Lamborghini to launch first ever high-performance electrified vehicle this year

MANILA: Lamborghini has introduced the first High Performance Electrified Vehicle (HPEV) hybrid super sports car, code-named LB744.

The Lamborghini LB744 and will debut this year as part of Lamborghini's 60th anniversary celebration. With the LB744, Lamborghini has set a new standard for performance and driving pleasure.

The Lamborghini LB744 is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 mid-mounted engine paired with three electric motors, one of which is mated to the double-clutch eight-speed gearbox. The transmission tunnel from the Countach era has been replaced with a lithium-ion battery that powers the electric motors.

The Lamborghini LB744's electric motors enhance power delivery at low revs and can transform the car into an purely electric one, lowering its overall CO2 emissions by 30% in comparison to the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae.

Lamborghini has been associated with V12 engines since the company's inception. The very first Lamborghini model to have this particular engine was the famous Lamborghini 350GT that debuted in 1963. The very first time that an electric motor was paired to a 12-cylinder internal combustion engine in a Lamborghini was in 2019 with the Lamborghini Sián, which came with a 25kW electric motor to support the previous generation of V12, storing the electrical energy in a supercapacitor.

Another long standing Lamborghini tradition, the four-wheel drive, is still present in the Lamborghini LB744. In addition to the internal combustion engine that powers the rear wheels, the front axle now features two electric motors, each of which gives traction to one of the front wheels. The third electric motor placed above the double-clutch gearbox can send power to the rear wheels, depending on the chosen driving mode and the conditions.

With a combined torque of 725Nm from the internal combustion engine and 350Nm from each of the three front electric motors, the Lamborghini LB744 delivers exceptional performance levels among super sports cars. The power unit's combined maximum output is 1,015CV.

The two electric motors at the front are oil-cooled axial flux units and provide an excellent weight-to-power ratio — 18.5kg from each of the 110kW units. They not only supply power to the front wheels but also perform torque vectoring, which enhances driving dynamics and recovers braking energy. When in electric mode, the Lamborghini LB744 is front-wheel drive only to minimize energy consumption, while electric drive to the rear axle is enabled on demand when needed.

With a lithium-ion high specific power (4500W/kg) battery pack installed inside the central tunnel, the Lamborghini LB744 has a low center of gravity and an ideal weight. The battery is linked to the front electric motors, rear electric motor, and an integrated recharging unit.

The battery is 1550mm long, 301mm high, and 240mm wide, having pouch cells with a total capacity of 3.8kWh. When the charge falls down to zero, it can be recharged using both ordinary domestic alternating and charging column current up to 7kW in power, and fully recharges in just 30 minutes. It can also be recharged under regenerative braking from the front wheels or directly from the V12 engine in just six minutes.

The switch to a new platform has involved innovative technical decisions regarding the gearbox, the brains of the hybrid plug-in unit. To achieve its goals, Lamborghini has made a new compact transmission unit that is capable of meeting the demands of such a potent electric power unit. The unit was conceived by Lamborghini in-house, and after the Lamborghini  LB744, it will continue to be equipped on the next generation of super sports cars from the brand.

The research and development department of Lamborghini created a wet double clutch as the most efficient and performance-oriented solution, suited to handle the 725Nm of torque at 6,750rpm from the internal combustion engine.

The longitudinal V12 engine is transversely positioned behind the new eight-speed gearbox to make room in the tunnel for the lithium-ion battery that powers the electric motors. It is a technical solution that is unique in the field of high-performance cars, and puts Lamborghini once more at the cutting-edge of automotive engineering.

Only two other V12 cars have been fitted with a transverse rear gearbox: the groundbreaking Lamborghini Miura launched in 1966, which also introduced a mid-rear transverse engine layout; and the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, a track-focused hypercar with a longitudinal engine and load-bearing transverse gearbox.

The new gearbox's internal structure has two distinct shafts rather than the usual three. One handles the odd numbers, while the other is in charge of the even numbers.

The creation of an eight-speed Double Clutch Transmission was driven by the desire to develop a unit that offers everything needed for sporty driving such as fast gear shifts, while the integration of an eighth ratio helps optimize fuel consumption and drivability while cruising. A special feature is the “continuous downshifting,” which drops down multiple gears under braking by just holding down the left paddle, giving the driver the sense of full control.

Putting aside the electrical components, the new Double Clutch Transmission gearbox is lighter and faster in terms of shifting speed in comparison to the seven-speed double clutch unit in the Lamborghini Huracán line. The cabin is now more spacious, thanks to the transverse layout, giving the driver and passenger more space and comfort.

Photos from Lamborghini

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