Think what you like about Lamborghini's outgoing V12 flagship, but the fact is that by the time the run-out Ultimae Edition was announced last year, the decade-old Aventador had easily earned its place among the manufacturer's all-time greats. Now we get our first look at its replacement, a car that will mark Lamborghini's transition to the plug-in hybrid era.
Granted, that prospect might not immediately fill you with all the joys of spring, but let's all remember that a) Ferrari's recent addition to the genre, the 296 GTB, has already proven itself a mightily fine thing, and b) Lamborghini has already confirmed that the sweetener to its forthcoming electrified deal will be the retention of a twelve-cylinder engine.
Sure, it won't be the same spine-tingling 6.5-litre unit that makes the Aventador such a memorable supercar, but Lambo boss Stephan Winkelmann has made it clear that he understands the 'emotional' connection that buyers have to an Italian-built V12, hence the decision to develop a new engine in tandem with the batteries and electric motors that will be required for a legislation-pleasing, zero-emission function.
However, as the pictures make plain, a concerted effort to lower CO2 should not mean that the comparative hotness of Lamborghini's supercar will be diminished. The first spy shots reveal a prototype very much in keeping with the Aventador's dramatic styling. Our man on the ground suggested the test mule was wearing production-ready head and tail lights, and drew our attention to the sheer size of the air intakes in the front bumper and on the flanks.
Of course, a plug-in hybrid V12 is going to require rather a lot of cooling - and exhausting, too, apparently. The prominent quad tailpipes are obviously mounted much higher than in the Aventador, and suggest that Lamborghini is seeking the most efficient exit for the car's exhaust gases. The positioning is made all the more conspicuous by the fold-out rear spoiler that sits above the new arrangement.
Other than that - and the yellow warning stickers which pronounce the development car a working hybrid - it's all conjecture at this stage. But it's worth drinking it in now, because the production version is already penciled in for launch next year, which means that we'll almost certainly see Lamborghini's new flagship unveiled by the end of 2022. Expect the official buildup to be extensive.
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