Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann has confirmed the Urus SUV concept will reach production.
A production version of the Lamborghini Urus SUV concept, which first appeared at last year’s Beijing motor show, has long been rumoured to be in development, however Lamborghini has hitherto declined to confirm the car’s production.
“We’re working on it and it will come, which will be good for the brand,” Winkelmann told Automotive News Europe.
“We’re going low profile now. I can’t tell you much on details now, but when we get close to the launch, we will have more.”
Following several hints from Winkelmann about the future potential of the Urus concept, it is the first time he has publicly commented on its production. Last October, Winkelmann said Lamborghini would not build a SUV before 2017, lest the Sant’Agata based manufacturer “jam” its product line.
He also said a production Urus could sell for more than 150,000 euros ($215,200), and would not necessarily be built in Sant’Agata, hinting that the Urus could depart from Lamborghini’s traditional ‘one model, one engine’ strategy by possibly offering an optional petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.
While it’s likely Lamborghini has been encouraged by the success of Porsche’s Cayenne, the Italian supercar manufacturer has more claim than most to a SUV. Between 1986 and 1993, Lamborghini built the LM002, which paired a heavy-duty off-roader body with the Countach supercar’s V12 engine.
Just 382 LM002s were built, however the booming SUV market would certainly guarantee Lamborghini more sales the second time around.
The Urus is not the only super-SUV slated for production. Bentley is readying its ‘Falcon’ SUV, which “will be the world’s most expensive and luxurious SUV”. That car will share its underpinnings with the next-generation Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne (there is no word on whether the Urus will, too), is set to cost from 180,000 euros ($258,250), and will be powered by a 12-cylinder engine producing between 430kW and 485kW.
The Urus will also face-off against the Jeep Grand Cherokee-based Maserati Levante, set to begin production next year in either Turin or Detroit, and possibly a Rolls-Royce SUV.
