These Iconic Italian Supercars Belong To a German Parent Company
Lamborghini has been producing stunning supercars and racing vehicles for decades. For instance, many enthusiasts credit the iconic Miura as one of the first supercars of modern times. However, the raging bull car brand has an unlikely parent company, the German Volkswagen Group.
Who currently owns Lamborghini?
Volkswagen Group currently owns Lamborghini. The German car brand acquired the historic Italian manufacturer in 1998, along with luxury and performance brands Bentley and Bugatti.
Evidence of the close relationship is present in the Audi R8 and Lamborghini’s Huracán models. Volkswagen Group owns both European marques, and the high-performance vehicles share components and similar architectures. Moreover, both supercar models pack similar 5.2L V10 engines in different states of tune.
Additionally, the Lamborghini lunatic in the SUV segment, the Urus, shares architecture with the Audi RS Q8. However, like the Huracán, the Urus develops more power than its Audi counterpart, despite using the same Audi-derived V8 from the RS Q8. Specifically, the 2022 Urus produces 641 horsepower, around 50 more than the Audi model, per TrueCar.
Does Volkswagen own Lamborghini and Bugatti?
While the Volkswagen Group owned supercar marques Lamborghini and Bugatti simultaneously, the massive parent company doesn’t currently own Bugatti. Instead, Volkswagen Group handed over ownership of Bugatti to electric supercar maker, Rimac.
Rimac, a Croatian marque, specializes in electric supercars and hypercars like the Concept One and Nevera. However, Bugatti’s recent history is far from the zero-emissions vehicles of the EV automaker. For instance, the $3.3 million Bugatti Chiron produces 1,578 horsepower from its quad-turbocharged W16 engine. Moreover, the Bugatti brute manages just nine combined mpg. Still, if Rimac’s leadership is any indication of the future, Bugatti will be producing hybridized or electrified hypercars for the next generation.
Does Volkswagen own any other supercar builders?
With the turnover of Bugatti in 2021, Volkswagen Group owns three supercar producers: Lamborghini, Porsche, and Audi. While Audi produces more sensible vehicle offerings than Lamborghini and Porsche, the marque’s R8 is a midengine, all-wheel drive (AWD) supercar.
However, Lamborghini’s Huracán and outgoing Aventador are bona fide supercars, with howling, high-horsepower engines and blistering performance. Moreover, the automaker’s upcoming 2024 Lamborghini Reuelto will be an all-new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with supercar credentials.
How long has Volkswagen owned the Italian supercar builder?
Volkswagen Group acquired Lamborghini from Ford Motor Company in 1998. Along with the raging bull, the German parent company gained ownership of Bugatti and the British luxury car marque, Bentley.
