Lamborghini has taken the wraps off the futuristic
Terzo Millennio concept. Created in partnership with the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, the Terzo Millennio concept is a supercar which has
been designed for the third millennium. As a result, the car has an advanced
electric powertrain, an ultra lightweight structure, and an extremely
aerodynamic exterior.
Speaking of the powertrain, the concept has four
electric motors which are powered by supercapacitors and energy storage devices
which are built into the concept's body panels. In order to achieve this,
Lamborghini envisions the car would use carbon fiber nanotubes and ultra thin
batteries that can be formed into various shapes and sandwiched in between two
panels.
Lamborghini didn't go into specifics but said the
setup promises to provide fast recharging times which are aided by an advanced
kinetic energy regeneration system.
Given the combination of carbon fiber and high-tech
batteries, it seems certain that some of the panels would eventually form
cracks and potentially break. To prevent this, Lamborghini and MIT are working
towards developing carbon fiber that can effectively heal itself. As the
company explained, the car would continually monitor itself and look for any
signs of damage. If a crack is detected, "micro-channels filled with
healing chemistries" would release to fix the faulty panel or component.
The technology is definitely futuristic and
shouldn't expect to see it on a Lamborghini anytime soon. However,
Lamborghini's research and development boss noted the technology is a work in
progress and some components are closer to becoming a reality than others.
