Simply final yr, Italian supercar builder Lamborghini launched its first plug-in hybrid. The Reveulto’s system combines a brand new V12 gas-powered engine and three electrical motors for a formidable 1,001 horsepower and greater than 800 pound-feet of torque, claiming the title of “strongest plug-in hybrid available on the market.”
Now the model is taking its hybrid expertise to the motorsport circuit with the SC63 hypercar, an electrified race automotive that harnesses the facility of a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 and pairs it with a 50-kilowatt Bosch electrical motor. Lamborghini is not any stranger to the motorsport circuit, having fun with 15 years of success with its Huracan GT3 race automotive, however 2024 is the primary time it’s getting into the FIA World Endurance Championship and Worldwide Motor Sports activities Affiliation prototype classes.
Traditionally, founder Ferruccio Lamborghini thought racing was a waste of money and time; he believed he didn’t want motorsports to show his vehicles’ value. It’s a unique recreation immediately, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann told Car and Driver.
“The developments are altering, and there’s a technical motive too,” Winklemann mentioned. “We’re within the midst of transition from ICE to plug-in hybrid. Endurance racing provides us an opportunity to check supplies.”
Plus, he mentioned, seeing electrified methods in motorsports helps prospects accustomed to V8 and V12 engines to just accept electrified manufacturing vehicles.
A “chilly V” and eight radiators
With the completion of the 12 Hours of Sebring Race earlier this month, the Raging Bull has added a giant checkmark to its inaugural yr of prototype racing. Aerodynamically targeted and swoopy, the SC63 hints at its Lamborghini lineage nevertheless it doesn’t appear like its road-going vehicles. Per racing guidelines, the automotive needed to meet measurement necessities, however chief designer Mitja Borkert integrated the model’s distinctive Y-shaped taillights and an inlet impressed by the air consumption of the legendary Countach mannequin.
The V8 was developed particularly for racing by the Raging Bull with a “chilly V” configuration, which implies the turbos are mounted outdoors of the V form of the block versus the within of the V, an indicator of a “scorching V” setup. This association makes it simpler for mechanics to entry the turbos to service them, and it gives the extra advantage of facilitated cooling. By inserting the turbos on the surface of the engine, the automotive has a decrease mass and makes essentially the most out of its heart of gravity. Finally, that interprets to optimum stability and constant velocity on the observe each quick and long run.
Managing thermal components is essential throughout the race, and the prototype options eight totally different radiators. That features two intercoolers, which cool compressed air from the turbocharger earlier than it enters the engine, together with radiators for the gearbox, the power restoration system, power storage system, and others. All in, the automotive was constructed for the worst-case warmth eventualities (particularly in scorching, humid Florida) to be as thermally environment friendly as potential.
The drivers had a say, too. Lamborghini prototype driver Romain Grosjean has hybrid race expertise in Formulation 1 and consulted with the engineers to tune the LMDh system and the design of the steering wheel controls.
The end result: Extra work is required, nevertheless it’s wanting good
The SC63 didn’t win the race, however that wasn’t the aim for the supercar model. Finally inserting seventh, the Lamborghini race automotive completed intact, sharing information factors and expertise the model will use for future races and even manufacturing vehicles.
“The [race car] continues to be very particular as a result of it’s actually tremendous subtle,” Chief Know-how Officer Rouven Mohr instructed Automobile and Driver. “However the newer damper know-how, what we discover immediately in a high-performance automotive, you could have seen some years in the past within the race vehicles: multi-way adjustability, friction optimization. This, by the best way, is one thing that we realized additionally on the [race cars], to attenuate each friction in your suspension. That is one thing that you should use for the road automotive, even if you’re not carrying over the suspension itself.”
Grosjean says he’s pleased with the end result, particularly figuring out that the Sebring 12 Hours is without doubt one of the hardest races on the market as a result of bumpy, uneven floor of the observe. “It’s a actually constructive step that we managed to complete the race and on the lead lap in P7,” Grosjean says. “There may be nonetheless rather a lot that we have to work on, and I’m excited for the longer term.”
Mohr shares his enthusiasm and agrees the model can take its learnings from Sebring and apply them for enhancements.
“I’m delighted with the results of the #63; ending seventh and on the identical lap because the winner of the race is an unimaginable achievement,” Mohr says. “After all, there are all the time issues to do higher, and we’re conscious that we have to shut the hole to the entrance of the sphere, which continues to be fairly distant in the meanwhile.”
