812hp, 1,000Nm, rally mode and enough carbon fibre to make a Formula One engineer blush. Lamborghini’s quickest Urus yet has arrived

There was a time when the idea of a Lamborghini SUV sounded about as believable as pineapple on carbonara. Fast forward to today, and not only has the Urus become one of Sant’Agata’s biggest success stories, it has somehow become sensible enough that Lamborghini has now made an even faster one.

Lamborghini Urus SE Review: Some Buzz, More Punch

Meet the new Lamborghini Urus SE Performante.

Built upon the plug-in hybrid Urus SE, the latest Performante isn’t interested in being merely quick. It wants to be the benchmark. Again.

Power comes from Lamborghini’s familiar 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 working alongside an electric motor, producing a combined 812hp (596kW) and an earth-turning 1,000Nm of torque. That makes it the most powerful Urus ever built, capable of dispatching 100km/h in 3.3 seconds, hitting 200km/h in 10.8 seconds, before eventually running out of road at 312km/h.

Those numbers are properly ridiculous for something that still has enough room to carry your children, golf clubs and an overenthusiastic Great Dane.

Of course, simply adding more power was never going to be enough. Lamborghini has put the Urus SE Performante on a strict carbon fibre diet, fitting lightweight panels throughout the body while introducing new aerodynamic tweaks that increase downforce, improve brake cooling and err… better aero things at the same time.

Underneath, things become even cleverer.

A new dual-chamber air suspension system promises the impossible combination of sharper handling and a more comfortable ride, reducing body roll by over half while cutting cabin vibrations by 25 per cent compared to the previous Urus Performante. It also gains Lamborghini’s latest predictive chassis electronics, allowing the SUV to react faster to changing grip levels before physics has the chance to spoil the party.

And because apparently blasting around racetracks wasn’t enough, Lamborghini has also introduced a dedicated Rally driving mode. Designed for loose surfaces, it joins Strada, Sport and Corsa (not the Opel), alongside the ability to drive on electricity alone for over 60km when you feel like temporarily pretending fuel prices matter.

Visually, the changes are subtle if you aren’t paying attention, but obvious once you are. A new carbon fibre bonnet, larger air intakes, more aggressive spoilers, redesigned 23-inch wheels and the largest diffuser ever fitted to an Urus all hint that this isn’t your average school-run machine.

Inside, the familiar “Feel Like a Pilot” cockpit receives fresh graphics, a revised infotainment system, new sports trim and even more exposed carbon fibre. If the standard Urus already made you feel special, this one simply turns the volume up.

As for the soundtrack, Lamborghini has teamed up once again with Akrapoviฤ, fitting a lightweight titanium exhaust as standard. It promises a deeper idle, a harder-edged bark under acceleration and even more of the theatrical crackles and pops buyers have come to expect from a raging bull.

The original Urus changed what people expected from a performance SUV. The Urus SE Performante simply reminds everyone that Lamborghini still isn’t interested in playing by anybody else’s rules.

Photos: Lamborghini