Fuel-saving technologies to improve efficiency by up to 20-percent

 

Electric car manufacturer Tesla aside, Porsche has been leading the premium sports car sector with fuel-efficient technologies such as ignition stop-start (idle-stop) and even gasoline-electric hybrid integration, so it makes sense that Lamborghini, familial to Porsche through its Audi-VW parentage, is about to reduce its overall carbon footprint by adapting some of the same green technologies.

 

The first step to improve its corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) rating was to purchase motorcycle manufacturer Ducati earlier this year, but now reports are surfacing that Lamborghini’s top-tier Aventador supercar will include a Cylinder Deactivation System (CDS) for 2013. Applied to the Aventador’s 6.5-litre V12, the revised engine will be able to run on only six cylinders when the throttle is only moderately engaged.

 

When at idle, however, the normally sonorous V12 will be completely silent if the new stop-start system is engaged. That system employs a capacitor instead of a battery, which is 3.2 kilos (7 lbs) lighter and can charge up faster, plus restart the engine in only 180 milliseconds, 70 milliseconds quicker than an average stop-start system; in comparison Ferrari’s system takes 230 milliseconds.

 

Lamborghini claims the combination of stop-start technology and cylinder deactivation will improve the Aventador’s fuel-efficiency by 20-percent, which is a significant amount considering the car’s current EnerGuide rating is 21 L/100km in the city and 14.0 L/100km on the highway.

 

While reducing its carbon footprint through mechanical updates, the 2013 Aventador will add more carbon fibre trim and a new carbon fibre rear deck lid, while a revised gauge package featuring larger numbers on its dials.

 

When will it arrive? Expect the updated Aventador to make its debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show in September and Lamborghini dealerships soon after.

 

Story credits: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press Inc.

 

Photo credits: Lamborghini

 

Copyright: Canadian Auto Press Inc.