Electrification is the way of the future, even for supercars. Just look at the new
and Temerario as perfect examples of developing ultra-high-performance vehicles with emissions in mind. Both of them retain sonorous combustion engines – a V-12 and V-8, respectively. Plus, they have axial flux electric motors to provide plenty of power in a compact footprint.
These electric motors can run at 10,000 rpm to produce 148 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque out of a unit that weighs just 38 pounds. These items help the Revuelto produce a total of 1,001 horsepower, and the Temerario packs a hearty 920 horsepower.
However, these motors aren’t in-house products from
or even its parent company, Volkswagen Group. Instead, they come from YASA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz AG. So far, no Mercedes or AMG production models use these units, but future products might get them.
YASA Motors In The Lamborghini Temerario
The latest version of YASA’s axial flux electric motors
. The supercar packs three of these units. Two of them power the front e-axle. The third integrates into the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine’s housing to power the rear wheels. This setup allows the Temerario to hit 62 miles per hour in 2.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 211 mph.
YASA developed the new motors at its research and development facility near Oxford, UK. The company will also handle the production of these units for Lamborghini.
“Partnering with YASA allows us to push the technical and engineering boundaries of what’s possible, delivering unparalleled performance and driving experiences for our customers,” said Davide Bizzarri, Head of Vehicle Motion at Automobili Lamborghini, in an announcement about partnering with YASA.
What Makes An Axial Flux Electric Motor Special
YASA touts its motors as having smaller physical dimensions, lower weight, and improved power/torque densities over existing radial flux units. They also feature shorter windings and direct oil cooling to control the operating temperature even during hard driving. The increased power and reduced size make these units suited for high-performance applications.
More Models With YASA Motors
Lamborghini isn’t YASA’s only client. The company also supplied the axial flux motors for the
and
. The
used them, too. The company also found buyers in the motorcycle, aircraft, and boat industries.
TopSpeed’s Take
Learning that Lamborghini’s latest supercars use Mercedes-owned technology is a neat surprise. These companies sometimes have high-performance products competing directly against each other, but the German brand apparently doesn’t mind supplying these cutting-edge parts.
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