Urus Performante

Segment
SUV

With 641 horsepower on offer in the current Lamborghini Urus, you'd think that the itch for a fast Italian SUV was well and truly scratched, but the people in Sant'Agata are not renowned for their restraint. Almost a year ago, we spotted a Urus being tested in snowy conditions. This test vehicle had slightly different styling elements, leading us to believe that the rumored Urus Evo was indeed happening, but a month later, we heard that this vehicle may be delayed. Fortunately, images captured in November last year showed a development vehicle wearing centerlock wheels, and the rumors flared up once again. Now we have fresh material, and it tells us that the hardcore Urus is coming sooner rather than later, possibly as early as sometime this quarter even.

The test mule we see here isn't wearing those sexy single-nut wheels, but it does boast some clear styling changes, most obvious of which is a pair of gill-like vents on the most pronounced creases of the hood. Additional vent-like creases have been added to the bodywork below each headlight, and grilles are filled with straight vanes rather than hexagonal details. Curiously, this model seems to have eschewed the regular variant's slim roof rails. At the rear, the taillight clusters now end abruptly and no longer appear to be fully encased in clear plastic sheaths. The design of the lower bumper and false diffuser is new too.

Finally, if you're still not convinced that this is at the very least a facelifted Urus, the vents at each extremity of the rear bumper are now angled outward rather than inward and the entire vehicle appears to be considerably lower. That brings us to another point, which is the possibility that we're not looking at the Evo variant at all. Could it be that Lamborghini has decided to facelift the Urus early? Maybe, but we wouldn't count on it. Especially since we can see a 12 o'clock marker on the steering wheel.

Lamborghini needs to make the most of this platform before slowly shifting towards electric power, and the automaker is well known for creating numerous special editions before replacing a model. In addition, family member Porsche recently took the Nurburgring record for SUVs, and Lamborghini wants it back. First, however, there's the small matter of "the world's most powerful luxury SUV..."