before we discuss this in detail, we’ve managed to draw up a render of what the next-gen hybridized V10 could look like. As an exclusive for Hotcars, digital artist Rostislav Prokop derived the looks by basing it on existing Lambo one-offs and special editions and taking inspiration from spy shots of the upcoming V12 flagship.
The Huracan’s Hybrid Successor Will Be An Absolute Stunner
If there’s one thing that’s certain of Lamborghinis, it’s design. The visual drama of a Lamborghini remains unparalleled in the supercar world. From the steeply raked windscreen to its sharp lines and menacing looks, the sense of occasion is otherworldly when we’re talking Lambos. Our design enhances the typical Lambo-ness and makes it more flamboyant.
The next-gen Huracan hybrid render has a lot of resemblance with the spy shots we’ve seen of the upcoming Aventador replacement. There is a mix of Sian at the front, with a bit of Terzo Millennio and STO. The rear, however, is pretty much the same as the existing item, except for perhaps the trapezoidal exhaust tips.
The canopy and bits surrounding the engine bay are straight from the Huracan STO, featuring the all-important roof scoop. Keen-eyed among you will have noticed the additional sculpture just above the rocker panels, which now has a unique vent-like design detail. Above the wheel wells are extractors (or louvers), just like the STO, to relieve turbulent air and reduce lift. Similar aero elements can be seen on the hood near the front headlights, aiding in traction and stability.
The overall design is reminiscent of the next-gen Aventador spy shots. Lamborghini’s upcoming flagship features design elements borrowed from existing one-offs and special editions. From the spy shots, the supercar has Centenario’s rear lights, wider side air intakes, and a front end similar to the Sian hypercar.
Although it’s hard to confirm things at this point, what we can say in confidence is that these upcoming Lambos will most certainly be a visual treat.
Lamborghini Huracan Replacement Will Be An “All-New” Supercar With A V10 Engine
Given that Audi has discontinued the R8, the chances of Lambo reusing the platform for its latest supercar are zero. This brings us to Lamborghini possibly utilizing a platform-sharing setup within the brand. Confirming the idea is CEO Stephan Winklemann, describing the next Huracan as “a car which is benefiting from the bigger brother.” In an interview with Auto Express, Winkleman spoke of using common parts with the next-gen Aventador “as much as we can.” He even confirmed that the powertrain would employ a new combustion engine.
Lamborghini CTO Rouven Mohr stated that the Huracan replacement will be a plug-in hybrid featuring an engine of “more than six and less than 12 cylinders.” He further adds, “It’s not a range-oriented hybrid and there will be no kind of downsizing.” Judging by this, the possible candidate here is a V10.
CEO Stephan Winkelmann said the upcoming Aventador replacement would also feature a new V12 engine. Although, it could likely be a revised version of the existing 6.5L powerplant. Given the Huracan successor is sharing a platform with the Aventador replacement, it’s safe to assume that the engine could be a naturally aspirated unit. With minimal tooling, Lambo could engineer two different engines sharing a similar architecture. Although the big brother gets a V12, there is a possibility that the platform could be modular, much like Ferrari’s twin-turbo F154 V8 and Alfa Romeo’s 690T V6.
So if the upcoming flagship Lambo gets a V12, expect the baby brother to receive a V10, should they follow the modular ethos. Why? Rouven Mohr confirmed the new engine being more than six and less than 12 cylinders and that there is no downsizing. So, lopping off two from the ‘new’ V12 (likely around 6.5L) should give you a V10 engine with close to 5.2 liters of displacement. The math works out, but we’ll have to wait for Lamborghini to confirm. Either way, the iconic V10 scream may be a thing of the past for the next generation Lamborghini supercar.
Sources: Auto Express