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Lamborghini Sian's supercapacitor hybrid system explained by company's CTO

"We are a game-changer and a provocateur," Lamborghini's CTO, Maurizio Reggiani told Engadget. The automaker has a long history of making waves with traffic-stopping designs and more recently, innovative tech. At last week's Frankfurt Motor Show, the Italian company unveiled its Sian hybrid supercar. But it ditched the traditional battery pack in favor of a supercapacitor to power an electric motor, which is exactly what you would expect from the Italian company. Typically a hybrid uses a lithium-ion battery pack to store energy. Then when needed, it transfers an electrical current to a motor (or motors) to either help the gas-powered engine or take over propulsion entirely. It's a recipe that has successfully improved gas mileage and sold over six million examples of the Toyota Prius, not to mention countless other hybrids. "It's too easy to follow," Reggiani said. "If you want to move for the first time in electrification you must guarantee that the implementation will not destroy the DNA of a car and brand." With that in mind, the automaker went with a supercapacitor instead of a battery. According to Reggiani, the supercapacitor offers up three times the power of a battery pack from the same weight and packaging. Plus, it stores and discharges energy much quicker. The spent power can be fully regenerated very quickly during normal braking. Reggiani explained that this could be particularly useful while cornering. Going into a corner, the driver applies the brakes and replenishes any spent energy. Then, as the driver accelerates out of the corner, all the available power is there for acceleration. Then as the driver brakes for the next curve, the process starts all over again. Plus, the supercapacitor doesn't have to cool down like traditional battery, it's just ready to go at all times -- which is exactly what Lamborghini owners want. The output of the 48-volt motor installed into the gearbox is 34 horsepower which brings the total power output of the V12 Sian to 819 horsepower. While 34 horsepower doesn't seem like much, it means the vehicle can do zero to 62 miles per hour in under 2.8 seconds. That's Tesla Model S Performance and Porsche Taycan levels of fast. But there are other benefits. The electric motor reduces the torque hits of the gears shifting. You know those momentary losses -- then explosions of power -- you feel in the car as it speeds up, that's the vehicle going through its gears.

Do you want a cheap amphibious Lamborghini Countach?

James Bond famously dove under the waves in a Lotus Esprit submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me. Elon Musk now has the car in his collection, but you can have the next best thing by buying this amphibious Lamborghini Countach. It needs a lot of work to be seaworthy or even roadworthy again, but the floating Italian supercar is currently on eBay Motors in the UK for the equivalent of $26,790. While the vehicle looks like a Countach, don't expect to listen to a sonorous Italian V12 on the open seas because power now comes from a Rover V8. In the water, a twin-prop drive runs from a power takeoff on the engine, and twin rudders allow for navigation. Hydraulics lift wheels when it's time to get wet. For wannabe Bonds, there's even a button inside to activate a smoke screen. Some digging online shows that Mike Ryan of SeaRoader originally built the water-going Countach. Both the eBay ad and Ryan's page assert the supercar briefly went to Hollywood for various roles, but the Internet Movie Car Database only shows the Lambo appearing briefly in Top Gear's Season 8 amphibious cars episode. Ryan also helped the guys build their own floating vehicles. Get ready for some hard work before setting sail. According to the listing, the carpets and seats are gone. The engine still turns, but the fuel pipe that goes to the tank needs replaced. It also requires new tires and brake work. If you're up to the challenge, this could be an amazing project. Related Video: News Source: eBay Motors, SeaRoader, Internet Movie Car Database via The DriveImage Credit: Top Gear via YouTube Aftermarket Design/Style Weird Car News Lamborghini Auctions Coupe Special and Limited Editions Performance Supercars Lamborghini Countach amphibious car

Fastest-ever Lamborghini may debut in Geneva

Lamborghini is headed to next month's 2013 Geneva Motor Show with the brand's fastest car yet. The news comes courtesy of Filippo Perini, Lamborghini's design director, who reportedly dished that the brand will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a new low-volume hypercar. Perini made the comments while at the US launch of the automaker's recent Aventador Roadster in Miami, and he made it clear there will only be 10 production examples of the new model. If you want one, you had better get your wallet to the closest dealer (the designer admits most of the exotics are already spoken for).
Meanwhile, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann has said his company will continue to explore special edition models. As you may recall, the Italian automaker built just 20 examples of its Sesto Elemento, originally penned for the 2010 Paris Motor Show. It promptly sold each one for $2.5 million. Then there was last year's Aventador J, which flew out the door at $2.6 million, including taxes. Stay tuned for more information from the show floor.