Huracan Tecnica

Segment
Coupe

It may not feel like it, but the Lamborghini Huracan has been on the market for the better part of a decade. Lambo is hard at work on a successor, but while the next-generation Audi R8 will go electric, Lamborghini will stick with gasoline propulsion. That means that Lamborghini can't rely on platform and powertrain sharing. Previous rumors hinted that the Huracan replacement will utilize a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, but a new report from MotorTrend has added some new details to the mix.

The outlet says the next-generation supercar will be powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, which may sound like Lamborghini copping out and using the same engine found in everything from the Audi RS6 to the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus. But if MT is to be believed, this will be unlike any V8 currently found in the world of supercars because the turbos won't kick in until 7,000 rpm.

Instead, up until that point, the V8 will retain a naturally aspirated torque curve with torque-fill from an axial-flux electric motor mounted between the engine and gearbox, much like the V12-powered hybrid Aventador replacement. This setup is similar to the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, which could explain why Lamborghini was spotted benchmarking one in Italy.

Above 7,000 rpm, the turbos will kick in to deliver gut-wrenching performance, revving out to 10,000 rpm. So not at all similar to the engine in the Urus, then.

The sources that provided this new information didn't share any details about further electrification and whether the car would have mechanical all-wheel drive or an electric front-drive system like the Acura NSX. It's also unknown whether the car will be a standard hybrid or a plug-in like the McLaren Artura.

As for what platform the car will use, with the Audi R8's demise, Lamborghini can't share development costs with anyone. A new platform will be expensive and would need to be able to accommodate a full battery electric powertrain to future-proof it, which is why it is believed the unnamed Huracan successor will use an adaptation of the current platform.

If it uses electric motors on the front axle, this would require a redesign of the front end of the platform to accommodate such, and it may impact the frunk storage.

To our knowledge, the current platform is not engineered with electrification in mind, meaning battery storage is limited too. This, then, could rule out a plug-in hybrid system which would require a larger battery. Instead, a smaller one could be equipped behind the cockpit thanks to the smaller V8 engine freeing up space back there.

The Huracan is expected to stick around a bit longer before Lamborghini releases this new hybrid replacement. You can expect a reveal sometime in 2024.

Before then, Lamborghini has plenty of new variants to keep customers happy. The Italian automaker recently revealed the rear-wheel-drive Huracan Tecnica and will soon reveal an off-road version called the Huracan Sterrato. We'll be sad to see the V10 engine go, but based on what we know about its replacement, Lamborghini won't disappoint.

A lot remains a mystery, but we can only hope Lamborghini's replacement for the Huracan is as charismatic as the car it replaces.