Champions Of Combustion

12 months ago there seemingly was not a week that went by without a current or brand new car manufacturer announcing a new all-electric vehicle. But fast forward to today and there is a great amount of uncertainty amongst the electric car market. Demand has certainly not kept up with forecasted expectations and as of next month the limited incentives to make the switch are even less thanks to changes in road taxation.

Whilst many automotive manufacturers are surging on with replacing the models in their line ups with EV versions as soon as they can, many have been forced to rethink their initial plans. With almost 95% of vehicles we funded last year having just a combustion engine or being hybrid powered, our customers are certainly reluctant to embrace electric vehicles.

With that in mind we thought we’d take a look at the manufacturers who are making a U-turn and for some not just embracing the combustion engine, but evolving and developing it for as long as they possibly can.

Ferrari

Although there have been rumours of an all-electric Ferrari EV being launched later on this year, something all but confirmed by their CEO, Ferrari are not giving up with combustion engines any time soon. In fact, not only are they sticking with the format, but they are also developing it even further. Reports this week that Ferrari have submitted a patent for a brand-new type of V12 combustion engine with oval shaped pistons. The reasoning is for compactness and packaging within the engine bay, but it shows that Ferrari are sticking with the combustion engine for some years yet.

They may now offer multiple hybrid assisted powerplants in the SF90, 296 and the forthcoming F80 hypercar, but their Roma, Purosangue and 12Cilindri are purely V8 or V12 driven without any hint of electrical assistance. With Lamborghini now offering a hybrid Urus it may only be a matter of time before the Purosangue offers a hybrid powertrain likely mated to a V8. But even talk about that seems to have died down quite considerably.

But tradition and heritage mean a lot for the brand from Maranello and their legendary V12 is sure to be around as long as they can get a way with it. The 12Cilindri was rumoured to have been so called as it was a tribute to the last of the line for the iconic flagship super-GT car in the range, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see that it is nothing of the sort. A howling V8 or V12 is pure Ferrari passion and excitement, it doesn’t translate well to EV silence after all.

Aston Martin

Aston Martin are certainly on a roll with their current line up, offering some of the best cars the brand has ever made. The updated DBX 707 is looking better than ever and now has an interior to match, the all new Vantage has grown into a serious 911 Turbo S and Ferrari Roma alternative, the Vanquish has taken super-GT capability to a whole new level and the DB12 is arguably the most complete car they have ever made. Then there is the physics defying Valkyrie and the soon to be hypercar rivalling Valhalla to stir things up even more. The accounts department might be struggling a bit but on the road, and on the race track, they are certainly looking promising.

Strangely for a business that have released so many models over the past few years, there has been very little talk about any plans for a fully electric vehicle. The Valkyrie and Valhalla, as is the way these days, are equipped with very powerful hybrid powertrains however the talk of a luxurious or sporty EV from the iconic British brand have largely gone under the radar. There had been rumours that an EV is ‘likely to arrive this decade’ but nothing more has been discussed thus far.

What it does mean however is that we get to enjoy some of the finest engines and soundtracks for quite some time yet. Whether this is the roaring bi-turbo V8 in the DBX, DB12 or Vantage, or the twin-turbocharged V12 in the new Vanquish, Aston Martin certainly know how to turn an engine or exhaust note into a powerful symphony. With so many manufacturers firmly surging ahead with their full electric plans or introducing quieter hybrid versions, the appeal of an Aston Martin is greater than ever.

Porsche

Porsche are often pioneers when it comes to introducing electric vehicles. Their Taycan was one of the first and remains one of the very best performing EV saloons that money can buy. Their best-selling Macan has already made the switch to full EV powertrains and the plan is for the upcoming Boxster and Cayman sports cars to follow suit sometime this year. Not only that but their hybrid powertrains are some of the best around, with the Panamera, Cayenne and even 911 embracing the technology for the better.

As with manufacturers however, there are rumours that Porsche may be having a bit of a rethink when it comes to a few of their upcoming EV plans. There are rumours that Porsche bosses have said that they have started to look at developing a combustion engine alternative for the all-new Macan. Not only that but that the Boxster and Cayman replacements might not be full EV’s at all, despite the announcement of the new model being imminent.

What’s more, Porsche have continued to develop and refine the combustion engine and have recently patented a revolutionary 6-stroke engine. Designed to ensure a petrol engine is not only more efficient but burns cleaner too, it could be the combustion engine’s savour. This, on top of their continued sizeable investment into e-fuels, shows that Porsche are not done with the combustion engine just yet. Much to the celebration of die-hard 911 fans and those dreading what the future could look like for the legendary sports car.

Bugatti

You would have thought that if any brand was primed to take advantage of an all-electric powertrain it would be Bugatti. Since their takeover/merger with electric hypercar pioneers Rimac, and with genius founder Mate Rimac becoming CEO of the company, surely an all-conquering electric Bugatti was soon to arrive. But that hasn’t been the case just yet.

Bugatti have never done things by halves. As well as being stunning to look at and the upmost of luxury and refinement, they have come with power in abundance. None more so than their most recent models. The Veyron pushed the boundaries of what was possible with a car and the Chiron took that even further. Now they have the Tourbillon, a 1,775hp 8.3-litre naturally aspirated V16 masterpiece of engineering that offers unrivalled attention to detail and watchmaking levels of craftsmanship.

Their latest creation may have 3 electric motors for a hybrid set up but again, hardly any talk of a fully electric Bugatti has been mentioned. Despite the obvious advantage of having the Rimac knowledge and technology at their disposal, the brand has stated that any EV would not appear until after 2030. Even then, with the Bugatti line up only offering a single model at a time since its modern reinvention, it would be a huge gamble for the brand to switch to EV power only even at that point.

Mercedes Benz

Mercedes, like Porsche, had committed relatively early to their EV offerings and their range was one of the most extensive from any manufacturer. As well as offering multiple saloons and SUV’s the Mercedes technology on offer is some of the most impressive available. However, their expansive early adoption in order to attempt to persuade customers to buy their EV products has not been as successful as perhaps they hoped. A fact that many large manufacturers have also found.

The lack of demand has meant that Mercedes Benz have cancelled whole electric-only platforms that were in development, as they switch their focus towards combustion and hybrid powerplants. Not only that but only recently they said that their slimming down of their AMG engines from 8-cylinders, to 6-cylinders and in some cases just 4-cylinders, which has not gone down well with their loyal fanbase, will be reversed. In fact it is only a matter of time until the V8 returns to create echoes of the legendary AMG soundtrack of recent decades.

It seems that the performance of their flagship AMG products isn’t as important as the sound it makes to their customers. Whereas BMW could rely on the chassis and handling of the M3/M4/M5 products to allow for smaller engine capacities to be the norm, it seems very few are interested in an AMG Mercedes unless it has a V8 under the bonnet. Their plans for 50% of their sales to be fully electric to be achieved by this year has been pushed back to 2030, and even that seems ambitious at the moment.

Lamborghini

Lamborghini’s ownership by Audi means like Bugatti they have access to some of the most up to date and best performing EV technology around. With Audi and Porsche producing some of the finest EV models money can buy they could easily pave the way with an EV only Urus or 1,000hp supercar if they wanted to. But like many others, the uncertainty in the market means they are keeping their cards close to their chest.

Much like an AMG Mercedes is synonymous with that roaring V8 soundtrack, a Lamborghini is supposed to be loud, brash and over the top. A Lamborghini of recent years usually came with a V10 or a V12, until the Urus, and was a symphony of engine and exhaust noise. Much like Porsche utilised hybrid power to make the 911 quicker and more powerful, the most recent Lamborghini products are doing very much the same. The Revuelto’s hybrid assisted 6.5-litre V12 produces just over 1,000hp, the Temerario’s 4.0-litre V8 now produces over 900hp and the Urus hybrid a relatively conservative sounding 800hp.

What it proves is that Lamborghini are in no rush to offer a fully electric vehicle and indeed why should they. Their hybrid supercars and super-SUV are some of the best around and offer the renowned Lamborghini lunacy in a more efficient yet more powerful and faster package. If their hand isn’t currently being forced they are obviously content with continuing with what you expect from the brand. With their usual reputation for non-conformity to what others are doing, you wouldn’t bet against them sticking to combustion power for quite some time yet.

McLaren

McLaren have been using hybrid power in their flagship supercars for even longer than most brands. The P1 concept was shown way back in 2012 and pushed the limits of what was possible when a combustion engine is assisted by electric power. Since then the winning formula has been used in the Speedtail and is currently found in the Artura, with the recently announced flagship hypercar the W1 also featuring the technology.

McLaren have both a Formula-E and Extreme E fully electric racing team, so they know a thing or two about battery powered performance. Yet the manufacturer has been reluctant to mention anything about an all-electric supercar being in the pipeline. 12 months ago there was talk of an electric supercar being planned past 2030 but since then not a whisper.

Whether they are playing the waiting game like Lamborghini and sticking with what they know best until their hand is forced remains to be seen. But with the engineering abilities of their hybrid and pure combustion engine cars going from strength to strength, there is little reason for the current Formula 1 constructor’s champions to make the move too soon.

Bentley

As part of the same VW/Audi Group as Lamborghini, Bentley also have access to an abundance of both fully electric and hybrid powerplants. Though their hybrid offering has already found its way into the Bentayga and Flying Spur, it is only very recently appeared in the all-new Continental GT, by far the brand’s most successful model in terms of sales.

Though they may not be quite on the same standing as Rolls Royce in terms of prestige and opulence, they are still easily placed as ‘the next best thing’ in most people’s minds. With the famous Spirit of Ecstasy brand offering the all-electric Spectre and no doubt a Cullinan to follow for the ‘ultimate in silent luxury’, you would think that Bentley would be keen to offer the same experience for the well-heeled customers. Nothing as yet though.

If some of the other brands are offering confusing messages about their future plans, Bentley are certainly doing much of the same. There have been many recent rumours that their first fully-electric vehicle will be a smaller sibling to the Bentayga and is set to launch next year for production in 2027. Yet at the same time they are investing a lot in further developing their V8 powerplants to continue as long as possible. Their fully electric line up plans are not currently scheduled until 2035, despite 2030 being the current date the combustion engine ban takes force. A bold move indeed.

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