Lamborghini Urus is here. But is it too much Lambo?

It’s billed as the ‘world’s first Super Sport Utility Vehicle’, the Lamborghini Urus has arrived and frankly I’m in two minds about the concept. Has the motoring world gone mad? We have the Bentley Bentayga and Maserati Levante. While Rolls Royce will release an SUV coined ‘Project Cullinan around 2019. Even Ferrari announced advanced plans for an FUV (Ferrari Utility Vehicle) at the 2018 Detroit Motor Show. But for now, let’s check out the Urus.

Automobili Lamborghini today announced the Oceania arrival of the Lamborghini Urus. A Lambo like no other basically. Because I can’t even contemplate the reasons behind such a creation it’s best to let the head boffin have a crack.

“The Lamborghini Urus is a visionary approach based on the infusion of Lamborghini DNA into the most versatile vehicle, the SUV. The Urus elevates the SUV to a level not previously possible, the Super SUV. It is a true Lamborghini in terms of design, performance, driving dynamics and emotion as well as drivable every day in a range of environments,” says Stefano Domenicali, Automobili Lamborghini Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The Urus fits perfectly within the Lamborghini family as a high performance car. It is the culmination of intensive development and passionate skill to create a new breed of bull: A Super SUV that transcends the boundaries of expectations and opens the door to new possibilities, for both our brand and our customers.”

So, what does this Lamborghini on stilts have on offer? Well the Urus is bulging with a 4.0 litre V8 twin-turbo engine that smacks out 478kW at 6,000 rpm up to a maximum of 6,800 rpm. 850Nm arrives at 2,250 rpm and it’s all sent via an automatic eight-speed transmission. In a straight line 0-100 km/h arrives in 3.6 seconds. The top speed is 305km/h, giving the Urus the world’s fastest SUV crown.

It’s simple really to sum up what this. A supercar that can accommodate a family during the week, while set a racetrack or mountain trail alight on the weekend. Because if that’s what you need in life you’d head straight for a Lamborghini dealership right. After all it’s a pretty handy four-wheel drive. There’s clever torque vectoring and a central self-locking differential. To get down to the real nitty-gritty, torque is split 40/60 to the independent front/rear axles as standard, with the potential of a maximum torque of 70% to the front or 87% to the rear. There’s even rear-wheel steering.

There are some enticing drive programs run by a Tamburo driving mode selector, STRADA, TERRA (off-road), NEVE (snow), SABBIA (sand) SPORT and CORSA should suit whatever mood you’re in. It will scream like a Lamborghini if you so desire or putter around somewhat restrained, just hit STRADA to stay undercover.

Now what about those looks? We’ve reviewed the Huracan and Aventador, supercars that ooze Lamborghini DNA every day of the week. But does the Urus manage to pull off what this brand is renowned for. It’s purely subjective, but in this writer’s mind as crazy as the whole creation is, yes it does. For those that don’t know they once built a truck, the LM002 back in 1986. In no way does the Urus look like that, but it does have the larger in your face proportions while maintaining the classic two-thirds body, one-third window ratio that we’re used to.

Until we get a drive (massive hint), I’m not even going to rant on about the Urus any further. But the first lucky customers will driveway in the first examples in late 2018 for $390,000 before on road costs. Personally, I’d settle for the Audi SQ7, the bargain of super performance SUV’s. But the chances of that happening are remote.