After revealing a prototype three years ago, Lamborghini has confirmed the Urus concept will be an SUV with the raging bull on the bonnet by 2018.
Expansion of the Sant’Agata factory is scheduled, with senior management saying “hundreds of millions of Euros,” will be spent in expanding its factory and development center by 70,000 square meters.
This will create 500 new jobs and with the introduction of the new model, Lamborghini is forecasting global sales to double from about 1500 per year to 3000.
The concept has a 440 kW plug-in hybrid powertrain and lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminium construction.
The Lambo Urus SUV.
With global auto giant Volkswagen Group as its parent, Lamborghini is not short of platforms or technology to borrow for its new SUV.
Its all-wheel drive layout is likely to share similarities with Audi’s quattro AWD system – a version of which is used in the Huracan – while the 340 kW/920 Nm hybrid powertrain of the Audi R8 e-tron is also a possibility.
Another possibility is the Volkswagen Group’s PL71 platform used in the Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg and Audi Q7 as well as the Bentley SUV, called the Bentayga.
Despite the company’s links to its German parent, the new SUV would be all Italian, said Automobili Lamborghini president and CEO Stephan Winkelmann.
“This is a proud moment for everybody in Lamborghini,” he said. “The introduction of a third model line endorses the stable and sustainable growth of the company and signifies, for us, the beginning of a new era.”
“The new SUV will be made in Sant’Agata Bolognese, demonstrating our commitment to safeguarding the values of ‘Made in Italy’ worldwide.”
This will not be Lamborghini’s first SUV, those with long memories will remember the Countach V12-powered LM002 launched in 1986, but with only 328 made, the company will be planning to make more of an impression with its second attempt.
Currently Lamborghini has the Huracan and the Aventador on offer to the well-heeled.
