Lamborghini and MIT unveil Terzo Millennio
Having teased it last week, Lamborghini and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have unveiled their concept collaboration. Dubbed the Terzo Millennio, it’s an all-electric peek at how the Raging Bull of the future might look.
The design of the Terzo Millennio focuses on five core areas, starting with energy. According to the design team, the supercar of the future trades petrol for electricity, necessitating the development of a new type of supercapacitor.
Although it hasn’t fitted one to the concept pictured, Lamborghini says its wants to “develop an innovative supercapacitor able to close the gap with conventional batteries in terms of energy density, preserving an outstanding power density”.
Focus number two was innovation in materials, headlined by a health-monitoring system designed to alert the driver to any cracks or damage to the subframe after an accident. The concept also explores the idea of using composites to store electricity.
The third and fourth areas of focus are powertrains and vehicle architecture respectively. Traditionally, Lamborghinis are powered by a screaming, free-breathing V12 engine, but that isn’t sustainable. Rather than dying with internal combustion, the company is looking at how electric power can benefit it.
With power from compact motors in the wheels, designers will have more freedom to shape the body without worrying about the giant lump of metal in the middle. The shape of the Terzo Millennio has a link with current Lamborghinis, but it’s also unique in a number of ways that simply wouldn’t be possible with conventional power sources.
Lamborghini is also working to improve the energy density of its motors, for more power with less unsprung mass.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly for old-fashioned petrol heads, is sound and emotion. Lamborghini says its new powertrain needs to have a sound “able to substitute the one of today’s V12.” It doesn’t provide much in the way of answers, but the Terzio Millennio is designed to explore new ways of generating an interesting noise.
The Terzio Millennio is on show at EmTech, an annual conference designed to highlight new developments in engineering and technology. Do you like the idea of an all-electric Lamborghini? Let us know in the comments below.
MORE: Lamborghini news, reviews, comparisons and videos