The Lamborghini Lanzador is taking a major turn before its planned 2028 arrival. Originally unveiled as the brand’s first fully electric vehicle, the four-seat coupe will instead use a plug-in hybrid powertrain, a change Lamborghini Chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann says potential customers have responded to enthusiastically.
Lamborghini Lanzador Will No Longer Be All-Electric
The Lanzador debuted at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in 2023 and quickly became a controversial addition to the supercar world. At the time, Lamborghini planned to equip the model with a two-motor electric powertrain producing 1,341 horsepower.
But the high-dollar EV market did not expand as quickly as expected. In February, Lamborghini confirmed that it would reengineer the four-seat coupe around a plug-in hybrid system combining an internal-combustion engine with electric motors.
The Lanzador remains scheduled to become Lamborghini’s fourth product line in 2028. During a conversation at Monterey Car Week, Winkelmann said potential customers agreed with the decision to move away from a fully electric setup.
Consumer Response Helped Drive the Change
The shift from an EV to a PHEV appears tied to consumer feedback and slower-than-expected luxury EV adoption. Lamborghini’s corporate cousins at Porsche have also faced challenges in the electric vehicle market.
Porsche has trimmed the Taycan electric sedan lineup in recent years to reduce manufacturing complexity and respond to contracting demand. The upcoming Boxster/Cayman EV sports cars have also faced pushback from the brand’s customers.
Lamborghini’s decision to move the Lanzador to plug-in hybrid power appears designed to avoid a similar controversy among its own customers.
What Powertrain Will the Lanzador Use?
Lamborghini has not confirmed the exact powertrain configuration for the production Lanzador. The company describes it as a “high-performance electrified vehicle,” raising questions about whether the powertrain used in the Revuelto and Temerario could fit the coupe’s grand touring form factor.
Those models use “through-the-road” all-wheel drive. Their front wheels are driven exclusively by electric motors, while the rear wheels are powered by a V8 or V12 engine paired with an electrified eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
That setup may require significant modifications to fit inside the Lanzador’s bodywork. Another possibility is a version of the Urus SE’s twin-turbocharged and electrified 4.0-liter V8.
That approach could also align with the Lanzador’s expected design and capability. The new Lamborghini coupe is expected to sit somewhat higher than its supercar siblings, providing a small measure of rough-road capability, while the Urus platform could potentially be modified into a slightly lower sports coupe with some ground clearance.
Lanzador Could Deliver More Than 800 Horsepower
The original electric concept produced more than 1,300 horsepower, setting a high benchmark for the production PHEV. The PHEV version is expected to be at least as powerful as the 801-hp Urus SE Performante.
The possibility of even greater output remains a point of speculation, with the 907 hp generated by the Temerario’s gas-electric powertrain representing an aspirational target.
Lamborghini Is Responding to Its Customers
The Lanzador’s transformation highlights the challenge Lamborghini faced in finding customers for an electric GT coupe, even within a lineup that includes the Temerario and its larger Revuelto sibling.
The automaker ultimately chose to listen to its customers and replace the planned all-electric powertrain with a plug-in hybrid system. According to the report, the PHEV Lanzador has already become a bigger success with customers before it has even gone on sale.
