surface is a mix of sand and sealed gravel is the proof.
There are no deep ruts, grooves and potholes for a
sterner test. Still, despite being on road-biased tyres,
with the ESC fully active, the Urus uses its longer
wheelbase (compared to the Bentley Bentayga) for
speed and composure.
It’s a narrow course, and the grip level is deteriorating
lap by lap as sand starts piling up alongside the
polished loam-and-pebble racing line. With your right
hoof commanding 478kW and 850Nm, understeer
does not stand a chance – unless of course you find
yourself braking too late, thereby converting the mega-
SUV into a part-time sand-shoveler. There’s also little
wheelspin, although the pronounced
rear-bias is an open invitation to kick
out the tail and stick a drift. It’s a lot of
fun, so much so it’ll make you chortle.
Just don’t run out of talent and get too
confident like yours truly.
So are there any negatives to
the super SUV? Well, I’ve already
mentioned the leisurely eight-speed auto. However,
I’ll add mildly frustrating front-end pitch through fast
corners, slightly lackadaisical tip-in, generous amounts
of dive and squat, poor cabin ergonomics and an
exhaust note that doesn’t quite stir the loins – even in
Corsa. Ultimately, the brawny V8 isn’t quite as special as
the charismatic, naturally aspirated V10 and it downs
fuel at the rate of an ocean liner.
However, at the end of the day, the Urus is the answer
to a question about 3500 customers are expected
to ask per year. That figure in itself is set to double
Lamborghini production alone as it ventures into
one of the most profitable and booming segments
within the current market. Those who purchase a
478kW SUV are obviously not short on funds, but
despite its questionable image perception, buyers
will be receiving a splendid car. An ‘eco-focused’ V6
plug-in hybrid (think Porsche 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
with electrification) is in the pipeline, as is a lighter,
515kW-plus Performante version.
Basically, the Urus can do things no other SUV would
even attempt to achieve. Fittingly, it does it in the
same way the marque’s coupes used to sell exclusively
in cramped, compromised coupe-shaped packages
- it’s an impressive achievement that’s one cause for
emphatic celebration. The other is the realisation that,
while heading to Bari airport to leave Italy, no nation-
changing decisions have been made. Luckily, the fact
Lamborghini has created an SUV, and a great one at
that, remains the headline news.M
rear-bias, it’s an invitation to kick out the tail and stick a drift
The dashboard is a blend of
hexagonal air vents, carbon
fibre, leather and loud
instrument graphics. Despite
the sloping roofline, rear-seat
headroom is generous – unlike
the support from the front pewsNWURUS
01First Fang
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