Lamborghini Urus review: New 189mph super SUV is a real crazy-b*****d
This is a Lamborghini with lots of sharp edges, hexagons, 23in wheels and chunky cartoon controls... think of it like Mexican food
BELIEVE it or not, I drove a Lamborghini under a car park barrier once and christened it limboghini.
I’d have no chance in a Urus.
In a what? Urus. The new Rambo Lambo.
The new crazy-b*****d 189mph super SUV for the world’s rich people.
I’ll share some more daft numbers in a bit but let’s start with some history.
Lamborghini has been here before — before Hummer in fact.
It tried to flog the LM001 (Lamborghini Militare) pick-up truck to soldiers in the Middle East in the early 1980s — but they didn’t want them. Keh? They had V12 Countach engines in them, you buffoons.
No matter. Lamborghini then built the leather-lined LM002 and sold them to celebrities like Sylvester Stallone, Arnie, Tina Turner and, er, Colonel Gaddafi.
You can see shades of the LM002 in the Urus today — most notably the wheel arches and the T-shaped dash.
But, oddly, there’s no machine gun mountings, not even on the options list.
Now let’s talk numbers. The Urus is powered by a four-litre twin-turbo V8 — yep, the first turbocharged Lambo — kicking out a monster 650hp and 850Nm torque. That’s a lot.
It’s four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering and harnesses all manner of voodoo to flatten body roll and pitching.
In full lunatic mode, it catapults from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds, 0-124mph in 12.8 seconds and just keeps on going and going.
But it stops well too — 62mph to zero in just 33.7 metres.
The brake discs are bigger than the wheels on a Corsa.
And this XL-sized Lambo is just as happy hiking off-road. I tried it on track and on gravel. I’m very thorough.
Some will sniff at the Urus and say, “bah, the engine is from a Porsche Cayenne.” True.
“And the rear axle is Bentley Bentayga.” Also true.
“And the dual screens and hardware are from an Audi A8.” Yes, correct again.
“And the electric window switches are from a Golf.” He nods silently.
But this is faster, more advanced and cooler, my friend.
This is a Lamborghini with lots of sharp edges, hexagons, 23in wheels and chunky cartoon controls.
Think of it like Mexican food.
As far as I know, quesadillas, fajitas, enchiladas and burritos have pretty much the same ingredients but are quite different.
Would you pay £165,000 for a Bentayga or a Urus? Me too. Full disclosure.
I make no secret of my passion for Lamborghini.
I’d have a Huracan Performante tomorrow.
But at least with a Urus the family don’t have to travel in the car behind and you can fit eight flight bags in the boot.
And in ordinary road mode, it’s quiet and polite and as relaxing as a hot bath. Like an Audi Q7, then. Sssh.
Which begs the question: is it a true Lamborghini?
The answer is Yes, Yes and No.
KEY FACTS: LAMBORGHINI URUS
Price: £165,000
Engine: 4-litre twin turbo V8 petrol
0-62mph: 3.6 secs
0-124mph: 12.8 secs
Top speed: 189mph
Economy: 23mpg
Emissions: 279g/km
Yes, because in track mode it’s loud, angry and nosebleed fast.
It thumps you in the back with every gear change, just as a Lambo should.
And this is just the base engine.
There’s an even nuttier SV version cooking in the oven.
Yes, because everyone wants to take a photo of it — even though it’s not actually that wild-looking.
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But sadly No, because it can’t limbo.
And all Lambos should be lower than a snake’s belly.
- I’M not sure how, but this Lamborghini cap fell into my bag. For your chance to win it, follow me and like this photo on Instagram @robgilluk by 6pm on April 29. Winner chosen at random. Good luck.