Lamborghini announces new programs for reducing CO2 by 35% in 2015

There were hints last fall that Lamborghini was considering a V8 hybrid version of its Estoque concept car. Now, the exclusive Italian automaker has announced it will be developing a hybrid system for future models.

Lamborghini plans to reduce by 35 percent the CO2 emissions of its vehicles by 2015, but as a corollary it will also be reducing the CO2 emissions of its factory by 30 percent by next year.

Lamborghini will also be conduction research into a hybrid system as part of a 35 million euro investment in that plan to reduce emissions in its vehicles. It cites last year's Gallardo LP 560-4 as a case in point, where non-hybrid technology was employed to deliver a 18 percent reduction in that model's CO2 emissions.

But a hybrid system will only be part of that plan to reduce vehicle emissions by 35 percent. Lamborghini will also be working on improved engine management and combustion, reducing friction and weight, employment of stop-start technology and even the introduction of bio-fuel-ready vehicles.

"Lamborghini is committed to its policy of environmental management," says the brand's President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann in the press release. "We have an objective to reduce CO2 emissions to the greatest possible degree."