It's now 2025, and the collective public seems to have come to terms with the fact that all the platform sharing amongst VW-owned automakers isn't such a bad thing after all. The Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q8, Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga, and Lamborghini Urus all sit on the same underpinnings and use altered variants of similar powertrains. These models remain some of the auto group's best-sellers to this day.
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Platform sharing has been an effective strategy for Volkswagen Auto Group brands for many years, and the tactics have also been used in EV development. Porsche's all-electric Taycan super sedan shares its structure with Audi's more humble E-Tron GT, but thanks to its impressive performance, it has proven itself not only an excellent EV but also worthy of the esteemed Porsche moniker.
Lamborghini could use the Taycan's platform in hopes of a Urus-like impact
Lamborghini recently announced that they've decided to delay the potential release of their first fully electric vehicle to 2029, but today's global EV demand is large enough that major automotive marques all have an appetite for a piece of the market share pie.
An exciting, Taycan-based electric super sedan could be an effective short-term answer for Lamborghini, and it could don the nomenclature of Lamborghini's long-lost 2008 four-door saloon concept, the Estoque.
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While potential sales figures may not exactly mirror the success Lamborghini found with the Urus, integrating an EV into the brand's lineage as soon as possible will give Lamborghini the necessary pedigree for consumers to trust and want their electric product should the market eventually shift in favor of total battery power.
Sharing a platform with the Taycan also mitigates Lamborghini's risk in case the market doesn't shift towards EVs, leaving their engineers to tinker freely with screaming V12s for everlasting eternity. Thanks to the inherently reduced development costs associated with platform sharing, Lamborghini wouldn't be funneling such big money into a risky project to satisfy roughly 18% of the global market, compared to developing their own model from scratch.
A focus on an engaging, exciting, and entertaining driving experience could set Lamborghini's electric supersedan apart
Lamborghini's all-electric Estoque should share its platform with its understated German cousins, but it will need its own Italian flair to earn its place within the almighty bullpen. Without a screaming V12 or wailing V10, the Estoque EV will need to be taught its own clever tricks to win over buyers.
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Taking inspiration from the extremely lively Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the Lamborghini Estoque EV would benefit from simulated gear shifting and integrated engine sounds.
The Ioniq 5 N has won over enthusiasts with its ability to closely mimic the spirited experience of a traditional petrol hot hatch by including paddle shifters that mimic the complications of a dual-clutch gearbox and adjustable engine noises that give the experience as much combustion-powered emotion as possible.
Lamborghini could take this a step further with the Estoque EV. Imagine being able to switch from a Huracan V10 engine noise and lightning-quick dual-clutch gear shifts to a Murcielago V12 symphony and violent sequential E-Gear whomps with nothing more than the push of a button - all while comfortably seating four occupants and transporting a family's worth of baggage.
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A "Cross Turismo" variant could expand the Estoque EV's overall market appeal
Porsche's Taycan Cross Turismo is one of the most unique and intriguing electric vehicles on the market today. Combining the elements of a rugged adventure estate with the Taycan's sport sedan origins, the Cross Turismo is the perfect option for EV buyers who prefer the "whatever life throws at it" approach to car design. A Cross Turismo variant of the Lamborghini Estoque EV could do the same, all while drawing off the rugged appeal of the Urus and Huracan Sterrato.
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The addition of a Cross Turismo variant also allows Lamborghini to capitalize on the general demand for crossovers and SUVs without adding too many extra development costs, thanks to the existence of Porsche's version. It's also just an incredibly interesting design exercise because hexagonal protective fenders, roof rails, and a long wagon roof look objectively fantastic on a Lamborghini.
An electric Lamborghini doesn't have to be sacrilegiously boring
The Ioniq 5 N proved that fully electric cars don't have to be one-trick ponies that depend only on rapid acceleration and obscene power figures to attract buyers. Despite how you (or I) may feel about the principles of enjoying a car with imitation shifting and pre-recorded exhaust noises, there's no doubt that if any of us car enthusiasts had to drive an EV, we'd at least want those features available to us.
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An all-electric Estoque super sedan could distill the exciting ethos of the Lamborghini brand and incorporate it all into one easily usable, well-built package. It would be like a sports sedan you could use every day, but you could drive it like you were operating an incredibly realistic racing simulator with a virtual garage full of your favorite Lamborghinis ready to drive at a moment's notice.
Final thoughts
Instead of dealing with the harsh realities of Lamborghini supercar ownership, such as their inherent impracticality, abysmal fuel economy, and jaw-dropping maintenance costs, you could enjoy a mimicked but still viscerally realistic experience for much less money and still comfortably drive it daily.
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Do you think an electric Lamborghini is a juvenile exercise in futility, or do you think it's worth it for Lamborghini to hop on the bandwagon and chase down those EV sales ASAP?
Would you want to simulate the engine noises of a screaming Aventador SVJ's V12 in your Estoque sedan, or would you prefer the angry rumble of the LM002's hefty V8 in an Estoque Cross Turismo? Let us know in the comments – we love to hear your thoughts!
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This story was originally published January 3, 2025 at 10:30 PM