d motorofficial f motor_mag^31LAMBORGHINI
URUS
A raging bull the whole family can enjoyBELOW 4.0-litre
twin-turbo V8 familiar
from other VAG
products, but is at its
most powerful and
aggressive in the UrusYOUPROBABLYalreadyhavean
opinion on the Lamborghini Urus, it’s
not a machine that invites ambivalence
or fence-sitting. Its looks, its engine,
its underpinnings, its very existence
is contentious, but it’s doing what is
required of it: drawing a new type of
buyer into Lamborghini showrooms.
Sant’Agata expects its sales to double,
both globally and locally, off the back
of the Urus which will generate crucial
cash to develop its next-generation of
super sports cars.
Lamborghini has prior off-road form,
but re-imagining the rugged LM002
wasn’t going to cut it. According to
its maker, the Urus is the world’s first
SSUV – Super Sports Utility Vehicle –
thanks to the “best power-to-weight
ratio in the entire SUV segment” and
“best-in-class driving dynamics”. We’ll
get to that, but let’s start with the
styling. Design is purely subjective, but
the Urus certainly makes a statement.
What that statement is will depend on
the observer, but ready yourself for
constant “is that a Lamborghini four-
wheel drive?” enquiries.
To our eyes it’s a very coloursensitiveshape;thedifferencein
desirability and impact between white
with standard 21-inch rims and a bold
colour with the optional 23s such as
our ‘Giallo Auge’ test car is marked.
Yes, 23-inch rims. The reason such
gargantuan wheels are required to
balance the shape is because the Urus
itself is enormous. It’s as long as an
S-Class and as wide as an Aventador
with a wheelbase to rival the dearly
departed Holden Caprice. The upside
of its vast girth is plentiful interior
space; my 180cm frame has ample
head, elbow, leg and knee room in the
rear. Combine this with a massive 616L
boot (a Toyota Kluger offers 529L) and
the Urus has family duties covered.
Especially as it’s a remarkably
comfortable car. Even with wheels
the size of planets and low-profile
rubber (285/35 front; 325/30 rear)
the ride is truly excellent. Whether
soaking up pockmarked suburban
streets or serenely smothering highway
undulations, the combination of
adaptive dampers and active anti-roll
bars make the Urus a very relaxing
way to travel long distances, not anBY • SCOTT NEWMAN + PICS • AL A STAI R B RO O KENGINE 3996cc V8, DOHC, 32v, twin-turbo
POWER 478kW @ 6000rpm
TORQUE 850Nm @ 2250-4500rpm
0-100KM/H 3.6sec (claimed)
4.0 WEIGHT 2200kg • PRICE $390,000Rating
LIKE: Aggressive powertrain;
ride quality; interior space;
insane performance for an SUV
DISLIKE: Size tricky for urban
living; interior appointments;
image; electronic overload➜