Lamborghini is moving ahead with plans to put its ludicrous Urus SUV into production.
After showing a concept version at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, Lamborghini confirmed that it would build the Urus back in September. Now, it’s released an arrival date.
That date is 2017, according to Bloomberg. A launch three from now has been discussed before, but Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed it in an interview at last week’s Detroit Auto Show, saying the Italian carmaker anticipates continued growth in the luxury-SUV segment.
Little else about the Urus, the company’s first SUV since the LM002 “Rambo Lambo” of the 1980s.
The production version will probably retain the dramatic look of the original concept, but sanitized for practical reasons. Powertrain rumors range from an Audi-derived V8 to a plug-in hybrid, each making at least 600 horsepower. It’s also rumored that Lambo will take a page from Porsche and offer an eco-friendly diesel.
The Urus is also expected to share a platform with the next-generation Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and Volkswagen Touaraeg triplets, which would suggest a decent balance between on-road performance and off-road capability.
That’s all speculation for now, but what isn’t is the trend toward ultra-luxury SUVs.
Lamborghini’s fellow Volkswagen Group property, Bentley, is planning an SUV of its own, with a plug-in hybrid powertrain to boot. Rolls-Royce is mulling a 4×4 as well.
Traditionalists had better start chewing an aspirin when these road Goliaths start arriving in showrooms.
