Lamborghini technical director, Maurizio Reggiani, has reiterated his determination to keep the Italian brand’s next-generation supercars naturally aspirated and not drop their respective cylinder counts.
Speaking to Autocar, Reggiani made it clear he did not want to reduce the cylinder count and switch to turbocharging for the follow-ups to the V10-powered Huracán and V12-engined Aventador, despite the pressure of increasingly stringent emissions regulations. This despite the brand opting for a forced-induction unit in its Urus.
“Every car has a mission, and based on that mission you have to choose the right engine,” Reggiani told the British publication.
“For the [Urus] the decision was turbo, but we will continue to choose natural aspiration for the super-sports cars,” he said.
“In the future, we will need to take account of fuel consumption and emissions. I am convinced the naturally aspirated engine coupled with a hybrid system can be the right answer,” Reggiani revealed.
Speaking specifically about the replacement for the Aventador, he added: “We need to reinvent this icon without [losing] the characteristics of the current car: carbon-fibre, the V12 naturally aspirated engine and other components. Looking forward, if it is a hybrid then in what ways can we compensate for its weight?”
With reference to the Huracán’s replacement, Reggiani said that retaining the V10 was a no-brainer.
“The reaction you have to a 10-cylinder engine you cannot have from any other kind. This is what our customers love,” he said.
“Why do I need to do something different? If I trust in the naturally aspirated engine, why downgrade my powertrain to a V8 or V6? I am Lamborghini. I am the top of the pinnacle of super-sports cars. I want to stay where I am.”