In a move reminiscent of the badge engineering at British Leyland in the early 70’s, Lamborghini has produced an SUV for all those busy soccer Mums who need a high speed chariot for the weekly shop. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome, stage left, the Lamborghini Urus.
This is a new entrant in the SUV stakes, but really nothing new. Built on the Volkswagen Group’s MLBevo platform – which underpins the Audi A4 and Q7, Bentley Bentayga and VW’s forthcoming third-generation Touareg – the Urus features components and technologies already seen in top-end SUVs such as the Porsche Cayenne and the Bentayga and Q7.
With claimed 0-100 km/h of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 305 km/h, the 2197kg all-wheel-drive Urus is considered a match for the Aventador and Huracan supercars from the same stable.
The performance for the five-door, five-seat Urus comes from a single mechanical specification, using a Porsche-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.0 liter V8 petrol engine that produces 478 kW of power at 6000 rpm and 850 Nm of torque from 2250-4500 rpm.
Carbon-ceramic brake rotors are standard, and measure 440 mm in diameter up front. Ten-piston callipers on the front rotors, and 370 mm carbon rotors in the rear with six-piston callipers.
The Urus’ three-stage adaptive air spring system is similar in operation to that in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, while the active anti-roll bar is a first for the Italian supercar-maker. Ride height can be increased from 158 mm to 248 mm where required, and each corner is independently sprung.
The rear end features both a torque-vectoring rear diff and a rear steering system, similar to that in the Aventador.
Measuring 5112 mm long, 2016 mm wide and 1638 mm tall on a 3003 mm wheelbase, the Urus has 616 liters of luggage space when the second row – which can be specified as a two- or three-seat layout – is upright, increasing to 1596 liters when the seats are lowered.
So now you have a choice, a Porsche Audi Bentley VW which looks like an SUV from anywhere with big wheels, and pay through the nose for it. Price in Australia is from AU$390,000 plus on-road costs. I think I’d rather have a Honda HRV and have enough money left over to buy a house.
