What's the news?
Lamborghini has stated that it will reveal its new Urus SUV at its Sant'Agata Bolognese plant on December 4th of this year. A slightly intense video (which includes a scarily twitchy-looking Countach) hints at the new model's design, along with the fact that Lamborghini is hell-bent on classing it as a 'Super Sport Utility Vehicle'.
We know that the Urus range will contain Lamborghini's first plug-in hybrid, as well as a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 option with a gargantuan 600hp and 800Nm of torque. It's set to share a platform with the Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga, and so will feature the same 48V-powered active anti-roll suspension.
It's a world away from the company's original SUV, the LM002, and CEO Stefano Domenicali reckons that the Urus will account for over half of Lambo global sales by 2019. Hardcore fans of the brand are understandably more than a little miffed, but may be placated by the performance of the thing. Images and videos of a test mule taken at the Nürburgring earlier this year suggest that it will be almost unbelievably rapid, with grip to spare.
It's set to cost around the same as the firm's Huracan supercar, with sales due to begin in 2018. No naturally-aspirated version will be offered, as R&D chief Maurizio Reggiani reckons that a turbocharged engine is a prerequisite for an SUV due to the massive amount of torque required. Don't despair, as he still believes that naturally-aspirated engines (and big ones at that) are the best choice for supercars, thanks to their character and responsive nature.
Reggiani also hinted at future R&D efforts centred on power, weight and aerodynamic improvements, without revealing exactly what they might be. Whatever the future holds for Lamborghini, the more Urus SUVs it sells, the more money it will have in its pocket to develop ever-wilder supercars...
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