Lamborghini’s first plug-in hybrid super sports car demonstrator debuts at Paris
02 October 2014
Automobili Lamborghini (part of the Volkswagen Group) unveiled its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology demonstrator, the Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4, at the 2014 Paris Mondial de l’Automobile.
Conceived and developed entirely in-house by Lamborghini, Asterion’s hybrid system combines a V10 5.2-liter naturally aspirated engine with three electric motors for total power of 669 kW/910 hp, enough for acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 3.0 s and a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph), or up to 125 km/h (78 mph) under pure electric power. All-electric range is 50 km (31 miles). Fuel consumption is 4.12 l/100 km (57 mpg US) combined cycle (NEDC).
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Asterion is a technology demonstrator representing a Lamborghini model that could be realistically produced today, using technologies currently available and drawing on Lamborghini’s own expertise.
Lamborghini continues to focus on weight reduction as a means to reducing CO2, for example through the investment in carbon fiber engineering, which also contributes to our quest for the best super sports car handling and performance. To significantly reduce emissions on a car in this moment however, plug-in electrification is the best option for us, because for Lamborghini such a car must still provide a truly emotional driving experience.
In the Asterion this is guaranteed through a naturally aspirated engine that is combined with PHEV technology, which not only offers exceptionally low CO2 emissions of 98 g/km, but a practical pure electric driving range of 50 km. The Asterion LPI 910-4 is a true Lamborghini: emotional, with a stunning design, powerful, yet conceived more for comfortable luxury daily cruising than for ultimate track performance.
—Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini
Asterion is based on a monocoque made entirely of carbon fiber. The V10 5.2 liter FSI engine is located longitudinally as a mid-engine, as in Lamborghini super sports cars. The extremely fast shifting 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is located behind the engine at the rear transaxle. The housing of the lithium battery is placed longitudinally in the central tunnel area, normally reserved for the transmission. This allows for better balance of the car and also protects the battery area in case of lateral crash impact.
The Asterion’s hybrid architecture is realized with an electric motor incorporating an integrated starter motor and generator (ISG) which is placed between the V10 engine and the double clutch gearbox, and two electric motors at the front axle fed by the ISG power with a torque vectoring function.
This system allows the Asterion two different driving modes: in hybrid mode it is combining the V10 engine with the three electric motors guaranteeing a permanent four-wheel drive without being dependent on the battery’s state of charge. In pure electric drive mode only the two electric motors in the front are used.
The V10 provides a maximum power output of 449 kW (610 hp) with 560 N·m (413 lbs) of maximum torque available. Combined with the three electric motors providing a further 220 kW (300 hp), total hybrid power is achievable to the maximum of 669 kW (910 hp).
Front air intakes are characterized by an active air cooling system which uses a double layered grid for the first time in a Lamborghini: one metal and one titanium grid are embedded into each other.
A transparent engine cover in the rear is an aesthetic detail linking to the hybrid technology beneath, comprised of three hexagonal glasses that turn according to the engine driving mode: pure electric, hybrid power or pure thermal engine power.
In the name, LP stands for longitudinale posteriore, the position of the conventional engine; I stands for ibrido; 910 for the system power; and 4 for the permanent 4WD system. Asterion is the proper name of the mythical Minotaur, a hybrid figure—part man and part bull. Thus, Lamborghini sticks to its tradition of giving its models a name taken from the world of bulls, but at the same time adding an innovative element.
How can they put a ridiculous 30M = 10KWH battery only in such a marvel. That proves the whole WW group still does not get what a good PHEV needs to be. Nothing less than 30KWH battery with strong >200HP electric engine will provide a decent all electric mode accepted in our largest cities tomorrow.
They'd better keep it all ICE, rather that adding such a non-sense to it.
Posted by: Patrick Free | 02 October 2014 at 11:40 AM
@Patrick,
This car is all about power, with the 10 kWh battery pack sized to produce 220 kW, or 300 hp, of power at 22C, which is the upper limit for HEV battery power. The PHEV feature is probably an afterthought to take advantage of such a huge HEV battery. There is probably no more internal space to house any bigger battery pack than 10 kWh, so the idea of 30-kWh battery is not feasible.
Posted by: Roger Pham | 02 October 2014 at 10:11 PM
I see PF has strong opinions, in his mind he is always right.
Go tell this auto maker that you know so much more than they do.
Posted by: SJC | 03 October 2014 at 09:36 AM
SJC : I think that like the German car makers, you did not get the urgency to come out with a good/optimum set of PHEVs,...before there is no room any more for any PHEV, and they become irrelevant.
I spent sometimes on the Tesla booth at Paris Motor show last Sunday. Nothing new apparently, just std Models S, no D, not even a Model X concept reminded... But a huge Map of Europe showing their Superchargers plan till end of 2015, same as on this WEB page (http://www.teslamotors.com/fr_FR/supercharger).
Before I saw that map, Tesla was a sort of marvelous future ideal car for me... in 10 years may be, after they could increase their battery to 160KWH = 500M and they could have deployed their Superchargers network throughout the south of Europe where Europeans like my - who buy High-End German cars in the price range of today Teslas - go in the summer. And going there at least once a year is their main justification to buy so big German cars, that the rest of the year are totally over-sized. So I was waiting for a good PHEV SUV for that 10 year meantime, pesting that Tesla does not offer a Range Extender, not even allowing a 3rd party to add an optional one in the empty front trunk of future Model X, saving €75K for my next car, and pushing German car makers to make a good PHEV SUV for me ASAP, with a decent all Electric mode with 200HP of electric motor(s) power, and 30KWH battery, so I can do all my local commutes with no more than 1 x charge every 2 x days so the 3000 x cycles of the battery last more than 15 years, not impacting my future used car resale value, and right now I can save 85% of the petrol I use to consume as my local commutes are 85% of my yearly mileage.... And boom ! That maps told me that by 2016 = In less than 2 years from now, Tesla will have covered most of Northern Europe main axis, plus almost all the areas where Europeans go on vacation in the summer (France, Italy, Spain/Portugal, Croatia), including all Mediterree Sea, with the exception of Greece and Turkey for now, and the main Mountains (The Alps) for the winter.... This means Tesla will only need to do their extra +30% battery capacity increase (Say move at same price from 85KWH to # 110KWH as expected from their GigaFactory next year), so they could count me in to purchase a Model X early 2016, instead of in 10 years from now.
Now I have 2 x choices, either the Germans make a PHEV SUV for me before the end of 2015 - as I want it = 200HP x 30KWH all electric mode + ICE use they way they want, means tracting or range Extender -, or I'll just wait for a few more months with my old BMW 530DA and I will buy a Tesla Model X 110KWH early 2016, if Tesla offers one then, or a few months later.
German don't have 10 years any more to make a good PHEV, they have no more than 1 left !
Posted by: Patrick Free | 08 October 2014 at 12:41 PM