Hybrid Lamborghini fades

The Lamborghini Asterion concept car was shown at the Paris motor show in 2014 but the chances of it reaching production have faded.

This is at least in part because of the advance of SUVs across the market, including Lamborghini’s own Urus SUV which is now expected to be launched in 2018.

The Asterion concept put together a package including the 602bhp 5.2-litre V10 from the Huracán, a lithium ion battery pack, two electric motors on the front axle and a new seven-speed dual-clutch auto box. In theory this would have together produced 898bhp, with 296 of those horses produced electrically.

That attractive power figure would also have been matched by the price, which was talked about as being around £350,000. That would have definitely been an advantage over cars like the McLaren P1 or the Porsche 918.

However, Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann is rowing back on the plans, to further focus on the Urus SUV. "Asterion was built to show what we would do if the regulations forced us to have 30 miles of electric range as well as high-speed performance,” he said. “We wanted to see customer reactions.

“They told us that they were open to innovation, including hybrid technology, but only if it came with the benefit of added performance. A Lamborghini super-sports car is driven maybe 3000 miles a year, not every day, so the electrification has to offer an added intensity to justify its inclusion.”