Performance Review

The Urus accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 3.6 seconds, 0-200km/h in 12.8 seconds and has a top speed of 305km/h. 

You’re looking at the fastest SUV in the world. 

In sculpting the Urus, Lamborghini has created a new niche in the luxury segment encompassing benchmark power, performance and driving dynamics, and matching these attributes with unparalleled design, luxury and real-world usability. 

Speaking at the global reveal of the Urus, Stefano Domenicali, Automobili Lamborghini Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said he believes the Urus elevates the SUV to a level not previously possible. 

“The Urus fits perfectly within the Lamborghini family as a high-performance car. It is the culmination of intensive development and passionate skill to create a new breed of bull: a super SUV that transcends the boundaries of expectations,” he said. 

The Urus features a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine delivering 478 kW and 850Nm maximum torque at just 2250 rpm. The choice of a turbo engine – the first in a Lamborghini – reflects the desired usage range of the Urus. Especially in off-road conditions, a high level of torque at low revs is necessary and can be guaranteed only by such an engine, providing optimal responsiveness and efficiency regardless of the surface under the wheels. 

While the Urus pays homage to its family DNA with a low-slung, muscular coupé-like silhouette, it also effortlessly inhabits all the tenets of a luxuriously-appointed SUV. Exhibiting a multi-faceted personality, the Urus is as much a luxury SUV as the most powerful of its kind, with a super sports car dynamism to be enjoyed by both driver and passengers. 

The Urus is undoubtedly a Lamborghini, taking cues from the LM002 as well as the super sports cars that are fundamental to Lamborghini heritage; the Urus has outstanding proportions, adopting the two-thirds body, one-third window ratio of Lamborghini’s most famous super sports models. 

Its coupé styling and commanding road position belie the comfortable ride, higher ground clearance, and luxurious space within together with the latest technologies. The Urus provides easy driving in the city, maximum comfort during long journeys, thrilling super sports car dynamics on the road and track, and versatile off-road abilities in a range of environments.  

The Lamborghini Urus really does encompass a dual personality. Because its engineers and designers have ensured it is as capable off-road as it is on. 

The Urus’ four-wheel drive system delivers safe, highly-responsive driving dynamics on every road and surface, in all weather. A Torsen central self-locking differential provides maximum control and agility in all driving conditions, particularly off-road. Torque is split 40/60 to the independent front/rear axle as standard, with a dynamic maximum torque of 70% to the front or 87% to the rear, enhancing traction to the axle with higher ground friction. 

The Urus features active torque vectoring via a rear differential, enabling propulsive power to be instantly distributed to each individual wheel for enhanced traction, depending on the driving mode, driving style and the road grip.  

Torque vectoring also provides additional steering control: less steering effort is required, with enhanced agility allowing higher cornering speeds and a sportier drive. Yaw motion is controlled, avoiding understeer into corners and tyre slip during acceleration.  

In the driving modes STRADA, TERRA (off-road) and NEVE (snow), torque vectoring reduces understeer for safe and simple driving. In SPORT and CORSA, torque vectoring allows the Urus to become more agile with a greater oversteer character. In SABBIA (sand) mode, the system is calibrated to guarantee agility and precision on terrains with reduced grip such as on gravel or sand dunes, making it the ideal mode for off-road fun. 

The differing driving modes are controlled via the Tamburo driving mode selector in the centre console. These modes also alter the ride height of the Urus accordingly. In STRADA mode the height adapts according to speed to enhance comfort, while in SPORT the Urus lowers to ensure stability and precision at all speeds. In CORSA the vehicle is even more precise and performance oriented with roll at a minimum. In the three off-road modes – NEVE, TERRA and SABBIA – higher ground clearance allows obstacles to be safely overcome, with anti-roll bars providing independent asymmetric movement during cornering to ensure optimal traction. 

As to be expected, luxury Italian style and craftsmanship resonate throughout the Urus. Its ergonomic cabin features high quality materials including the finest leather, Alcantara, aluminum, carbon fiber and wood. 

The Urus embodies the Lamborghini principal that a car’s design, power and dynamic capabilities means every driver should feel like a pilot. The Lamborghini Urus is technologically advanced, yet intuitively operable. The driver and passengers are all afforded a low but extremely comfortable super sports car seat position, firmly integrated within the cabin and for the driver, every cockpit control within easy reach.  

Oriented around the driver, the slim Y design of the dashboard – like double silver wings and connected to the climbing centre console – is once again inspired by the LM002, as well as by current Lamborghini super sports cars. 

Lamborghini’s hexagonal designtheme echoes throughout the interior, in elements such as air vents and door handles, and even in items such as the cup holders and air bag modules. A multi-function, three-spoke steering wheel incorporates a vibration damper to enhance comfort in all driving conditions. Multifunction switches are intuitively located on the steering wheel to control the Lamborghini Infotainment System (LIS), including car set-up, media, telephone and navigation. A fully-digital TFT display shows the Urus’ main information in an animated 3D representation and is customisable by the driver. 

And naturally, the sound the Urus makes will resonate just as thoroughly as one of the manufacturer’s performance cars. A 360-degree approach to engine, exhaust system and chassis ensures daily usability with the reduction of unwanted mechanical noise, while maintaining the emotive Lamborghini driving experience and inimitable Lamborghini sound. 

Depending on the driving mode selected via the Tamburo, the V8 engine has been calibrated to vary the sound and feel of the Urus, from the quietest and most comfortable low-frequency sounds in STRADA mode, to a sportier and more exciting Lamborghini sound and feedback in CORSA. A specially-developed exhaust system also customises the sound output dependent on engine speed: at high acceleration, the Urus produces a more sportier sound and chassis feedback. 

Direct from Sant’Agata, the new Lamborghini Urus really does put the ‘super’ in Super Sport Utility Vehicle. 

The Lamborghini Urus will be available in New Zealand from May 2018.