CARMEL, Calif. — Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann will go down as one of the most influential leaders in the Italian luxury automaker’s history.
A lot happened during his two-year stint at Lamborghini, from launching the Gallardo supercar in the early 2000s to bringing the Urus SUV to market and huge sales success some 15 years later.
While the much-loved Huracan supercar heads out to pasture, Winckelmann’s latest release is the Huracan’s successor, the Temerario.
Although the Temerario is not equipped with the widely beloved naturally aspirated V-10 motor that powers the Huracan, Winkelmann believes its evolution will still inspire passion among Lamborghini enthusiasts. The new Lambo’s V8 biturbo engine still revs to an impressive 10,000 RPM. This is combined with three electric motors (two on the front axle and one between the engine and gearbox) delivering 907 horsepower, allowing the Temerario to accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in just 2.7 seconds. Top speed reaches 312 miles per hour.
New Lamborghini Temerario in Pebble Beach, California. (Credit: Lamborghini) · Lamborghini
“Performance has to be better than the previous generation and this also includes the handling behavior.The weight-to-power ratio is therefore of paramount importance to our success, as it is one of Lamborghini’s hallmarks. ” Winkelmann told Yahoo Finance. The Lamborghini stand at the Quail event during Monterey Car Week.
Winkelmann believes the hybrid powertrain’s ability to reduce emissions through the battery system and improve performance through the electric motor is “the right direction for Lamborghini.”
It’s a recipe the company is following following the success of the Temerario’s big brother, the Revuelto hypercar, which features a V12 hybrid powertrain. Revuelto will be sold out for at least next year’s production, if not more.
The introduction of a state-of-the-art supercar is a huge success for automakers, but it comes at a time when luxury consumers are hitting some speed bumps. Concerns about the economic slowdown in the U.S. and abroad, global tensions and high interest rates are taking a toll.
Winkelmann and his team unveiled Temerario at a Quail event in Carmel, California. (Credit: Lamborghini).・Lamborghini
Mr. Winkelmann acknowledged these concerns, but when it comes to his particular customers, they’re still making purchases.
“Since the end of COVID-19, we have had this ‘YOLO’ effect and we only live once. Despite the global crisis, markets are everywhere, and geopolitics is changing. , we’re still doing well. People still want to buy those cars and we have a long wait,” he said when asked about buyers.
He said it was “unfortunate” but sales data showed the Italian company, part of the Volkswagen (VWAGY) empire, was one of the few successful companies in the world of luxury cars. He said he is doing so.
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If it can build its own organic passion through the bold designs of supercars such as the Temerario and cutting-edge powertrains that now emphasize hybrid power, it will have to follow in the footsteps of storied rivals like Ferrari (RACE) There is no. That vehicle. Winkelmann has shown that this is indeed possible since the launch of the Gallardo nearly 20 years ago.
“This year is on track to be perfect. We set a new record for the first six months of 2024,” Winkelmann said. “If things continue like this, 2024 will be a very good year for Lamborghini.”
Will the effects of YOLO last for the rest of this year and beyond? Winkelmann and Lamborghini believe they have the right recipe.
Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance covering the auto industry. you can follow him Twitter And also on Instagram.
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