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Lamborghini Aventador successor to use supercapacitors instead of batteries?

While we continue trying to zero in on the next-generation Lamborghini flagship and its specs, Lamborghini CTO Maurizio Reggiani spoke to Road & Track to offer glimpses and set a few things straight. Discussing the coming LB48H supercar, Reggiani said the use of supercapacitors in that limited-run supercar will be a "first jump" into a robust hybrid application for supercapacitors, and that Lamborghini "will prove that in a super sports car, it's possible to have this technology." We've known the LB48H would use supercapacitors, but we didn't — and frankly still don't — know how. Based on Reggiani's comment, and likely the fact that Lamborghini uses a special supercar to hint at what's coming in tech and design, RT takes Reggiani's comments to mean that the Aventador successor will "store its electric power electrostatically instead of electrochemically, as you would with a lithium-ion battery." A caveat to this comes in another of Reggiani's remarks. He said the brand hasn't given any indication when an Aventador successor will reach the market, and before that happens, the brand is deciding whether to do another special edition flagship. "There's the possibility to have a kind of final Aventador family member," he said, because the brand probably won't get another chance to make a non-hybrid V12 after the scissor doors come down on the Aventador. Sales of the 6.5-liter V12 monster are still on the rise, remember. The current Aventador already uses a supercapacitor for the starter battery, to run the stop-start system. And the Italian carmaker has been working with MIT for years on such technology previewed in the Terzo Millennio concept, and rolled out for prime time in the LB48H. It's hard to see supercapacitors alone serving the next flagship, though, because company CEO Stefano Domenicali has said that "we need to respect legislation. In certain places, you will need electrification to go into the city." Supercapacitors can boost the kind of fast-acting peak performance buyers expect of a V12 Lamborghini. But their specific energy is roughly one-tenth that of a lithium-ion battery, or less; to provide the kind of range needed for all-electric trips into a city, the flagship would need a trailer hitch to haul a Urus carrying the supercapacitor array. Lamborghini has already said the best-case scenario for the Aventador successor is a 330- to 440-pound weight gain because of the hybrid system.

Lamborghini Urus Performante Special Edition is likely not for you

Inspired by racing, the Lamborghini Urus Performante Special Edition is a limited-edition model created for the 40 enthusiasts who bought the Essenza SCV12. It stands out from the SUV it's based on with specific styling cues inside and out created by the Ad Personam division. Standard carbon fiber add-ons, including the panel between the rear lights, help set the Special Edition apart from the Urus Performante. These parts are left exposed to highlight the use of the weight-saving material, but the similarities between the 40 Special Edition models will stop there. Ad Personam, the brand's in-house department in charge of designing one- and few-off cars, created a livery that echoes the Essenza SCV12 and that's characterized by styling cues such as orange accents and black trim pieces on the lower part of the body. Lamborghini designers worked with Essenza owners to configure each Special Edition model, and many buyers created a matching pair; some of the designs are pictured in our gallery. Black brake calipers and 23-inch wheels come standard, though other options are available. The interior's layout hasn't changed, but many of the design details are specific to the Special Edition. The cabin is finished in a color called Nero Cosmus and upholstered in a blend of black leather and Alcantara. There's carbon fiber trim that's either glossy or matte depending on the buyer's preference, black anodized aluminum accents, as well as the Essenza's logo on the passenger's side of the dashboard. Two plates add a finishing touch to the look: one celebrates Lamborghini's 60th birthday and the other is engraved with the customer's name.  While it would have been cool to pop the hood and come nose-to-nose with the Essenza's 830-horsepower V12, the Special Edition uses the same twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 as the standard Urus Performante. The engine develops 657 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 627 pound-feet of torque from 2,300 to 4,500 rpm, and it spins the four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Hitting 62 mph from a stop takes 3.3 seconds (the Performante is the quickest member of the Urus range) and the SUV doesn't stop accelerating until it hits 190 mph. Pricing for the Lamborghini Urus Performante Special Edition hasn't been revealed, but the entire production run has been spoken for. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Volkswagen may 'carve out' Lamborghini to list on the stock exchange

FRANKFURT — Volkswagen is drawing up plans to set up Lamborghini as a more independent unit, and is discussing long-term supply deals that could make it easier to list it on the stock exchange, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. "Volkswagen is in the process of carving out Lamborghini, and to organize future supply and technology transfer deals," one of the sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The Italian sportscar brand, which is currently a division of Audi, could be partially listed, with Volkswagen retaining a controlling stake, the first person familiar with the talks said. There is no formal decision to divest Lamborghini, a second source said, adding that the timetable of any deal remained unclear. "This is a first step which gives VW the option to list the unit further down the line," the second source told Reuters. A third source familiar with the discussions said the future of Bugatti, Lamborghini and Ducati was discussed during a supervisory board meeting last Friday. The possibilities for how to electrify the Lamborghini and Bugatti brands through partnerships and investors was discussed, the third source said. Bankers and potential cornerstone investors in an IPO have been approached by the carmaker, the sources said. Volkswagen declined to comment. Volkswagen Group's Chief Executive Herbert Diess on Wednesday said the carmaker will announce "important steps" about the company's future before the close of the year. Volkswagen is reviewing what role its high-performance brands Lamborghini, Bugatti and Ducati will play within the multi-brand carmaker as part of broader quest for more economies of scale, senior executives told Reuters. A global clampdown on combustion-engined vehicles has forced carmakers to accelerate development of low-emission technology for mainstream models, leaving Volkswagen managers struggling to find resources to electrify low volume sportscar models. Related Video: