Lamborghini looks to Hyundai for electric car inspiration: Video
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The Italian exotic car maker was spotted testing an Ioniq 5 at its headquarters in Italy alongside other models from key rivals like Ferrari and McLaren.
As Lamborghini looks to launch its first electric car dubbed the Lanzador by 2029, the Italian luxury car maker is turning to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N as a potential benchmark.
A Youtuber named Varryx captured footage of the blue Hyundai electric car being driven out of Lamborghini's headquarters in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy alongside other models from rival brands like Ferrari and McLaren.
The video was uploaded to YouTube on 20 December 2024 and showcases a range of other Lamborghini models like the Urus, Huracan, and Revuelto, with some examples wrapped in camouflage, and others in pre-delivery plastic straight off the production line.
It’s unclear why Lamborghini is testing the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or what information it is collating, but benchmarking models in development with established cars from other car makers is common practice in the automotive industry.
As a reference, the 2024 Ioniq 5 N is powered by dual electric motors that are capable of a 448kW/390Nm power output, with Hyundai claiming it can reach 0 to 100km/h in under four seconds.
Australian pricing on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N kicks off from $110,383 before on-road costs, making it the South Korean car maker’s most expensive model ever sold locally.
The upcoming electric Lanzador was originally showcased as a concept in 2023, with Lamborghini previously slating it in for a 2028 launch. However, a key figure within the Italian marque said the battery-powered car will be delayed until 2029 amid market concerns.
"We do not think 2029 is late to have an electric car," Stephan Winkelmann, the CEO of Lamborghini, told local media in December 2024.
"We do not think that, in our segment, the market will be ready in 2025 or 2026," he added.
While Lamborghini is yet to officially announce the full details of the incoming Lanzador, the Italian brand previously shared a teaser of what’s to come which includes a 2+2 seat configuration, two electric motors (one for each axle), and an all-wheel drive specification.
The battery-powered Lanzador is part of Lamborghini's electrification strategy dubbed the 'Direzioni Cor Tauri', which sees the luxury marque shift to hybrid powertrains – as opposed to iconic petrol engines in the past – in the form of the Revuelto, Urus SE and the upcoming Temerario.
For context, Australian pricing on the Revuelto plug-in hybrid starts from $987,908 plus on-road costs, while the URUS SE is poised to start from $457,384 before on-road fees, and the upcoming Temerario V6 hybrid is tipped to start from $614,000 plus on-road costs.
Despite the recently introduced New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) in Australia—which penalises car makers for exceeding specific CO2 emission targets—Francesco Scardaoini, Lamborghini's Asia Pacific Director, previously said the brand's decision to transition to hybrids came from a change in customer behaviour.
"The [electrification] strategy was designed to have hybrid cars not as a bridge but as a clear strategy for our powertrain. This was a winning strategy because customer feedback is that they want to drive [an] internal combustion engine car [that's] greener," Scardaoni previously told Drive.
Still, Australia’s NVES is a cause of concern to Lamborghini, with Scardaoni previously stating the brand is "working with the [Australian] government to understand what will be the potential development of this [emissions] compliance."
The post Lamborghini looks to Hyundai for electric car inspiration: Video appeared first on Drive.
