Moterey Car Week attendees got a glimpse into Lamborghini's electric future with the Lanzador.
Monterey Car week saw Lamborghini unveil its Lanzador concept which the Sant'Agata Bolognese firm calls "a high ground-clearance GT with 2+2 seats..." Alrightey then!
The Lanzador concept points toward a series model that will be built from 2028 onwards. Electrified, of course. This follows in the footsteps of the V12 plug-in hybrid Revuelto, and is in sync with Lamborghini's strategy and roadmap toward electrification announced in 2021.
"With the fourth model concept, we are opening a new car segment: the Ultra GT. This will offer customers a new, unparalleled Lamborghini driving experience thanks to pioneering technologies," said Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.
The Lanzador is touted as an all-electric Gran Turismo with a distinctly Lamborghini coupe-esque body style, in the same vein as the Espada, Jamara and Urraco from yesteryear, but now riding higher above the tarmac as inspired by the Huracan Sterrato.
"With Lanzador we are looking into our future without forgetting our DNA. The first coupés from Lamborghini with their front engines were sporty, elegant Gran Turismos suitable for everyday use as 2+2-seaters. The concept for our fourth production model leverages our philosophy of super sportiness combined with brave new technologies and fearless design, perfectly fitting into our Direzione Cor Tauri strategy,” explained Stephan Winkelmann.
Lamborghini's idea here is to make the driver feel like a pilot via controls on the sports steering wheel.
A newly-developed Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata (LDVI) driving dynamics control system delivers information back to the driver via intelligent sensors positioned behind the new "pilot's" glass panels mounted at the front of the car which gives a taste of future radar technology.
Active aerodynamics play a huge role in battery electric vehicles, more so than their internal-combustion engine counterparts, for active aero can improve range per battery charge while increasing performance.
Lamborghini's famed ALA system is here, together with new active aero devices in the front and rear to ensure the best efficiency in the Lanzador's Urban driving mode, and best downforce in Performance mode.
Active air suspension and rear steer go toward making the Lanzador the consummate GT cruiser over long distances, and bruiser in the twisties such as the Stelvio Pass. With two electric motors, one mounted per axle, torque distribution remains optimal for the driving conditions, with millisecond-precise shuffling of torque from left to right and right to left to let the Lanzador pilot errrmmm driver carve out the optimal line.
There is a boot in the rear, and there is a smaller frunk or froot hidden away under the bonnet. Gran touring doesn't have to be compromised by carrying capacity.
The interior sports a slim, lightweight dashboard with iconic design elements. The pilot and co-pilot errrmmm driver and passenger sit low in the cabin, separated by the centre console that flows into the dashboard. All controls are within ergonomic reach.
Going green means using environmentally-friendly materials. The interior is made almost entirely of sustainable materials, with the dashboard, seats and door panels using a coloured thread made from regenerated nylon and recycled plastic.
Many of the non-visible plastics are made of 3D-printed recycled fibres. Even the carbon in the centre console and door panels is made of regenerated carbon, a new two-layer composite material. 100% merino wool comes from Australian Mernio sheep instead of artificially processed wool.
Let's see what 2028 brings.