Lamborghini will roll out a plug-in hybrid version of its only SUV, the Urus. As per latest media reports, the Lamborghini Urus PHEV is to arrive well before its all-electric derivative, with real-world testing already underway. There will also be a fully-electric derivative of the Urus coming in the future. More on that later.
Lamborghini Urus PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid)
Design & Features
The Urus PHEV’s design will not be a radical departure from the standard model, with the large and muscular proportions remaining intact. However, the electrified SUV will feature a few cosmetic tweaks to help it stand out. Latest spy photos published by Motor1 on February 6, 2023, reveal an extensively-camouflaged development prototype undergoing winter tests in Sweden.
The Urus PHEV test mule looks similar to the gas-only model. However, it appears that Lamborghini has equipped it with a revised front bumper with new intakes & splitter and new LED headlamps. While not evident in the spy shots, the Plug-in Hybrid version of the Urus could get new alloy wheel designs & color options, and perhaps even a repurposed rear bumper with a different air diffuser for improved aerodynamics.
We would expect Lamborghini to equip the Urus PHEV with features such as adaptive air suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes, multiple on-road & off-road drive modes, a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, Lamborghini Unica App with Remote Park, rear-wheel steering, Lamborghini Infotainment System with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, a high-end audio system, and multiple active driver-assistance systems.
Specifications
According to the Motor1 report, the all-new Urus PHEV is likely to be equipped with a similar powertrain currently available on the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. The high-performance hybrid sedan sources power from a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, which is assisted by a 100 kW electric motor to produce a combined 690 hp and 642 lb.-ft. of torque.
Rumors indicate that Lamborghini could tweak this system for the Urus PHEV to develop upwards of 800 hp, while we expect the torque figure to be north of 700 lb.-ft. to make up for the added weight. The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid gets a 17.9 kWh lithium-ion battery with an all-electric range of 53 km (33 miles) in the WLTP cycle.
Given its size, the new plug-in hybrid SUV could be fitted with a larger battery pack, possibly enabling an EPA-est. range of 20-30 miles. It could share the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission found in the Porsche but is likely to be revised if it’s to make its way into the larger & heavier Lamborghini SUV. Similarly, expect the Urus PHEV’s top speed to be around 186 mph, with 0-60 mph possible in less than 4 seconds.
Release date
The Lamborghini Urus PHEV could be unveiled in the first half of 2023, with it reaching U.S. dealers likely later in the year or in early 2024.
On the Lamborghini Urus Electric
According to a report filed on Autocar.co.uk on January 25, 2022, the Lamborghini Urus Electric is at least seven years away, as a launch is not planned until 2029. Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed to the publication that the second generation Urus will be fully electrified and that it will be a “completely new” car with no combustion engine offering.
Lamborghini CTO Rouven Mohr has also hinted that the Urus Electric will be a part of the company’s future line-up, without confirming details. Speaking to Drive, Mohr said that the Urus will be among the first fully electrified Lamborghinis launched. The development boss said the Urus will go electric “sooner or later” because of regulations (that necessitate switching to emission-free powertrains) and the growing social acceptance of EVs. Mohr stated that electrification makes more sense for models like the Urus (compared to supercars).
Lamborghini Urus Electric Platform
The second-gen Urus, which will come as an EV towards the end of this decade, should fully use the VW Group SSP (Scalable Systems Platform) architecture, which the company says will accommodate all its products from the second half of this decade. According to Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of the VW Group, the SSP can accommodate EVs from 85 kW to 850 kW, and the single mechatronics platform will reduce complexity by 50 percent, signifying that it will be more cost-effective to manufacture, especially high-end products like the Lamborghini Urus EV.
Featured Image: Lamborghini
A Mechanical Engineer by qualification, I started out as an automotive editor of a regional magazine in 2011. In my 11 years of experience in creating automotive content, I’ve traveled around the world to review, analyze and report on the world’s top electrified cars.