Raging Bull II: The Lamborghini Urus is the perfect Italian SUV for the 21st Century

By Peter Braun Published September 26, 2013

lamborghini ceo confirms urus suv is going into production — Hunter S. Thompson owned the first Lambo SUV in the 1980s. Perhaps the launch of the Urus will bring him back to life? Image used with permission by copyright holder

Do you like the Lamborghini Gallardo but think it is just not tall enough? Well Lamborghini has been thinking about you and has the answer to your prayers with the Lamborghini Urus SUV.

The Urus will be Lambo’s first foray into the SUV market since the ill-fated LM002 in the 1980s. Unlike that gas guzzling land dirigible, the Urus looks like a jacked up Aventador. Or in laymen’s terms, a cross between a carbon fiber doorstop and the world’s most expensive Nike sneaker. Still though, it is miles ahead of the Cayenne, Touareg, and Q7 – the other cars on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform.

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Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann told the Detroit News that the Lamborghini Urus SUV concept is officially going into production. Practical details are still sketchy. Based on Lamborghini’s past statements, expect the Urus to be sporting a twin-turbo V8 that will make around 600 horsepower.

Oh and if you are if you are the sort of person who wants a 600hp SUV but still wants to enjoy the occasional guilt free polar bear steak, there may be a plug-in hybrid in the offing.

With that kind of grunt, we can only pray that the Ursus takes full advantage of the all-wheel drive systems that have been a staple in other recent Lambos. If not, then the Middle East – where Lamborghini expects to sell a lot of the uproarious crossovers – will likely be strewn with hundreds of smoldering, high-riding Italian power SUVs. And then the future of the Saudi Royal family will be in real jeopardy.

No definitive release date has been announced yet, but Lambo reports that the happy event is set for 2017. I know I will be checking the mail daily for my first drive invitation. Until then, we will just have to be satisfied with the paltry 493 hp you can get from the top spec Porsche Cayenne.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Peter is a freelance contributor to Digital Trends and almost a lawyer. He has loved thinking, writing and talking about cars…

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