670 horsepower and a top speed of 211 mph. Those figures may mean a lot to many people but there are few places in the world where you would be able to enjoy a combination of both – and it seems like Lamborghini finally understands that. According to AutoWeek, the company will move away from focusing on horsepower ratings and will concentrate more on using lighter materials to reduce a vehicle’s overall weight.

“It has come to the point where acceleration equals consumption,” said Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Lamborghini. “More consumption means increased CO2 emissions.”

Winkelmann said that taking into consideration future government regulations that could restrict engine performance, Lamborghini will concentrate on taking extra weight out of its vehicle to increase acceleration.

Maurizio Reggiani, chief of Lamborghini’s R&D department, says that once a vehicle reaches 211 mph, there is a declining rate of return for each additional horsepower needed to push the car to go faster. He also said that there are few places in the world where a driver can go that fast, so Lamborghini will now focus on acceleration instead of top speed.

“The weight-to-power ratio will be the key factor,” Reggiani said. “We will use composite materials in the right place, when it also has the right cost, stiffness and mechanical characteristics.”

- By: Stephen Calogera