Not exactly evocative of speed, drama, or flair. But this is Lamborghini we’re talking about. And in Sant’Agata, those same two letters now mark the dawn of something rather monumental, the brand’s first plug-in hybrid SUV.

This is a rolling thunderbolt that says, “We can go green and still scare your neighbours.” With more than 32,000 Uruses sold since 2018, this SUV has firmly cemented itself as the golden goose. A staggering 70% of Urus buyers are new to the brand, and nearly half are under 40.

So, how do you keep that momentum going while preparing for an electrified future? You do what Lamborghini just did: you give the beast a new beating heart.

What’s changed?

The bonnet’s been re-sculpted and the headlights softened, with less of a scowl and more of a glare. The rear’s been tidied too, with the number plate nudged lower and new tail-lights tapering into a central spine. Design boss Mitja Borkert says the inspiration came from the Gallardo. Retro nod, or just strategic restraint? Probably both.

You still get wheel options up to 23 inches and Lamborghini’s obsession with lurid paint jobs remains proudly intact. Even in stealthy Nero black, the Urus SE doesn’t exactly blend in. Not that you’d want it to.

Same old shouty cabin

The familiar hexagon-laden Lamborghini interior greets you upon entry. The seating position is hunkered down and commanding. Not as lofty as a Range Rover, but that’s the point.

There’s a new 12.3-inch infotainment screen derived from Audi, but restyled with sharp Lambo graphics. It’s intuitive and responsive, unlike some German cousins. The digital instrument cluster is clear, although the hybrid readouts are so tiny they might as well be Morse code.

Importantly, physical buttons remain. Thank heavens. Lamborghini knows that a million bucks should buy you tactility, not just glossy haptics. The cockpit design still revolves around that tamburo, which dominates the centre console, both visually and functionally.

Cabin materials are first-rate with leather, Alcantara, forged carbon, and aluminium aplenty. There’s also ample space for four full-sized adults, and the boot remains a healthy 616 litres, despite the hybrid gubbins now lurking under the floor.

V8 meets volts

The Urus SE shares its 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 and 25.9kWh battery with the Bentley Continental GT Speed and Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid. Before you raise your pitchforks, don’t for a second think this is badge engineering with a Lambo badge slapped on.

Rouven Mohr, Lamborghini’s delightfully mad Chief Technical Officer, insists this thing has been tuned with proper Sant’Agata lunacy. The petrol engine alone produces 612bhp. Add the 189bhp from the electric motor, and you’re looking at a combined 789bhp and 946Nm of torque. That’s enough to catapult this 2.5-tonne SUV from 0–100km/h in 3.4 seconds.

Yes, it’ll run in full electric mode for 59km. No, nobody who buys a Lamborghini really cares. But that e-motor lives within the 8-speed transmission and is paired with a new ‘hang-on’ clutch pack that replaces the old Torsen centre differential. This bestows variable torque distribution front-to-rear, plus a new e-LSD for agility, traction and drifts.

Drifts. In an SUV. We’ll come back to that.

What’s it like to drive?

The Urus SE has drive modes galore. You activate them via the tamburo, Lamborghini’s signature fighter-jet-style central control. Beneath the red start/stop flap are toggles that let you choose between EV, Hybrid, Performance, and Recharge modes. The other side handles terrain: Strada, Sport, Corsa, Sabbia, Terra, and Neve. It’s a lot. Annoyingly, you must cycle through them in sequence.

In EV mode, it’s eerily silent. Stealth mode for the stealth-wealth crowd. Up to 135km/h, in fact. Strada, the default hybrid mode, is where most owners will live. It’s smooth, quick, and occasionally unpredictable, and the engine sometimes roars awake even when there’s battery charge to spare.

Sport mode is where things come alive. With the ESC off, the Urus SE becomes delightfully unhinged. Thanks to that variable clutch, it’ll dance, slide, and power-oversteer like it’s auditioning for the next Fast & Furious.

We tested it on both a skidpan and a gravel stage at Sepang. It genuinely felt like a Group B rally car. If you can get past the mental gymnastics of chucking a 2.5-tonne SUV into a Scandinavian flick, it’s riotous fun.

But on real-world roads? It’s slightly harder to read. The SE rides well, thanks to new dual-valve dampers, and four-wheel steering makes it feel nimbler than it should. The steering could do with a touch more weight, and the upshifts can be abrupt, but the whole experience is taut, alert, and controlled.

Regenerative braking is tied to the drive mode and battery level. It’s decent but not quite organic. Thankfully, standard carbon ceramic discs (440mm front, 310mm rear) ensure stopping power is never in doubt.

Will the real Urus SE please stand up?

The SE is a paradigm shift, not just for the Urus, but for Lamborghini as a brand. Hybridisation has added layers, breadth, and, dare I say, nuance to the Urus without stripping away its soul.

It’s a riot in Corsa. A cruiser in Strada. A ninja in EV. But with so many personalities, one can’t help but wonder, which one is the real Urus SE?

Perhaps that’s the point. It’s not trying to be one thing. It’s trying to be everything. A sledgehammer with a scalpel’s touch. A 789bhp family hauler that can slide sideways through gravel with your golf clubs in the boot.

The Urus SE might just be the super-SUV we never knew we needed.

Technical Specifications

Lamborghini Urus SE

Engine: 4.0-litre Twin-Turbocharged V8
Power: 789bhp
Torque: 950Nm
Gearbox: 8-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 3.4 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 312km/h
Fuel Economy: Do you even care about this part?
Price: POA

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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So, when Lamborghini decided to venture into the world of SUVs, the idea sounded… strange. But then the Lamborghini Urus was born, a 2.2-tonne, five-door behemoth that promised to carry the raging bull’s DNA into uncharted territory.

And if you’re wondering whether this SUV lives up to Lamborghini’s supercar reputation, the answer is surprising.

Can You Really Make a Supercar SUV?

Lamborghini’s first crack at an SUV might seem like a mashup of contradictions. On one hand, it shares its platform with the Audi Q7, Bentley Bentayga, and Porsche Cayenne. On the other, it’s been injected with Lamborghini’s signature madness.

Yes, it’s got a twin-turbo V8 under the hood, borrowed from some of the VW Group’s finest (think Bentley Flying Spur, Audi RS6, and Porsche Panamera), but the Urus S somehow feels… different. More savage.

Sure, some purists lament that the iconic V10 or V12 isn’t living under the bonnet, but 650bhp and 850Nm of torque isn’t exactly light fare.

From the second you fire up the V8, the Urus announces its presence with a roar that’ll wake the neighbours. This is no stealthy family hauler; it’s loud, proud, and unapologetic. And despite weighing more than an elephant, it launches from 0 to 100 km/h in a blistering 3.6 seconds.

The Urus S doesn’t know the meaning of “taking it easy.” Even in Strada mode (its softest setting), the throttle response is as sharp as anything you’d expect in a VW Group performance machine. Tap the pedal, and it’s eager to go.

Switch to Corsa mode, and the aggression ramps up; harder shifts, sharper throttle response, and a general sense that you’re piloting something angry.

Angry but… soft?

But, the chassis isn’t as harsh as you might think. Air suspension, four-wheel steering, and torque vectoring work together in a way that smoothens out the ride, even with those massive 22-inch wheels.

It leans just enough in corners to keep things playful, but with incredible body control for something this size. You can push it hard, and while the front end may run away a bit, the rear is always ready to fall in line.

What really makes the Urus S impressive is the behind-the-scenes wizardry that defies physics. The four-wheel steering shrinks the wheelbase at low speeds for tighter turns and increases stability when you’re tearing down the highway.

And then there’s the active roll control system, probably the most impressive bit of kit. It firms up the suspension in corners to keep you flat and steady, but also knows when to decouple for a more flexible ride when you’re off-road. 

The Urus uses a centre Torsen differential and an active rear differential to send power where it’s needed most, squatting down and rocketing out of corners like it’s half its size. Couple that with the standard carbon ceramic brakes, and you’ve got a recipe for a physics-bending SUV that somehow manages to stop all that weight with ease.

Any drawbacks?

If there’s a flaw, it’s probably the gearbox. In full-on Corsa mode, upshifts are aggressive, and borderline rude. It can also be a bit sluggish when you’re looking for a quick downshift.

In Strada mode, it settles down for smoother, more relaxed cruising. Let’s face it, most Urus owners won’t spend their weekends thrashing around a racetrack, so you’ll likely appreciate the everyday usability this gearbox offers.

The sound, while deep and menacing, doesn’t quite reach the high-pitched wail of Lamborghini’s V10s or V12s. It’s more of a thunderous rumble, with pops and cracks on downshifts, but it lacks that operatic drama you might associate with the brand.

Still, it’s far from quiet, and when you mash the throttle, the roar will send shivers down your spine.

This looks extreme

Indeed. When you think about Lamborghini, practicality isn’t exactly the first word that springs to mind. But step inside the Urus, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised, especially if you’re expecting a cramped supercar interior.

Despite the low roofline and wide, pumped-up rear wheel arches, the space inside is shockingly accommodating. There’s enough room for a tall adult to sit comfortably, with head and elbow room to spare.

A 616-litre boot, which stretches to an impressive 1,596 litres when you fold the rear seats down, introduces never-before-seen weekend getaway potential.

Not bad for something that still carries Lamborghini’s ferocious DNA.

And you’re cocooned

Up front, the driving position is just what you’d expect from a Lamborghini. You sit low, nestled deep inside the car, as if you’re strapped into the belly of a beast rather than perched atop its shoulders. The high window line might compromise the view slightly, but it adds to that sense of cocooned sportiness.

Thankfully, the seats are a lot more forgiving than the spine-crunchers you’d find in the Huracán or Aventador. Here, they strike the right balance between comfort and support.

Lamborghini hasn’t compromised on the tech, nor on its signature style. It’s a high-tech wonderland wrapped in what can only be described as Audi-level quality.

The Lamborghini flair is evident everywhere, from the hexagonal motifs to the liberal use of Alcantara. The controls are chunky, industrial, and designed to make you feel like you’re about to launch a rocket.

The flip-cover starter button is a dramatic touch, as is the chunky Anima lever for switching between driving modes. It’s a centre console that’s unapologetically bold, and I love it.

Screens and more screens

Lamborghini has borrowed Audi’s three-screen architecture straight from the A8. This brings the Urus into an electronic generation ahead of its luxury SUV siblings like the Bentayga and Q7.

In front of you is a familiar digital instrument cluster, providing all the information you need with clarity and flair. Meanwhile, the upper screen in the centre console handles navigation, infotainment, phone settings, while the lower screen takes care of the climate control stuff.

You know what you’re in for when you buy this

The Lamborghini Urus is a bit of an enigma. It defies the traditional notions of what an SUV should be, and even challenges the idea of what a Lamborghini should be. It’s loud, fast, aggressive, and packed with cutting-edge technology that allows it to bend the laws of physics in ways an SUV probably shouldn’t. Yet, it works.

Since its debut, over 20,000 Uruses have already been sold. That’s enough to tell you there is huge demand for cars like these.

It’s easy to criticise the Urus for being brash, but isn’t that what Lamborghini has always been about? This SUV isn’t for everyone, but for those who crave the marriage of supercar performance and everyday usability, the Urus is the ultimate statement.

And in doing so, it allows Lamborghini to continue building the wild, audacious machines that car enthusiasts dream of.

Technical Specifications

Lamborghini Urus S

Engine: 3,996cc Twin-Turbocharged V8
Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive
Power: 650bhp
Torque: 850Nm
Gearbox: 8-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 3.6 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 305km/h
Fuel Economy: 7.8km/litre (claimed)

Price: POA (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Eurosports Auto

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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Lamborghini has once again set the automotive world abuzz with the introduction of the Urus SE.

What sets the Urus SE apart is its groundbreaking plug-in hybrid technology, marking a significant evolution in Lamborghini’s storied lineage.

The Urus SE combines the brute force of a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, delivering a muscular 612bhp, with an electric motor that adds a further 189bhp.

Together, they unleash a colossal 789bhp and 800Nm of torque, ensuring that this Super SUV practically teleports from zero to 100km/h in a mere 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 312km/h.

This model also champions sustainability with an impressive 80% reduction in emissions compared to its predecessors.

Encapsulating the essence of innovation, the Urus SE’s electric motor is ingeniously integrated into its eight-speed automatic transmission.

This setup not only drives all four wheels but also propels the SUV on pure electric power over a range of 60km.

Design-wise, the Urus SE has evolved significantly from its petrol-only sibling. The front boasts a new hood with a sleek, floating design that enhances the vehicle’s dynamic silhouette.

This design nuance eliminates the traditional cut-off line, augmenting the athletic posture of the Urus SE.

The rear isn’t left behind, with a redesigned cargo compartment hatch and a new spoiler that together boost downforce by 35% at high velocities, enhancing stability.

Inside, the cabin is a high-tech sanctuary featuring a 12.3-inch central touchscreen that interfaces with the latest Human Machine Interface (HMI) and a matching digital instrument cluster.

These screens bring Lamborghini’s futuristic vision to the fingertips of the driver. The redesigned air vents with anodised aluminium trim and the tactile new pushbutton panel elevate the interior aesthetics, matching the exterior’s boldness.

Rolling on majestic 23-inch Galanthus rims wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tyres, the Urus SE remains adaptable with optional Scorpion Winter 2 tyres for those seeking adventure in cooler climes.

The colour palette is more vibrant than ever, with over 100 bodywork options, including the striking Arancio Egon and Bianco Sapphirus.

For those desiring a personal touch, Lamborghini’s Ad Personam programme offers limitless customisation, ensuring that each Urus SE can be as unique as its owner’s imagination.

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