Lamborghinis are amongst the most iconic and beautiful supercars in the world today. These supercars are filled with the best technology and extremely powerful engines that delight all car enthusiasts with their unique sound. But, are Lamborghinis manual or automatic?
Lamborghinis manufactured after 2014 all have an automatic transmissions. The last Lamborghini to have a manual transmission was the Gallardo LP560-2. Lamborghini uses a semi-automatic dual-clutch seven-speed transmission in the Huracan and an eight-speed automatic in the Urus SUV.
Read on to learn which Lamborghinis are manual and automatic, how the transmission engages the gears, and the future of the supercar transmission.
What Transmission Does Lamborghini Use?
The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-2 was the last model from the Italian bull to offer a manual transmission back in 2014. All models since have had an automatic or semi-automatic dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Lamborghini claims that new customers had very little interest in a manual transmission for the Gallardo. The actual figure was less than 1% of the first orders for the manual Gallardo.
So, for the purest Lamborghini collector obtaining one of the last manual supercars from Lamborghini will be challenging. Less than 300 manuals were produced by the end of 2014 for the entire globe.
So why did Lamborghini decide to only offer an automatic transmission? Well, it’s all about demand. The demand for manual supercars has been dwindling since the launch of the semi-automatic F1 transmission in the Ferrari 355 F1 in 1998.
The new space age paddle shift transmission offered increased performance and lowered fuel consumption. With the automatic transmissions offering better performance, customers were instantly drawn to the latest tech, leaving only the purists wanting the manual stick shift.
Is Lamborghini’s Automatic Transmission Better Than The Manual?
All new supercars are loaded with the latest and greatest new technology. To have all the new tech work in harmony with each other to give the optimal performance of the car, there cannot be any loose ends.
Lamborghini and many other manufacturers rely on the car’s computer to make all the decisions to prevent these loose ends.
The Lamborghini Huracan has three drive control settings: Strada, Sport, and Corsa. Each drive setting will make specific changes to the car, such as throttle sensitivity, steering, shock absorbers, and braking.
These systems must work together and keep the car balanced, but if the driver is not using the transmission correctly, it can be disastrous.
By implementing a semi-automatic transmission, the car’s computer can adjust the gearing ratios, shift times, and torque.
Now the car controls all the mechanical features that will make the most novice driver feel like an F1 driver. When the car is in control, it not only offers the best performance but also offers a greater safety net when things go wrong.
If all the advances in car performance technology are going to be used, it makes total sense to have the correct transmission for the intended purpose.
The manual transmission is outdated but still offers a “real feel” of being in control, but they are not superior to the new transmissions on offer.
Are All Lamborghini Automatic Transmissions The Same?
Lamborghini understands that many different types of drivers will be driving their cars, and they want to keep them all thrilled.
So, Lamborghini has a variety of ways to keep the different driving styles entertained. The best example of this is between the Lamborghini Huracan and Aventador.
The Huracan and Aventador look alike and have similar power plants with similar power outputs. Both supercars are naturally aspirated, with the Huracan using a V10 and the Aventador a V12 engine. The big difference is in their automatic transmission.
Many call the Huracan “the easiest Lamborghini to drive on the road” due to its dual-clutch transmission. The dual-clutch transmission engages the next gear before the shift is selected, resulting in a super smooth engagement through all seven gears.
This model was aimed at the younger Lamborghini market segment and Grand Tourer, combing luxury, drivability, and performance in an accessible package.
The Lamborghini Aventador was a different raging bull aimed at the purest who wanted to feel the power through each gear shift, similar to a manual box. This transmission was based on their dual-clutch transmission but with only a single clutch.
It works by engaging the next gear before it is selected, just like the dual-clutch, but the smoothness is replaced with a brut power thump from the ISR (independent shift rods). This lets you feel the power being shifted through the transmission while keeping the shifts quick and efficient.
So, Lamborghini can change how the automatic transmission performs in the car and how it impacts the driver. This would have been totally unheard of 20 years ago when the manual transmission was king, but the automatic transmission is now under threat!
What The Future Holds For The Automatic Lamborghini
Lamborghini first offered an automatic transmission in the Espada in 1970, but a lot has changed since this old three-speed auto box was introduced.
The duel-clutch semi-automatic transmission is amongst the best available at the moment from Lamborghini. But with the advancement of the electric vehicles and hybrid systems that are finding their way into all new supercars may eventually end the reign of the auto-box.
EVs and hybrid cars make use of an automatic transmission but with only one-speed gearing. There is no need to shift gears in an electric vehicle as it works with high torque figures ruling out the need to have set gear ratios.
All manufacturers aim to lower their carbon footprint in the near future and eventually make all-electric cars.
Lamborghini announced that they will be launching their first fully electric supercar before 2030; here is their timeline for this achievement:
- Phase 1: 2021-2022 – Continue with internal combustion engine development
- Phase 2: 2023-2024 – Hybrid transition with first hybrid models launched in 2023. Lamborghini is to have a complete model range in hybrid form by the end of 2024.
- Additional Target: 2025 – cut company CO2 emissions by half.
- Phase 3: 2025-2030 – Produce and launch the first fully-electric model
Conclusion
Lamborghini stopped offering manual transmissions in their supercars after the launch of the Gallardo in 2014. Lamborghini first offered an automatic transmission in 1970 with the Espada.
They have refined their automatic transmission into the dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission used in their cars to date.
