Lamborghini’s fourth series-production model, based on the Lanzador concept and now scheduled for 2029, could debut as a plug-in hybrid rather than the fully electric vehicle originally planned.
The high-riding 2+2 GT coupe was unveiled in 2023 as a preview of the marque’s first EV, but CEO Stephan Winkelmann has indicated a shift in strategy amid weakening demand for electric cars in the luxury segment.
“We took two decisions so far based on the fact that the acceptance curve of electric cars worldwide … is flattening, and this is even more true for our type,” Winkelmann told Australia’s CarExpert.
He said the Urus replacement would launch as a plug-in hybrid and that the fourth model’s debut had been delayed by a year, from 2028 to 2029.
While Lamborghini is still keen on electrification, the final powertrain decision for the new GT is “still very open,” Winkelmann said.
The company has pledged to hybridise its entire lineup, with a new V8 plug-in hybrid system under development for the upcoming Temerario.
Winkelmann reiterated the intention to retain internal combustion engines in Lamborghini’s two flagship supercars for as long as regulations permit, provided sustainable fuels become available.
He said the firm would build a pure electric car when customers are prepared to buy, emphasising the importance of emotional appeal and residual values. “Performance is driven not by just acceleration or top speed, but by emotion,” he told CarExpert.
With five years until launch, Lamborghini is reviewing whether a fully electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain will best balance technical feasibility, customer readiness and market conditions.
