Lamborghini\u2019s plans to introduce a new, pure battery-electric fourth model to its lineup came into sharper focus today with the reveal of the Lanzador concept at Monterey Car Week. A high ground-clearance grand tourer with 2+2 seats and large 23-inch wheels, the Lanzador blends styling elements from the Urus and Si\u00e1n while settling into a shape that is all its own.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It isn\u2019t Lamborghini\u2019s first all-electric concept<\/a> \u2014 that honor goes to the\u00a0Terzo Millennio concept<\/a> from 2017 \u2014 but it is the most serious sign of the storied Italian automaker\u2019s efforts to pivot to battery-powered performance. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Of course, as soon as I cracked open the Lanzador\u2019s press release, I immediately searched for all those EV-related specs that would prove this concept would be one of the most powerful EVs on the road. But Lamborghini is being coy about details like range, battery, charging capacity, or even zero to 60mph acceleration. The Italian sports car maker did reveal one tantalizing bit of information: the Lanzador is capable of \u201cpeak power of over one megawatt.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Lamborghini is being coy about details<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n That\u2019s the equivalent of 1,341 mechanical horsepower, which would place the Lanzador somewhere between a Lucid Air Sapphire (920kW) and a Tesla Roadster (1,100kW). And while that doesn\u2019t tell us much about energy delivery per hour, it does offer a hint about performance, which we can likely assume is, well, fast. Can the Lanzador sprint from zero to 60mph in under two seconds like some of its peers in the 1,000hp-plus community? Lamborghini wouldn\u2019t say. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Driving the Lanzador promises to be an experience unlike any other. \u201cSignificantly\u201d more sensors and actuators will be integrated into the supercar\u2019s dynamic driving control to ensure the smoothest ride possible. The Lanzador\u2019s algorithmic computer takes in data to deliver a nuanced driving experience that improves over time. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThis allows the driving character to be more precisely differentiated to the individual driver than ever before: information delivered back to the driver by intelligent sensors positioned behind the new \u2018pilot\u2019s\u2019 glass panels mounted at the front of the car, giving a taste of future radar technology,\u201d Lamborghini says.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Lanzador\u2019s algorithmic computer takes in data to deliver a nuanced driving experience<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Of course, the Lanzador was designed to optimize aerodynamics for improved driving and range. Air resistance can be adjusted to respond to a driver\u2019s unique preference. It\u2019s a similar system to what was put to use in the Hurac\u00e1n Performante and Aventador SVJ, along with \u201cnew active aero devices in the front and rear to ensure the best efficiency\u201d whether in Urban or Performance driving modes. And an active chassis with a steerable rear axle and air suspension\u00a0are able to be controlled through the steering wheel. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The hexagonal-shaped taillights with three LED elements on each side take their inspiration from the Countach LPI 800-4. And speaking of the hexagon, the beefy 23-inch wheels combine hexagonal elements with aeroblades to minimize turbulence. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Those wheels give the Lanzador a much higher ground clearance than typically found in Lamborghini\u2019s lineup, with the closest antecedent being the Urus SUV. The roof height is 1.5 meters, or a little less than five feet, so it\u2019s still shorter than the much taller Urus. But those wheels will give the Lanzador the appearance of being able to climb over all manner of road obstacles \u2014 or at least up the rolling hills of Northern Italy. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Putting performance aside, you can see Lamborghini is enamored with the Lanzador\u2019s combination of a GT body shape with a high-riding driving style. The aim was to mimic the Hurac\u00e1n Sterrato, an off-roader supercar that the automaker only committed to a limited run of 900 units. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Lamborghini said the Lanzador\u2019s design was inspired by spaceships, with the driver meant to feel like an astronaut or jet pilot while driving. The driver and passenger \u2014 or \u201cpilot and co-pilot,\u201d as Lamborghini puts it \u2014\u00a0sit in a frame-like bucket seat insulated with 3D-printed foam. The rear seats can be folded down to accommodate luggage. And there\u2019s even a front truck that can fit a specially made bag. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n In addition to 3D-printed materials, Lamborghini is also committing itself to a more sustainable supply chain with the inclusion of recycled nylon and plastics as well as regenerated carbon fiber for some of the interior. The automaker claims its leather and wool procurement is sustainable and produced using renewable energy. And it uses a type of synthetic yarn made from recycled plastics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Unlike previous EV concepts, the Lanzador is a preview of what\u2019s to come. Lamborghini is two years into a \u20ac1.9 billion ($2 billion) electrification strategy<\/a> in which it will first roll out gas-electric hybrid versions of its entire lineup before introducing, in 2028, a brand-new all-electric fourth model. We\u2019ve already seen one plug-in hybrid, the 2024 Revuelto<\/a>, which will ultimately replace the Aventador. And there will certainly be more to come. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Lanzador is meant to conjure up what\u2019s possible with that model. And since it\u2019s just a concept, it\u2019s too early to get bogged down in performance figures or battery specs. Though it\u2019s telling that Lamborghini put one spec out into the world \u2014 1MW of peak power \u2014\u00a0a signal to all of its competitors that whatever\u2019s coming, it will be ridiculously powerful. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n