Synthetic fuel, also known as e-fuel, could save the internal combustion engine (ICE) according to Lamborghini’s tech boss, who says electric vehicle (EV) performance parity is only a matter of time.
Speaking to CarExpert, the Italian brand’s chief technical officer, Mr Rouven Mohr, said the new Lamborghini Temerario powertrain – a twin-turbo V8 hybrid system with three electric motors producing total outputs of 677kW of power and 730Nm of torque – delivers the emotional experience the brand is known for.
It can also run on synthetic fuel, making it somewhat futureproof amid ever-tightening emissions standards and alongside combustion-powered rivals in key Lamborghini markets around the world.
“I’m not saying that synthetic fuel is better than fossil fuel, but it could be the saviour of the combustion engine,” Mr Mohr told CarExpert.
Hundreds of new car deals are available throughCarExpertright now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal.Browse now.
“The new engine has been designed to deliver optimal efficiency and performance with both solutions.”
The powertrain gives the Temerario serious performance stats, including 0-100km/h acceleration in a claimed 2.7 seconds and a 343km/h top speed, but it’s the way it delivers its performance that matters to the Lambo tech boss.
“The brand DNA has to be always the maximum emotionality that you can have in the sector. This is our DNA,” said Mr Mohr.
“Therefore, it starts with the sound, but it’s not only about that – it’s also about the vibration that we feel, the shifting perception, how the car is rotating in the corner… for this, the V8 was considered the best choice.”
To set the V8 further apart from its rivals, Mr Mohr’s team then set a staggeringly high benchmark of a 10,000rpm rev limit.
“We decided, okay, what we must do [is] to do the most emotional V8 engine in the segment, and this [high-revving] direction was right here. If you speak about the race-oriented engine, it’s revs – revs are always bringing emotions, not only because of the sound.”
The pursuit – and customer demand – of a visceral experience is why Lamborghini will be later than rival Ferrari in adding an EV to its lineup, which it currently plans to do in 2029.
Mr Mohr also said Lamborghini is working hard to keep ICE technology, which he says still has room for improvement, in production for as long as possible.
“If you ask me the emotion side at the moment, like I said before, I don’t see the [electric] solution that is convincing now,” Mr Mohr said.
“Its time will come, trust me, because this kind of technology transformation needs longer,” he said.
“But we should also not make the mistake to think that it [ICE] will stop, because I can tell you, the generation that is now growing up step-by-step with the electrification of the standard cars, for them there will be a point where they say, okay, the old combustion thing is cool.”
That’s why synthetic fuels will be a key technology for brands such as Lamborghini, and fellow Volkswagen Group automaker Porsche – with both brands investing in it for future products, but also because of the critical role heritage plays in the image of each brand.
In 2023, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann said synthetic fuel technology will be employed by the automaker for several reasons.
“There are different levels to how we see it,” Mr Winkelmann said.
“The first one is we might utilise synthetic fuels only for our race activities.
“The second thing is to protect our car park, because the majority of our cars after 60 years still exist. So after 2035, there must be an opportunity, and this is what I think is very important – that all of our customers can continue to drive their cars.”
MORE:Lamborghini Temerario says farewell V10, hello twin-turbo V8 PHEV