First Look At The Lamborghini Urus SE Performante, The Fastest Ever Urus Produced

In a secret location, just outside Sant’Agata Bolognese, the historic town and home to Lamborghini, we get first access to the brand-new offering from the carmaker. To start with, the term Super SUV, coined but not used enough, is most appropriate for this plug-in hybrid, which proudly sports the tag ‘the fastest ever Urus produced by Lamborghini '. For those interested in a bit of trivia on the nomenclature Super SUV - it was Lamborghini that first started using this term on their hugely popular LM002 model, dating back to the mid ‘80s.

Dreamy thoughts of the G-force produced by the 3.3 second sprint from 1-100 kmph in this car, and the top speed of 312 kmph flood the mind as you marvel at the carbon fibre leitmotif that dominates through and through the car, making the car resolutely lighter.

We get chatting with Lamborghini’s global design director, Mitja Borkert, who tells me that the decision to expose more carbon fibre inside and outside the car is deliberate. “It is important for the car to be instantly recognisable, both inside and outside, when one spots it. I like to think of a car like a dish where all the ingredients come together, or like a song, where the rhythm comes together. We’ve changed the front splitter, introduced a new hood, and you will enjoy the stance of this car when seen from a distance,” he says to me as he also points out the new large air intakes on the bonnet, for aerodynamic purposes. Borkert also points out the omega-shaped design elements that characterise the front of the car, and the bonnet designed entirely in carbon fibre.

The imposing silhouette of the car sits atop redesigned 23-inch wheels with the signature Y-spoke motif appearing just under carbon fibre wheel arches. At the rear, we get a carbon fibre spoiler, a wing, and the widest ever diffuser designed for an Urus. The quad-exhaust designed in titanium references those of a fighter jet and delivers Lamborghini’s signature ‘soundtrack’. The titanium exhaust (an important talking point for supercar collectors) is designed in collaboration with the world-famous exhaust developer, Akrapovic.

The Urus SE Performante boasts a gorgeous and throaty 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine that is paired with an electric motor. The result is the highest ever output produced by an Urus - we’re talking about a hair-raising 800 Hp of power and 1000 Nm of torque. If you are among the lucky few to own and drive this car, the new air suspension system promises to reduce vibrations in the cabin by 25 per cent and halve the body roll at top speeds, an absolute treat for the pedantic driver.

This super SUV has different drive modes: Strada (for everyday city driving), Sport, Corsa (racing mode), and full EV mode. The SE Performante introduces a new mode - Rally - which optimises the car’s performance on loose surfaces, making the drive dynamics even more enjoyable. In case you do choose to drive in full electric mode, you get a range of about 60 km.

Interestingly enough, Lamborghini’s design draws explicitly from the world of aviation (the rear wing is a case in point), and this comes through as soon as you get into the cabin. The manufacturer’s concept of ‘Feel like a Pilot’ is a design philosophy that is loosely based on an airline cockpit.

The interior design is the highlight with a row of mechanical, aviation-style buttons on the centre console, sitting just below a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, featuring gorgeous Lamborghini graphics. The driver enjoys a 12.3-inch cluster as well as throttle-like levers within the cockpit to change the drive modes. This is an aviation and car geek’s paradise coming together, quite frankly. Little design touches of red through the cabin, a leitmotif of the Y design, and carbon fibre accents on the steering wheel make it super sporty. 

RR Verdict

The highlight of the Urus SE Performante is its connection to the aviation world, manifesting itself through beautiful design touches and the Feel like a Pilot concept. In the context of Indian city drivers, I do like the idea of a Super SUV, which allows you to enjoy a Lamborghini drive experience, with an SUV that can be driven on Indian roads, without hesitation, elevated enough to withstand bumpy Indian roads, and yet spacious enough to be used as a family car. A super luxe segment to be tapped, indeed!