Bullish on an electrified future: Lamborghini announces “Direzione Cor Tauri” electrification roadmap

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, presented early this week “Direzione Cor Tauri” (Towards Cor Tauri), a roadmap to the carbon-neutral future of Lamborghini models and of its Sant’Agata Bolognese site in line with its environmental sustainability strategy. Allaying fears of the softening of the marque’s trademark world-beating performance in the product electrification process, Lamborghini will focus on tapping technologies and solutions that guarantee superlative performance and driving dynamics in keeping with the brand’s tradition. 

Aptly named after the charging bull logo chosen by company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, Cor Tauri is the brightest star in the Taurus constellation, and represents Lamborghini’s move towards a future that is electrified but faithful to the heart and soul of the ‘bull’ brand.

Winkelmann commented: “Lamborghini’s electrification plan is a newly plotted course, necessary in the context of a radically changing world, where we want to make our contribution by continuing to reduce environmental impact through concrete projects. Our response is a plan with a 360-degree approach, encompassing our products and our Sant’Agata Bolognese location, taking us towards a more sustainable future while always remaining faithful to our DNA. Lamborghini has always been synonymous with preeminent technological expertise in building engines boasting extraordinary performance: this commitment will continue as an absolute priority of our innovation trajectory. Today’s promise, supported by the largest investment plan in the brand’s history, reinforces our deep dedication to not only our customers, but also to our fans, our people and their families, as well as to the territory where the company was born in Emilia-Romagna and to Made in Italy excellence.” 

Cor Tauri will comprise 3 phases:

1. Celebrating the combustion engine (2021-2022) by presenting models paying tribute to the company’s recent period of continuous success. In the wake of steady sales growth and a 7-fold increase in turnover over the last 15 years, Lamborghini has established itself as a center of excellence in the production of the best super sports cars. Unique design, technological innovation at the highest levels backed by huge investments in research and development, and the highest quality and craftsmanship are the basis for a pyramid of products: from the Urus Super SUV, the cornerstone of today’s success, rising to the pinnacle of technology and design masterpieces with the limited series. The most recently unveiled, the Sián, kicked off the electrification journey: the first Lamborghini featuring hybrid technology. This phase will be characterized by the development of combustion engines for versions that pay homage to the brand’s glorious history and iconic products past and present, but always under the impetus of the visionary spirit that distinguishes Lamborghini. Two new cars in the V12 model line-up will be announced in 2021. 

2. Hybrid transition (by the end of 2024): in 2023 Lamborghini will launch its first hybrid series production car and, by the end of 2024, the entire range will be electrified. Performance and the authentic Lamborghini driving experience will remain the focus of the company’s engineers and technicians in developing new technologies, and the application of lightweight carbon fiber materials will be crucial in compensating for weight due to electrification.  The company’s internal target for this phase is to reduce product CO₂ emissions by 50% by the beginning of 2025. 

Leading the hybrid transition will be an unprecedented investment: more than 1.5 billion euros allocated over four years, the largest in Lamborghini’s history. It is a tangible sign of the company’s strong sense of responsibility towards the need for a concrete response, through significant innovations, to the period of profound transformation that is affecting the whole automotive industry.

3. First fully-electric Lamborghini (second half of the decade): acceleration in the second part of the decade will be dedicated to full-electric vehicles, with the vision of a fourth model in the future. Once again, technological innovation in this phase will be oriented towards ensuring remarkable performance, and positioning the new product at the top of its segment. This is how Lamborghini sees the culmination of this part of its journey: Cor Tauri, the brightest star in the constellation to which the company’s roadmap points, is represented by a fourth fully electric model. 

Lamborghini’s program towards 2030 starts from a holistic vision of the company’s sustainability strategy: a 360° approach that spans product to the Sant’Agata Bolognese site, from the production lines to the offices. The 160,000 square-meter area achieved CO₂ neutral certification in 2015, which was maintained even after the production site was doubled in size in recent years. In addition to reducing CO₂ emissions, environmental protection, sustainability in the supply chain, attention to employees and corporate social responsibility are integral parts of this strategy. 

The heart and compass of the Cor Tauri transformation plan is the brand’s DNA, and its innate ability to turn challenges into opportunities through continuous technological innovations, leading to improved performance and driving emotions but within the constraints imposed by the increasingly stringent CO₂ regulations. 

In just a few years, a new Lamborghini will be a far cry from the iconic Countach in terms of sustainability and carbon neutrality—but it will still be unapologetically faithful to its charging bull DNA.