- Lamborghini’s new twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 works with both petrol and synthetic fuels.
- The EU’s 2035 emissions ruling allows combustion engines if powered by e-fuels.
- Porsche has produced synthetic fuel since 2022 using hydrogen and captured CO₂.
Lamborghini isn’t done with petrol just yet.
Despite the looming 2035 emissions ban in the EU, the Italian marque is making a bold case for synthetic fuels as the future of combustion - without the fossil guilt.
Why e-fuels excite Lambo
The recently revealed twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 under the bonnet of the new Temerario isn’t picky about what powers it. According to Chief Technical Officer Rouven Mohr, it’s happy on both petrol and synthetic fuel, delivering full performance either way. Mohr told CarExpert that synthetic fuel “could be the saviour of the combustion engine,” adding that while EVs may have had their time in the limelight, “the emotion side at the moment... I don’t see the [electric] solution that is convincing now.”
Lamborghini is far from alone in this sentiment. Mohr believes there’s a future generation yet to discover the thrill of a combustion engine. “Okay, the old combustion thing is cool,” he predicts youngsters will one day say - nostalgia, it seems, is a powerful fuel.
Carbon-neutral combustion?
The European Union’s 2035 emissions ruling doesn’t outright ban combustion engines - just the harmful stuff coming out of the tailpipe. That means carbon-neutral synthetic fuels are still on the table.
Lamborghini’s parent company Volkswagen Group has a head start here, with Porsche already producing e-fuel in Chile through a partnership with Highly Innovative Fuels (HIF). Their synthetic fuel is created using hydrogen from renewable energy and carbon dioxide captured from the air - resulting in near-zero net emissions.
It’s a high-tech brew, but don’t expect it to be cheap. Then again, Lamborghini buyers aren’t known for penny-pinching at the pump.
Not just Lambo
Beyond Lamborghini and Porsche, Bentley, Bugatti and Ferrari are all eyeing synthetic solutions.
Meanwhile, Toyota, Mazda and Subaru are dabbling in hydrogen and biofuels to preserve ICE tech in the mainstream.
Still, scaling production is the mountain e-fuels must climb. Without broad industry support (and deep pockets) it’s unlikely they’ll go mass-market.
But for high-end marques chasing performance and conscience, synthetic fuels may be just the ticket to extend the combustion engine’s lifespan.