Lamborghini Urus SE is the marque’s first plug-in hybrid SUV

Lamborghini’s answer to the Ferrari Purosangue offers 800hp and 37 miles of electric range.

The Lamborghini Urus has entered a new era with the newly unveiled SE representing the first hybrid plug-in version and the most powerful example of the SUV yet. The car was revealed last week ahead of the Auto Beijing China motor show and gives further credibility to Lamborghini’s long-term plans for electrification, also seen in the Revuelto.

The Urus is Lamborghini’s best selling model and contributes to the brand’s appeal across more than just the petrolhead space. It was originally unveiled as a concept at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show and was also shown at Pebble Beach in the same year before being released in late 2017 as the first SUV from Lamborghini since the LM002 off-roader. The production version was powered by a turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 rather than the Gallardo-inspired 5.2-litre V10 engine used in the concept and had major changes to the exterior originally seen five years prior. The Italian marque expected to sell around 3,500 models a year although that figure proved to be a conservative estimation and Lamborghini’s factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese was expanded to meet the higher demand.

The Urus was significantly lighter than similar SUVs in its class and had a top speed of 190mph and 0-62mph acceleration time of 3.6 seconds, making it one of the fastest production SUVs in the world. A more powerful Performante variant was unveiled in August 2022 with an upgraded engine and improved performance, as well as a few design changes.

“With the Urus we changed the paradigms of the SUV world, ushering in a new segment,” commented Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini Chairman & CEO. “In just a few years, the Urus has become our brand’s bestseller, enabling Lamborghini to attract new customers and strengthen its position in the most important markets. With the Urus SE, we’ve taken another step towards the future in line with our Direzione Cor Tauri strategy, moving ahead with the electrification of the range and the path toward decarbonisation that began with the introduction of the Revuelto super sports car in March 2023.”

The new Urus SE retains the twin-turbocharged 4.0 litre V8 and adds to it an electric motor for a total output of 800hp and 950Nm of torque. It can do 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 193mph and the motor can be found within the eight-speed automatic transmission which gives all the power to all four wheels. The Urus SE can also cover up to 37 miles on battery power alone from the 25.9kWh lithium-ion battery pack and driving speeds of 80mph. Emissions have also been reduced by around 80% compared to the previous Urus models.

In terms of design, the Urus SE has a revised front bumper for a slight facelift which Lamborghini says is “recalling certain new styling concepts introduced by the Revuelto”. A new headlight cluster that features matrix LED technology is accompanied by a brand new light signature inspired by the tail of the Lamborghini bull.

Lamborghini has also improved the aerodynamics of the Urus with new under-body air vents and revamped air ducts, which channel more airflow to cool the mechanical and engine components: a 15% increase over the original Urus. Along with the new design of the front section, there is an overall 30% improvement in air cooling over the previous system.

Inside, there is a bigger 12.3-inch centrally located infotainment display which comes with revised graphics and a new page for the SE’s hybrid system. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is also in the cabin which contains Y-shaped aluminium trim elements inspired by the Revuelto.

Customers have a choice of more than 100 paintwork options including two new colours at launch: Arancio Egon (orange) and Bianco Sapphirus (white). There is additional potential offered via Lamborghini’s Ad Personam personalisation program.

There’s no word on a release date or pricing yet, though it is expected to be north of the £190,000 commanded by the outgoing Urus Performante. However, with the Urus accounting for over half of Lamborghini’s total sales, it is unlikely that the price will be off putting to those who can afford it.

words: Mike Booth
pictures & video: Lamborghini