While EVs may grab headlines with their acceleration performance, the latest gas/electric hybrid supercars throw down the gauntlet with some track-burning speed and excitement. The early tests of the Ferrari 296 GTB and Lamborghini Revuelto show that, with a little help from electrons, cars with roaring engines can still melt the asphalt … and blow their drivers’ minds. Though far apart from each other in price, the Ferrari and Lambo make the same emphatic point about the still-thrilling potential available from cars with pistons and pipes.
The Corvette is going electric! This fall, customers start taking delivery of the quickest Corvette ever, the E-Ray hybrid. Combining combustion and electric power, the E-Ray is designed to deliver the ultimate street Corvette experience. Just as the 2020 mid-engine Sting Ray realized a Corvette layout first promised more than 50 years ago, the E-Ray’s all-wheel drive delivers on legendary Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov’s vision and experiments with all-wheel grip for the Vette even before that. The E-Ray is available in coupe and convertible models, starting around $105,000. A full electro-Vette is in the pipeline, too.
Is there a hotter rivalry in the premium car arena than Ferrari v Lamborghini? Buckle up, it’s only going to get hotter as this decade unfolds. Hot on the trail of its Purosangue, Ferrari unveiled the new Roma Spider. This stunning soft-top will replace the Portofino M in the line. Meanwhile, Lamborghini has unveiled the chassis and powertrain for its upcoming 1,000-horsepower hyper hybrid and confirmed plans for two more hybrids and then two battery EVs. Never a dull moment with these two Italian supercar superpowers.
LaFerrari was Ferrari’s first hybrid, and sold for $1.4 million in 2013. Today, these beautiful cars sells for $3 million at auctions. And it’s not “Ferrari LaFerrari,” just LaFerrari.
At the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, Lamborghini unveiled a new hybrid supercar called Sian, to be built in a run of just 63 cars with total output of 819 horsepower. However, Lamborghini made sure not to “destroy the DNA of a car and brand” when making it electric. It’s still a Lamborghini.
Most car enthusiasts see through the veil of the “concept car” label put on what they know to be lightly disguised pre-production models. It’s always appreciated when the intro comes with a dose of honesty, as the Mercedes-AMG GT Concept did when revealed at the Geneva Auto Show this past March.
