Luxury brands like Lamborghini and Bugatti will use internal combustion engines for as long as possible. Stefan Winkelmann, chairman and CEO of both brands, spoke about this in an interview with Top Gear.
Stefan Winkelmann led Lamborghini for 11 years. In 2016, he moved to Bugatti. And now, after Stefano Domenicali was invited to the post of CEO and President of Formula 1, Winkelman became the boss of two elite brands at once.
When asked what the internal combustion engine means for Bugatti, he answered the following: “This is the pinnacle of modern automotive technology. This may be the last time such an internal combustion engine can be built. But remember, the Chiron averages 1,000 miles a year. This is a small-circulation car, less than 100 per year. So we don't have a big impact on emissions worldwide. So, if possible, we should keep the internal combustion engine alive for as long as possible.”
Stefan Winkelmann also said that in the foreseeable future, Bugatti and Lamborghini should not expect the appearance of electric vehicles. It is possible that companies will be interested in such models only by the end of the decade.
In January 2020, Winkelman noted that Bugatti has no intention of ditching the W16 engine.
Today the W16 is the only Bugatti engine. It has been used since 2005 when the Veyron was launched.
Lamborghini has V8, V10 and V12 in its lineup, although the “eight” can be hardly attributed here, because this is a thoroughbred Audi engine that is installed on the Urus crossover.
The Italian company also remains a strong supporter of internal combustion engines, and atmospheric ones (again, if you do not take into account Urus). At the same time, in 2019, Lamborghini introduced its first hybrid - Sian. It uses a 6.5-liter V12 developing 785 hp. Another 34 "horses" adds an electric motor. In total, the power of the hybrid drive reaches 819 hp.
Lamborghini and Bugatti boss: We will use ICE for as long as we can
