Hybrid engines are changing the game for car makers. Balancing performance with the power people expect from luxury vehicles isn’t easy, so two top brands teamed up on a new engine. Lamborghini handled most of the car’s design, while the other — a name sports car fans know well — worked on the engine and electric parts. While much of the vehicle’s design is credited to one brand, the engineering behind its engine and electric components comes from another renowned name, particularly familiar to sports car enthusiasts.
A powerful, sustainable solution combining two automotive giants
In the past few months, several car makers have been working on hybrid engines and powertrains using cleaner fuels, like hydrogen – but it hasn’t reached its full potential yet. Meanwhile, automakers are going after hybrid systems to continue to use combustion engines, but with the add of electric motors to help with the performance.
Still, people want power and performance, especially in luxury cars, so brands keep investing in engines that could really shake up the market. One luxury automaker recently unveiled a new sports model that impresses not only with its design but also with its formidable engine. What many do not know is that this vehicle is the result of a strategic collaboration between two major brands.
Lamborghini’s latest hybrid is set to shake the luxury car segment
Sources say Lamborghini’s newest hybrid engines were partly developed with Mercedes-Benz. While Mercedes focuses on building up its hybrid lineup, Lamborghini is still chasing extreme performance and exclusivity in its luxury cars, trying to mix power with greener tech, and the two model have new electric powertrains.
Mercedes has found a new way to make money by supplying AMG engines to other brands. The Pagani Utopia runs on a V-12, several Aston Martins use AMG V-8s, and the Lotus Emira gets a four-cylinder unit. Not many people know that Mercedes is also behind the hybrid systems in some high-performance supercars, though usually behind the scenes.
Thanks to Yasa, a British company Mercedes bought, Lamborghini has upgraded its V-12 Revuelto and V-8 Temerario. The engines are now smaller, lighter, and can produce almost twice the torque of the originals. Toyota has recently announced a similar engine. Lamborghini still uses its own combustion engines, but the front-axle electric units come from Yasa. Interestingly, Mercedes and AMG haven’t put this tech into their own cars yet – a smart move: test in others first and then use it on their own vehicles.
Mercedes holds the technology but hasn’t used it in its own projects yet
Mercedes now owns Yasa and its advanced technology, but the company hasn’t put this engine into its own cars yet. Rumor has it the motor could show up in a new electric lineup, maybe a sedan and a big SUV. For now, fans can only guess how Yasa’s axial-flux motor will change things.
The motor weighs about 38 pounds and cranks out 148 horsepower with 221 lb-ft of torque. It’s just 2.75 inches thick and 11.6 inches wide, yet it can spin up to 10,000 rpm. These measures are not different from other super cars engines, but the collaboration between Mercedes and Lamborghini have the potential to create masterpieces that could change the automotive world.
Expectations for the market launch: collaborations are always highly anticipated
Projects evolving two major automakers in the industry benefit both sides. In this case, while Mercedes is one of the most dominant luxury brands in the market. All the wait and anticipation got the fans exited, but some still argue the Italians “killed” the V-12 engine for no reason. Meanwhile, another luxury brand is looking into more ways to make their car more sustainable, so we could see more surprises soon.
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