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It was inconceivable that Porsche would make an SUV when the Cayenne was first launched. Of course, today the German brand sells more SUVs than sports cars in many markets. Other super luxury and sports car brands like Maserati, Jaguar, Bentley, and soon even Rolls-Royce, have joined the SUV bandwagon.
Earlier this week, Lamborghini officially joined this emerging clique of super luxury SUV makers with its Urus. Now, will Ferrari also join the fray?
For the purists it must have been a distressing week, seeing Lambo pulls the wraps off the Urus. Word has been out on the street about the new SUV for quite some time now. We already knew its name, and have been privy to some of the camouflaged test models’ pictures. But, to see it finally in crafted metal and glass is a testament to the inexorable draw of the SUV body style amongst buyers in the super luxury class. Why else would the Raging Bull go down this path of creating a super sports utility?
Design
As has long been the tradition at Lamborghini, the name Urus is derived from the world of bulls. The Urus, also known as Aurochs, is one of the large, wild ancestors of domestic cattle. The Spanish fighting bull, as bred for the past 500 years, is still said to be very close to the Urus in its appearance.
The Urus follows typical Lamborghini design lines; very coupé-like and with a number of features that have been influenced by iconic models of the past. For example, the peaked mound of the bonnet identifies the front-mounted location of the powertrain with hints pointing to the Miura and Aventador. The diagonal hood lines in the Urus refer back to the Countach, the most evocative characteristic of one of Lambo’s most revered models.
Some of the design elements like the Y-shaped LED headlights have been a Lamborghini trademark for many models now and were expected in the Urus too. But the Y-shaped front air intakes in the Urus are meant to reminisce the same feature in the LM002 – Lambo’s first SUV built in the late 80s and early 90s. Similarly, the hexagonal wheel arches in the Urus have been inspired by the LM002 and the Countach. The rear diffuser has been influenced by Lamborghini race cars, and in the Urus sports integrated double round exhaust pipes.
Powertrain
The Lamborghini Urus sports a new front-mounted, 4.0-litre petrol V8 twin-turbo aluminum engine. Another big departure in the Urus, the choice of a turbo engine, the first in a Lamborghini, reflects the desired usage range. A Lamborghini statement says that in off-road conditions especially, a high level of torque at low revs is necessary and can be guaranteed only by such an engine, providing optimal engine responsiveness and efficiency. Delivering 650 hp (478 kW) at 6,000 rpm, maximum 6,800 rpm and a maximum torque of 850 Nm at 2,250-4,500 rpm, the Urus has a specific power of 162.7 hp per litre. With a kerb weight lower than 2,200 kg the Urus is the SUV with the best weight-to-power ratio at 3.38 kg per hp.
The Lamborghini release further adds that the compact and efficient electro-hydraulically controlled planetary gearbox is tuned to provide very short low gear ratios and longer high gears. A highly efficient slip-controlled converter lock-up clutch and specially-developed torque converter guarantee a responsive engine, with an exceptionally powerful starting ratio for exciting acceleration, and high speed at low engine revs for optimal fuel consumption and emissions.
Performance
The Urus is claimed to accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 3.6 seconds, 0-200 kmph in 12.8 seconds and can reach a top speed of 305 kmph; it is the fastest SUV available currently. Its low-line coupé styling and commanding road position belie the very comfortable ride, higher ground clearance, and luxurious space within together with the latest technologies. Lamborghini claims that 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.
It can be specified to be as sporty or as elegant as the owner wishes, and can equally be used as a daily luxury drive or provide an exhilarating super sports experience.
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