For the Lamborghini wants the Urus to become its highest-volume model and its beachhead in China, which is clamoring for platinum-plated SUVs. It also fits the brand's rich-hipster image as well as its history as a purveyor of leather-lined tanks to the Saudi elite. It makes sense that Lamborghini brings out an SUV. It was always about extravagance, but less confined to particular segments than, say, Ferrari.
PLATFORM: Lamborghini's trucklet will use the second generation of the Volkswagen Group's modular-longitudinal platform, used by most Audi passenger cars and expected to underlie the next generations of the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and Volkswagen Touareg.
POWERTRAIN: An Audi-derived 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 is probable; a hybrid variation and a diesel V-8 are possible.
COMPETITION: The upcoming Bentley SUV, BMW X6 M, Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged, Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, Porsche Cayenne Turbo.
WHAT MIGHT GO WRONG: If China has another revolution, expect the country's rich to be dragged behind their Uruses and the market to go, um, soft. Elsewhere, Lamborghini and its marble-floored dealerships need to prepare for higher volumes. Waiting three months to replace a busted mirror won't fly when it's on one of the household's primary cars. With its LM002 history, Lamborghini at least can shake off the brand-dilution charges that plagued Porsche's similarly motivated expansion into more utilitarian vehicles.
PLATFORM: Lamborghini's trucklet will use the second generation of the Volkswagen Group's modular-longitudinal platform, used by most Audi passenger cars and expected to underlie the next generations of the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and Volkswagen Touareg.
POWERTRAIN: An Audi-derived 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 is probable; a hybrid variation and a diesel V-8 are possible.
COMPETITION: The upcoming Bentley SUV, BMW X6 M, Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged, Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, Porsche Cayenne Turbo.
WHAT MIGHT GO WRONG: If China has another revolution, expect the country's rich to be dragged behind their Uruses and the market to go, um, soft. Elsewhere, Lamborghini and its marble-floored dealerships need to prepare for higher volumes. Waiting three months to replace a busted mirror won't fly when it's on one of the household's primary cars. With its LM002 history, Lamborghini at least can shake off the brand-dilution charges that plagued Porsche's similarly motivated expansion into more utilitarian vehicles.
