Stephan Winkelmann, chairman of Automobili Lamborghini, one of the world's three major sports car brands, said the company is considering whether to launch a very limited special edition for select markets, including Korea. The move takes into account that Lamborghini sales in Korea have grown rapidly, increasing by nearly 60% over the past five years.
Winkelmann also said the company will keep its signature emotional appeal by continuing with the 12-cylinder (V12) engine while capturing both performance and emotion with a plug-in hybrid.
In a video interview on the 16th with reporters from Korea, Japan and Australia, Winkelmann said, Korea is Lamborghini's sixth-largest market by sales, adding, It has grown rapidly in recent years, delivering a very positive surprise.
According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), 478 Lamborghinis were sold in Korea last year. That is up 58% from 303 in 2020, five years earlier.
Winkelmann said, The customer base in Korea is very young, which fits our brand perfectly, adding, It is also a positive factor that this is one of the markets with a very high proportion of female customers. He continued, We do not plan to launch region-specific models separately, but we are considering the possibility of a very limited special edition for select markets, including Korea.
Winkelmann made clear he will not give up internal combustion engines. The V12 engine is Lamborghini's DNA, he said. While it is not easy to keep the V12 engine, we can sustain it at least until 2035.
A V12 engine arranges 12 cylindrical pistons in a V shape, generating power by igniting fuel. It is regarded as the ideal engine for a supercar, delivering explosive power and a sharp yet smooth exhaust note. Lamborghini's Revuelto, which pairs a V12 engine with electric motors, delivers up to 825 horsepower and a top speed of 350 km/h.
Lamborghini has previously said it will not release a pure electric vehicle until at least 2030. That contrasts with other brands that are introducing pure EVs to meet carbon emissions rules and other reasons. Ferrari, for its part, plans to unveil its first pure electric vehicle, the Ferrari Luce, in May.
Winkelmann said, We have confirmed that acceptance of pure electric vehicles is gradually declining in our segment and among our customers, adding, While we continue to invest in the latest technologies, it does not appear that customers will sufficiently accept them in the near future.
Instead, the plan is to strengthen the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) strategy. Winkelmann said, The lack of emotional immersion felt with pure electric vehicles was one of the main reasons we decided not to convert the fourth model to an EV, adding, With plug-in hybrids, we can further enhance performance while maintaining the same level of emotional appeal as conventional internal combustion vehicles.
Lamborghini had planned to launch its fourth model and first pure electric concept car, the Lanzador, in 2028, but recently said it would halt the project.
The fourth model to replace the pure EV is expected to be a grand tourer (GT) 2+2. A GT is a high-performance vehicle capable of long-distance driving, and 2+2 refers to a configuration with rear seats that are too small for adults to ride comfortably for long periods. A two-door coupe with front seats that tilt forward is typical.
Winkelmann said, For the new model, we considered a four-door sedan, a GT, a two-seater, and a smaller sport utility vehicle (SUV), but ultimately we chose the GT 2+2.
Winkelmann said, A smaller SUV than the Urus could be an attractive business option, but we ruled it out because it would require higher production volumes, which could lead to brand dilution, adding, As a result, the GT 2+2 fills a gap in the current lineup while aligning with Lamborghini's history and positioning as a luxury and super sports car brand.
Lamborghini's plans, including the new model, are likely to be unveiled as early as this year. Winkelmann said, The Temerario will be delivered in stages, adding, So far our plug-in hybrid strategy is working as intended, and we are now moving on to the next stage, which will be announced at the end of the year.