Lamborghini announced a new 6.5 liter V12 powertrain for their next hype car which replaces the Murcielago and according to some reports is called the Aventador. The new V12 unit is not a tweaked version of the current engine, they made it from scratch with performance, lightness and moderate emissions in mind. It has an output of 525 kW (700 hp) and maximum torque of 690 Newton meters.
The Italian supercar maker is also introducing the “Lamborghini ISR (Independent Shifting Rod)” automated manual lightweight gearbox to complement this magnificent engine. It’s not a dual-clutch, but Lamborghini promises it’s better! They say it guarantees that emotional sensation from gearshifts, which customers expect from a super sports car at the very top of the premier league. It has 50 percent shorter shift time than a dual-clutch transmission.
Lamborghini is taking the weight issue very seriously, not just for the body panels, but also in technicalities. This new powertrain weighs 235 kilograms and the new transmission, that only weighs 79 kilo.
More details in the press release below:
“This new power unit is not only the crowning glory of our product range, it is also part of our enormous investment in the future of the Lamborghini brand,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “With this new V12, we are heralding a technological leap that encompasses all areas of the company and our future model lineup. With a unique package of innovations, Lamborghini will redefine the future of the super sports car. This 700 hp engine, together with an all-new concept gearbox, will be the strong heart of the Murci?lago successor next year.”Top performance, low weight
Twelve-cylinder engines are fundamental to the legendary Lamborghini brand – in the past and in the future. The very first model by Ferruccio Lamborghini, the 350 GT, first appeared on the market in 1964 with a twelve cylinder power unit that was extremely innovative for its day. Miura, Espada, Countach, Diablo and, most recently, Murci?lago are just a few of the super sports car to have been built in Sant’Agata. All of them were and will be driven by V12 engines – and all have long since taken their place in history as automotive legends.
The next milestone in this glorious history now awaits – Lamborghini’s research and development engineers started with a clean sheet of paper to create an all-new high-performance power plant. The resulting package is extremely powerful and high-revving, yet compact. At 235 kilograms, it is also extremely lightweight – with every single kilo of engine weight representing around three hp of maximum output.
High-revving joy, stunning sound
Even in the world of super sports cars, 515 kW (700 hp) at 8,250 rpm sets a new benchmark. Maximum torque stands at 690 Newton meters and is available at 5,500 rpm. The extremely well-rounded torque curve, beefy pulling power in every situation, incredibly spontaneous responsiveness and, not least, the finely modulated but always highly emotional acoustics make this engine a stunning power unit of the very highest order. Not only was it developed entirely in-house by Lamborghini, it is also manufactured from start to finish at company headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Highly qualified specialists assemble the engines by hand, with every single one then tested extensively and finely calibrated on an engine test bed.
This exceptional athlete derives its power from a whole package of innovative technologies. For optimum weight, the crankcase and the four-valve cylinder heads are made from aluminum-silicon alloy. The short-stroke layout ensures exceptional high-revving performance and very low internal friction. A lengthy process of fine tuning perfected the thermal management system for the high-performance power unit, as well as the oil circulation system with dry-sump lubrication. The intake system with four individual throttle valves is highly complex – an extremely well-rounded torque curve and outstanding pulling power across the rev range the reward. The exhaust system delivers the lowest emission levels, as well as that unmistakable, spine-tingling Lamborghini sound – from a moderate rumble when cruising through the city at low revs to the howling crescendo of gears at their limits.
Innovative transmission for maximum performance
Engineers working under the sign of the bull have come up with an ingenious mate for the new twelve-cylinder engine in the shape of the Lamborghini ISR transmission. Overall, this is a drive unit that is absolutely unique in the competitive world of super sports cars. The development target was clearly formulated – to create the world’s most emotional gearshift feel.
This innovative manual gearbox combines extremely fast shift times – almost 50 percent shorter than with a dual-clutch transmission – with the benefits of manual shifting when it comes to low weight and compact dimensions, both always crucial for a super sports car. The low shift times are enabled through the transmission’s particular design, known as ISR (Independent Shifting Rod). Instead of taking place in series, as with a conventional gearbox, shifting can occur virtually in parallel. While one shifting rod is moving out of one gear, the second shifting rod can already engage the next. Moreover, the transmission weighs only 79 kilograms – a distinct benefit, even against comparable DSG transmissions, which are considerably heavier.
