Lamborghini has been spotted testing its upcoming hybrid version of the Urus out on the Nurburgring, giving off a lovely V8 soundtrack.
It’s set to adopt a similar hybrid setup from what we saw on other VW Group models such as the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E Hybrid and Cayenne of the same name.
Lamborghini is likely to add its own tuning and special tweaks, but as a guide, the system consists of a 404kW/770Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 paired with a 100kW electric motor. Combined, the Porsches generate 500kW.
Even at that output, in the Urus, it would come in as the most powerful variant yet, surpassing the Urus Performante with 490kW. However, it is likely to be the heaviest Urus variant yet as well due to the on-board battery.
During a media presentation in Bali earlier this year, Lamborghini’s director for Asia Pacific, Francesco Scardaoni, spoke briefly about the Urus hybrid. He said:
“The Urus hybrid will be unveiled next year. Of course it will be a hybrid version, so more horsepower. It will be top-of-the-range in terms of super SUV. But as of today we cannot disclose no more product information than that.”
Being “top-of-the-range” in its class means it will have to surpass the BMW XM Label Red, which produces 550kW from its twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid system.
Speaking about electric and electrified models, Scardaoni said the reason for hybridisation being planned for all of its production range is because it will enable the brand to fulfil emissions standards in different countries around the world. He said:
“Revuelto is the first hybrid. Next year [2024] there will be Urus and Huracan hybrid, and then in the second part of the decade in 2028 we will have the fourth model, it will be a BEV.”
That battery electric vehicle will be the production version of the Lanzador concept that was unveiled earlier this week. In concept form the low-profile SUV features twin electric motors packing over 1000kW. Scardaoni said:
“The reason why the target date is 2028 [for the first full electric model] is because, for us, every day more is one day more of research and development in a field, that for Lamborghini, for our kind of customers, and our kind of product… I don’t want to say it’s unknown but it’s pretty difficult. That can be difficult. So we need to be really careful in approaching a pure electric Lamborghini.”
The Lamborghini Urus that we spotted out on the Nurburgring looked pretty much like a regular Urus, except it wore the mandatory yellow warning stickers on the outside. These are there to notify safety staff around the circuit that the vehicle features high-voltage power, in case of emergencies and so on.
Speculation suggests the Urus hybrid will be unveiled some time in the first half of 2024, with market entry in Australia not likely until at least the later stages of 2024 or even 2025.
