We test drive the Lamborghini Urus – and it’s wild and sharp

The new Lamborghini Urus is easy to handle, visibility is great, and it has smooth handling and cornering. Photos: Ginn Fung

Having a Lamborghini is a dream for many; having a Lamborghini SUV is even more elusive. Now you can have it.

When Lamborghini revealed plans to make a super SUV – the Urus (the ancestor of modern domestic cattle) – in 2012, jaws dropped. Well, the SUV with its 650hp and 850Nm of torque, and that takes 3.6 seconds to go from 0-100km/h, is right before our eyes.

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We try the five-seat version – which costs from HK$3.69 million – on a sunny day in Hong Kong, on the route to Shek O. It is easy at the start. We drive through the traffic in Central and Admiralty, and without much sweat we find ourselves on the Island Eastern Corridor expressway. The supercar is easy to handle, like any other saloon or SUV, visibility is great, and the smooth handling and cornering makes us forgot we are driving the “bull”.

The new Urus is designed to be an everyday car.

It is in the Strada mode that we are driving. The car’s height adjusts according to speed to enhance comfort, and the sound of the engine is quiet and gentle. It is similar to the Comfort mode of its brother brand, Audi, which makes sense, as the Urus, unlike other Lamborghinis, is designed for everyday driving. But it does deliver the sportscar feel and performance whenever you need it – simply change the driving mode from Strada to Sport or Corsa via the Tamburo, and you will get a sportier and more exciting Lamborghini sound, with a lower body to deliver more stability and precision at all speeds.

The Tamburo control allows the driver to select the driving modes.

The reason Lamborghini adopted a four-wheel-drive system in the Urus is simple: it is also designed for off-road driving and difficult conditions. In the Terra (off-road) and Neve (snow) modes, torque vectoring reduces understeer for safe and simple driving. While in Sabbia (sand) mode, the system is calibrated to guarantee agility and precision on terrains with reduced grip such as on gravel or sand dunes, making it ideal for off-road fun.

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The dashboard of the new Urus.

For the same reason, the Urus adopts a V8 twin turbo engine, instead of using the “signature” naturally aspirated V10 or V12 engines – a high level of torque at low revs is necessary in off-road conditions and can only be guaranteed by such an engine, providing optimal engine responsiveness and efficiency. With a curb weight lower than 2,200kg the Urus is the SUV with the best weight-to-power ratio at 3.38kg/hp.

Large air intakes sporting the hexagonal theme are linked by a low-level front spoiler, emphasising the car’s aerodynamic efficiency and exceptional performance.

Our test drive on the narrow Tai Tam Road and Shek O Road doesn’t allow us to try the off-road modes; however, we are able to experience the car’s excellent controlling, cornering and braking. Thanks to its rear-wheel steering, which is similar to the Aventador S and some of Audi’s other top-notch models that allows the rear steering angle to vary by up to 3 degrees, according to vehicle speed and the driving mode selected, Urus offers a high degree of handling and cornering especially at high speed. You don’t have to be professional racing driver to be confident enough to go fast into most corners.

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The space that the luggage compartment offers can vary from 616 litres to 1,596 litres (with folded seat).

The new Lamborghini Urus is the first Lamborghini to be powered by a V8 twin turbo engine.

The cabin of the luxury SUV is very spacious and comfortable for the driver and passengers alike. All enjoy low but extremely comfortable seats, integrated within the cabin and every cockpit control is within easy reach for the driver. Lamborghini’s hexagonal theme echoes throughout the interior, in air vents and door handles, as well as in the cup holders and airbag modules.

Passengers enjoy abundant space in the back.

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The lightweight seats are designed for comfort.

The Bang & Olufsen sound system, a first for the Urus, features a powerful 21-channel 1,700-watt BeoCore class-D amplifier, scalable digital signal processing (DSP), ICEpower technology, and 21 loudspeakers. This produces a natural 3D sound in the cabin. The sound system alone reputedly costs over HK$200,000.

The Bang & Olufsen sound system, a first for the Urus, reputedly costs over HK$200,000.

What we like most about the Urus is its dynamism – it can be soft and comfortable, or wild and sharp. One thing is certain, it is luxurious.

The new Lamborghini Urus.

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Specs

Engine 

Petrol V8, 90 deg – displacement 3.996 cubic cm
Valves per cylinder: 4
Valve timing: intake and exhaust camshaft adjusted continuously
Turbocharger: bi-turbo twin-scroll
Maximum power: 650hp (478kW) at 6,000rpm
Specific power output: 162.7hp/l
Maximum torque: 850Nm at 2,250-4,500rpm
Maximum rpm: 6,800rpm

Drivetrain 
4WD with integrated front differential, central differential (Torsen) and active torque vectoring rear differential
8-speed automatic gearbox

Performance 
Top speed: 305km/h
Acceleration: 0-100km/h (0-62mph): 3.6 sec
Acceleration: 0-200km/h (0-124mph): 12.8 sec
Braking: 100-0km/h (62-0mph): 33.7 metres

Consumption
Urban: 16.7l/100km
Highway: 9.7l/100km
Combined cycle: 12.3l/100km
CO₂ emissions: 279g/km

Others
Driver assistance: Highway Assistant/ Night Vision/ Urban Road Assistant
Infotainment: head-up display exterior features
Style package: high gloss black
Interior colour and trim: unicolor sportivo in Alcantara – stitching options and complementary seat belt, floor mat and carpet colours available

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