Lamborghini: Record profits made new Audi R8 unnecessary

Lamborghini says record sales and profits have allowed its next ‘junior’ supercar to be developed alone – rather than share costs with an Audi twin, as was the case with its two predecessors.

Record sales of Lamborghini supercars and SUVs – and nearly $AU1 billion in profit last year – have eliminated the need to twin the replacement for the Huracan with a new Audi R8, the Italian car maker says.

The past two generations of “entry-level” Lamborghini V10 supercars – the Gallardo of 2003, and Huracan of 2014 – have been related to, or directly twinned with with iterations of the Audi R8, allowing development costs to be shared at the benefit of both brands.

The Huracan successor – expected to adopt twin-turbo V8 hybrid power – due next year will break from the tradition, as Audi has shelved plans to develop a third-generation petrol R8 amid a shift to electric cars.

But a top Lamborghini executive says the Italian exotic-car specialist didn’t need an Audi twin to make the numbers stack up for the next iteration of its best-selling supercar, thanks to record sales of its current models.

MORE: Lamborghini Huracan V10 sold out, hybrid V8 replacement due next year

“Since we’ve been so profitable, we got the green light to develop our own platform,” Francesco Scardaoni, Lamborghini Asia-Pacific region director, told a group of Australian media at a preview of the final Huracan variant, the off-road-ready Sterrato.

“From one side, being part of the [VW] Group and having a platform to share is really good because you can share technology, and use technology that is validated from other brands – it’s really a good approach.

“But of course, being able to design our own platform gives us even more freedom to create the platform that best fits the Lamborghini DNA without any compromise.

“It’s more difficult, it requires larger investments – and this is why we’re able to do it now. The company is setting records, quarter over quarter, year over year in terms of financials so … we are able to invest a huge amount of money in terms of research and development and to design our own platforms,” said Mr Scardaoni.

Lamborghini reported 9233 vehicles as delivered last year – across 753 Aventador V12 supercars, 3113 Huracan V10s, and 5367 Urus V8 SUVs – and has already posted an increase of 3 per cent over the first three months of 2023, even with one model (Aventador) now out of production.

It reported profits in 2022 of €614 million ($AU986 million) – up 56 per cent on the prior year – with its profit margin per car rising to 26 per cent, up from 20 per cent in 2021 (rounded figures).

Audi has indicated it was its decision not to proceed with a new petrol-powered R8 – in favour of an electric version which could arrive towards the end of this decade – rather than that it was cut out of the project due to Lamborghini’s record profits.

While Mr Scardaoni said the Huracan replacement’s platform is currently planned to be exclusive to Lamborghini, when asked by Drive if it could be shared with another Volkswagen Group brand if it wanted it, the executive did not rule out the possibility.

“Well the plan is that this platform [is] being used by Lamborghini [exclusively],” he said.

“But of course, future planning from a big organisation like the Audi-Volkswagen Group can change. I can’t say [at this stage]. But again, as of today, this will be specific to Lamborghini.”

Due next year, the replacement for the nine-year-old Lamborghini Huracan will adopt plug-in hybrid power, as Lamborghini moves to hybrid technology across its model range by the end of 2024.

Lamborghini is remaining quiet on what engine the new model will use at the heart of its hybrid system.

However overseas reports point to a twin-turbocharged V8 – replacing the Huracan’s naturally-aspirated (non-turbo) V10 – to help meet more stringent emissions rules.

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