Lamborghini Urus

According to Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann, if the Raging Bull is to add another model to what is right now just a two-car line-up, it will definitely be an SUV.

In a recent interview, Winkelmann told Autoblog.com that "We are working on it, but there is no decision taken. If we do a third model, then it's better to have the SUV as this is a growing segment, a more emotional segment, a segment which is very well-distributed in terms of volume all over the planet, and therefore this is a car which is more likely."

Naturally, this wouldn't be the first time Lamborghini has produced an SUV - remember the LM002? So it would be a little unfair to accuse them of venturing into uncharted waters.

We'd love for them to use the design of the Urus Concept for the production model as well. And by that we mean that we'd rather they not change the looks and make it less aggressive visually. If they can improve on it then by all means, improve away Lambo!

A Lamborghini SUV would also target supercar owners that also own sports utility vehicles, such as the Porsche Cayenne.

However, perhaps even more interesting was seeing Winkelmann bring up hybridization in his interview by saying that, "Due to packaging, due to the weight of the entire vehicle, it's more likely that the hybridization is getting in place. It's less a car which is about absolute performance. So this could be an opportunity."

This would certainly be one way to remind people that the Asterion concept they brought to Paris in 2014 wasn't just to showcase what they can do, but also what they will do.

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Lamborghini Urus SUV Concept

As is the tradition, the SUV's name is derived from the world of bulls. The Urus, also known as Aurochs, is one of the wild ancestors of domestic cattle. According to the Italian automaker, the Spanish fighting bull, as bred for the past 500 years, is still very close to the Urus in its appearance.

At 4.99 m long (196.5 inches), 1.99 m (78.4 inches) wide and 1.66m (65.4 inches) tall, the Urus is about 120mm longer and 16mm wider but also 30mm lower than a BMW X6.

Lamborghini has not yet specified the front-mounted engine, but it says it will have an output of 600HP and the lowest CO2 emissions in its class. Chances are a production model would be fitted with either a V10 or Audi's new V8 turbo, perhaps even both. Either way, the engine transmits its power to both axles via a dual-clutch gearbox and permanent four-wheel drive transmission with traction control.

The Urus uses the same platform architecture as the Bentley EXP 9 F study and the next generations of the VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7.

According to the company, the class-leading CO2 emissions target will be achieved thanks to the lightweight design philosophy not only in the chassis and bodywork, but the interior as well, through the use of what Lamborghini calls “innovative” carbon fiber technologies.

This offers the advantage of a low center of gravity, improving handling, another area where the Urus aims to beat its competitors. Since it’s an SUV, the off-roading part is taken care of not only by the AWD system but also by the variable height suspension and front spoiler and the good approach angle.

“The Urus is a very concrete idea for the future of Lamborghini – as a third model line and as the perfect complement to our super sports cars”, said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Lamborghini. “SUVs stand for freedom and emotion. SUVs make up one of the most successful market segments worldwide. The Urus is the most extreme interpretation of the SUV idea; it is the Lamborghini of the SUVs.”

It’s also the first modern Lamborghini that seats four instead of just two passengers and can be used as a family’s sole car. This, of course, while true, is mostly pure PR talk, just like the claim of the Charging Bull having an SUV history. First, it’s highly unlikely that any Lamborghini-owning family has only one car, and second, the LM002 sold a mere 300 units in its six-year long lifespan.

The truth is that the Urus’ mission is twofold: the first part is to convince the company’s customers to park a Lamborghini rather than a Range Rover next to their Murcielago/Gallardo/Aventador in their garage.

The second part is to significantly increase Lamborghini’s production. The bean-counters at the VW Group estimate that the SUV, which is targeted mostly at the USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, the Middle East and China, can reach annual sales of around 3,000 units.

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