Lamborghini Goes Electric With Debut Of Futuristic Hybrid Sports Car At Frankfurt Motor Show

Lamborghini Goes Electric With Debut Of Futuristic Hybrid Sports Car At Frankfurt Motor Show

Adrienne Faurote
By Adrienne Faurote September 4, 2019

At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Automobili Lamborghini unveiled the Lamborghini Sián— a hybrid super sports car delivering new technologies and unsurpassed performance in the hybrid sphere. The Sián is engineered around unique hybrid technologies, delivering the extraordinary emotion and exceptional dynamic performance of a naturally aspirated Lamborghini super sports car, while meeting a future demanding electrification.

The Lamborghini Sián’s design demonstrates its clear intent: a visionary and futuristic design in combination with outstanding aerodynamic solutions. It is a new super sports car for a new era, but still with the heart and soul of a Lamborghini, pushing the limits to fulfill the highest expectations.

Lamborghini
Courtesy Automobili Lamborghini
Taking futuristic inspiration from the Countach, the Gandini line is evident in its profile, while the silhouette introduces new features such as the characteristic aero wings, giving the Sián an unmistakable profile. The iconic Lamborghini ‘Y’ shape can be seen in the NACA air inlets on the doors, glass elements are included in the engine cover, and the diagonal line features in the front hood, as in the Countach.
In its long, honed, sculptured contours, like the Countach, the Sián’s design is pure and uncluttered. The low front with the integrated carbon-fiber splitter is dominated by the ‘Y’-shaped headlights, used for the first time to reflect the signature design of the night lights, originally designed for the Lamborghini Terzo Millennio.
The extreme and strong rear of the car incorporates the hexagonal design so linked with Lamborghini, including six hexagonal tail lights inspired by the Countach. The rear wing is integrated within the profile and extends out only during the driving to enhance the performance.
Lamborghini
Courtesy Automobili Lamborghini
In the roof, the ‘Periscopio’ tunnel that originally incorporated a rear mirror in the Countach, adds a bold feature that links with the slats of the rear engine cover and important elements contributing to the car’s aerodynamic efficiency.
The extreme Sián design is a clear statement of the car’s optimized aerodynamic efficiency and technological prowess: airflow is directed through the front splitters and through the front bonnet, through the side air intakes and outlets and over the rear spoiler. The Lamborghini Sián utilizes unique material science for the first time in an automotive application. Active cooling vanes on the rear use Lamborghini patented technology. The operation of these vanes is triggered by the reaction of smart-material elements to the temperature generated by the exhaust system, causing them to rotate and providing an elegant and lightweight cooling solution.
Lamborghini
Courtesy Automobili Lamborghini
Not only is the Lamborghini Sián’s dynamism and intriguing technology clear in its design but it represents a new level of haute couture— all of the 63 masterpieces will be individually styled by each owner to create exclusive individuality through Lamborghini Centro Stile in conjunction with Lamborghini Ad Personam.
Lamborghini
Courtesy Automobili Lamborghini
The specifically designed configuration for the car shown at the IAA in Frankfurt in Verde Gea (green) with details in Oro Electrum (electric gold) is visualizing the electrified Lamborghini of the future and underlining Lamborghini’s leadership in terms constantly striving for the highest execution of color and materials. It is painted with a very precious multilayer color containing golden flakes and golden crystals, perfectly complementing the internal design. The interior is executed in ‘Terra di Sant’Agata Bolognese’ with leather from Poltrona Frau implementing 3D printed parts for the first time in production.
The Sián adopts the V12 as the pinnacle of today’s Lamborghini engines and develops a new super sports car powertrain—a unique new hybrid system focuses on providing the highest power possible via the lightest solution.

In addition, the energy accumulation technology is a world first. Rather than a lithium-ion battery, the Sián innovates supercapacitor application— a technology pioneered originally in the Lamborghini Aventador but dramatically developed to store ten times the power. It is three times more powerful than a battery of the same weight and three times lighter than a battery producing the same power. Located in the bulkhead between the cockpit and engine it ensures perfect weight distribution. The electric system with the supercapacitor and e-motor weighs only 34 kg, thus it delivers a remarkable weight-to-power ratio of 1.0 kg/hp. Symmetric power flow ensures the same efficiency in both charging and discharging cycles: the most lightweight and efficient hybrid solution.

Lamborghini
Courtesy Automobili Lamborghini
This advanced technology combines with the V12 engine, which incorporates titanium intake valves and is uprated to 785 hp (577 kW) at 8,500 rpm: the highest output ever from a Lamborghini power plant. Combined with the additional 34 hp from the hybrid system, the Sián delivers a total of 819 hp (602 kW) and still produces the distinctly emotive resonance demanded from a Lamborghini engine. The Sián’s weight-to-power ratio is better than that of the Aventador SVJ, achieved through extensive use of lightweight materials. The Sián is capable of reaching a top speed of over 217 mp/h.
 This new level of Lamborghini performance and driving emotion is accompanied by a heightened level of driving comfort facilitated by the hybrid system. The moment when deceleration and missing torque is felt during gear changes powered by a traditional combustion engine is eliminated by the torque upshift fill provided by the hybrid’s e-motor: the pilot will feel only the pull backward of acceleration, eliminating any possible uncomfortable jerking movements.