At the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, Automobili Lamborghini unveiled what it calls the ‘ultimate super athlete’ in the SUV segment. The Urus has a unique, utterly unmistakable appearance. It looks powerful, but not bulky. It is muscular and highly athletic, but also elegant says Lamborghini. At a length of 4.99 meters, it fits perfectly into the sporty SUV class. At a height of just 1.66 meters, however, it is considerably lower than all its competitors. Together with its width of 1.99 meters, the Lamborghini Urus boasts the perfect proportions for the super athlete in the segment.
With the Urus concept car, Lamborghini treads into waters unfamiliar since the LM002. When unveiled in 1986, the LM002 was an absolutely revolutionary vehicle. A twelve-cylinder engine good for 450 hp, powered the off road vehicle from Lamborghini to a top speed of more than 210 km/h. The Lamborghini LM002 remained in production until 1992 with barely more than 300 units ever built.
“The Urus is a very concrete idea for the future of Lamborghini – as a third model line and as the perfect complement to our super sports cars,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “SUVs stand for freedom and emotion. SUVs make up one of the most successful market segments worldwide. The Urus is the most extreme interpretation of the SUV idea; it is the Lamborghini of the SUVs.”
URUS
As has long been the tradition at Lamborghini, its name is derived once more from the world of bulls – the Urus, also known as Aurochs, is one of the large, wild ancestors of domestic cattle, measuring upto 1.8 m at shoulder. Lamborghini takes the slightly divergent road since the Urus isn’t a Spanish fighting bull but says its appearance is close to that of a Spanish fighting bull.
Design
Extremely tight, razor-sharp lines define a precision that is characteristically Lamborghini. Clean, taut, finely executed surfaces show the exceptional degree of competence and experience possessed by Lamborghini in design, construction and bodyshell
manufacturing. Large air intakes on the left and right ends of the vehicle and the Y shaped headlamps identify the revered Lamborghini face. The headlampstake on a horizontal, heptagonal form and feature full LED technology consisting of two arrays each with three high-performance LEDs. LED light guides lend the daytime running lights their characteristic Y-shape, while the LED fog lamps are positioned beneath the huge air intakes. There is an adaptive front spoiler ( better known as a splitter) bang in the centre of the lamps.
The glass area tapers sharply towards the rear and the wheel arches are wheel arches look good as they only can on a Lamborghini. 24-inch wheels with a double spoke design are forged from matte-finish aluminum. Five carbon fiber winglets optimize ventilation. The Urus is painted in a rich, lightly shimmering red that offers the ideal contrast for the many bodyshell parts made from carbon fiber reinforced polymer. A large part of the front spoiler, the complete side sills and the rear diffuser are all made of carbon fibre polymers. As we’ve seen in the Land Rover defender concepts, the Urus swaps conventional outside rear view mirrors for a camera and TFT screen combo. The screens are placed ergonomically, making the experience as hasslefree as the conventional mirrors.
The narrow rear lights featuring the Y signature are connected by a black strip that adds emphasis to the car’s breadth. The four hexagonal end pipes are carefully fitted into chrome surrounds.
Interior
In perhaps the most definite statement of intent, the Urus dispenses with any alacantra in the interior, and instead is finished in carbon fiber reinforced polymer.
After the wonder that was CarboSkin was flaunted on the Aventador J, now Lamborghini wants to knock you senseless with the center tunnel – an open, skeletal carbon fiber structure made from Forged Composite. It carries through the entire interior and is only partially clad in leather-upholstered cushioning. Single cushions also clad the four bucket seats. The seating position is lower and flatter than in any other vehicle in the segment. Also all four bucket seats are made from Forged Composite.
Lamborghini has tried to keep the driving experience as undiluted as possible. Behind the steering wheel are only the shift paddles for the dual-clutch transmission. All other functions such as indicators, lights and windshield wipers are incorporated into either the multifunction steering wheel or the center console. The driver is delivered information via a freely programmable TFT screen behind the steering wheel. Secondary functions like navigation, entertainment and climate control are operated via a touchscreen on the center tunnel.Rear seat passengers also have a touch screen, probably for entertainment.
Technology
The deliverable targets include a 440 kW / 600 hp, permanent all wheel drive and traction control. Lamborghini also has set its sights on beating all competitors for CO2 emissions. The Urus will be considerably lighter than its competitors, sticking firmly to the Lamborghini lightweight design philosophy. Automobili Lamborghini possesses unique
know-how in carbon fiber technologies and will put it all to good use. An intelligent material mix for the structure and bodyshell and, for the first time, systematic lightweight design in the interior, too.
A low center of gravity and a highly variable bodyshell height will help Lamborghini set benchmarks for handling in this segment. The Lamborghini SUV also has some tricks up its sleeve in the aerodynamics department. In combination with the
variable bodyshell height, the height-adjustable front spoiler facilitates a good approach angle and excellent obstacle clearance. At its lowest setting, however, it aids stability at high speeds. The form is, of course, aerodynamically refined. At the upper edge of the rear windshield is a deflector that diverts the airflow along the rear windshield and onto the adjustable spoiler. In combination with the also adaptive rear spoiler, the aerodynamic balance of the Lamborghini Urus can even be adjusted to suit the prevailing driving conditions.
We wonder if this will require Lamborghini to upgrade its infotainment system with more settings that can be selected by the driver, or if the system will be intelligent enough to determine the settings depending on the driving conditions/terrain.
It is of course, needless to point out that the Lamborghini SUV is easily the best looking tough machine currently and we hope it makes it to production.
