The Lamborghini Urus has been a game-changer and has given this Italian luxury brand a volumes push that no exotic two-door would have. We might remember the Revuelto as the flagship but the Urus cashes the cheques with its huge success worldwide.
We have also loved the Performante version for being so close to the raw and feral nature of what a Lamborghini should be like but now they have again upped the ante further. The Urus SE is not just a new variant but a sign of things to come along with solace to the Lamborghini purist that their brand DNA is not going away anytime soon.
789 horsepower
Like the Revuelto, the Urus SE embraces electric power to make its bhp count swell up to a scarcely believable 789 horsepower. Few years back, the top-end supercars used to make that kind of power which is now bestowed on an SUV! Being a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), the new Urus SE drops its emissions by 80 percent while its electric motor enables one to silently cruise across city streets with a range of around 60km plus in EV mode.
Hence, like the Revuelto it gains a dual personality and makes it an all-occasion performance SUV without the baggage of a too loud V8 hanging all the time. There is also a 25.9-kWh lithium-ion battery being placed below the load floor. Performance is stupendous and rockets to 100 km/h faster than any other Urus right now (Performante version was slightly quicker though) and a higher top-speed means it now rubs shoulders with serious supercars as well.
Lamborghini Urus: More hardcore version to come
Hence, the twin-turbo 4.0 V8 engine has been re-engineered but maintains its character while only boosting efficiency along with practicality, when it matters. Amongst the plethora of modes, the ones you need to remember include Strada, Sport, and Corsa modes (for road and track use), and the Neve, Sabbia, and Terra modes (for surfaces with a tricker grip) plus EV Drive, Hybrid, Performance, and Recharge options.
In terms of raw performance, the loud exhaust note remains but dynamics wise, the Urus SE gains a wider perspective with room above for a more hardcore version to come.
The Urus SE also looks different with being closer in design terms to its Revuelto sibling. The intakes are bigger and the (Matrix LED) headlamps are slimmer with a sinister look being embedded here. The Urus silhouette hasn’t been messed with but the front and rear get sleeker. Not just on aesthetics as aero has also been looked at with the new spoiler, which along with the diffuser increases rear downforce by 35 percent at high speeds compared to the Urus S.
Lamborghini Urus: Priced at $300,000
Elsewhere, the new under-body air vents and revamped air ducts channel more air too. Inside, its Lamborghini’s love for the fighter pilot theme continues and like the Revuelto there is a Y shape to the dashboard while the amount of technology on offer grows more.
There is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen display while some of the switchgear have been thankfully retained. There is no more customisation available via the Ad Personam program. It remains as spacious as the Urus before and that continues to be one of its highlights.
Accounting for more than a half of sales in Canada, the Urus SE deliveries will begin from next year while prices have kept surprisingly at par with its petrol only siblings which would be taken off the shelves. That said, expect to pay around $300,000 plus for one while this change will certainly keep the Urus within the power race.
Somnath Chatterjee grew up around cars and most of his childhood was spent obsessing over supercars. Years later he decided to start writing about them and hasn’t looked back since. While he has had his fair share of cars, the world of automobiles never ceases to amaze him. Travelling all over the world to drive them along with sharing that experience is what ultimately keeps him going. He hopes to drive a Ferrari 288 GTO someday because, well, do you really need a reason?
