Having my first Lamborghini be the Urus is rather a full circle for me. While writing for the UW’s Daily Newspaper, I covered student engineers creating the next generation of Lamborghini technology: Forged Carbon Fiber Composites. (Dear lord, my writing has come a long way…)
This lightweight and sturdy material went into the Sesto Elemento and the Urus. During my coverage, I was given a Lamborghini logo made from the stuff. I went back to get it autographed by the engineers. Because I’m just that geeky and because Lamborghini.
From covering research as a student journalist to driving the product as a professional journalist in less than 6 years. Both the strive and the drive were what dreams are made of. Dreams of a writer with a goal of automotive journalistic awesomeness. The Urus, a dream of what a practical Lamborghini could be.
Do we need another expensive SUV?
Lamborghini has quite a bit of competition in the luxury SUV space. Porsche has been on the market for years with the Macan and Cayenne. While they’re capable and off-roaded in the true sense, they’re not Lamborghinis.
Even the Maserati Levante starts at $80,000, though convenience and comfort add-ons can easily add up to six-digits. And it’s still on the luxuriantly-refined side of cars, while the Lamborghini is in the luxuriantly-extreme.
There’s said to be a Maybach SUV, but that’s not what anyone would consider Lamborghini performance. That’s more like a super-powered land yacht with nausea-inducing cornering capabilities.
Rolls Royce Cullinan and the Bentley Bentayga start hitting the mark, yet neither brands are known for being audacious, road rippers driven with more glee than intelligence.
And, while Ferrari finally tossed their hat into the game last year, Lamborghini is here. They’re available now. And they’re providing smile-laden trips to many across the Puget Sound. And they cost around $200,000 MSRP.
As the quilted leather hugs my body, I flicked the jet-like flap and ignited the 641 hp engine. A soft Lamborghini growl greeted me and the dials came alive. The tactile sensation of the leather-worked steering wheel begged my brain to get on the road.
I started in Strada, normal. It was responsive but not outrageous. Driving through a quiet residential neighborhood elicited no cries concerning loud engines or exhausts. The Urus was the epitome of decency and charm. It’s distinctly front lip catching glances wherever it went.
Get some space in front the Urus and the beast within comes alive.
Do dreams really come true?
My first time behind the wheel of a Lamborghini and I get to put the pedal down (responsibly, of course…). It rained during the time I had it, so I kept it in Sport, rather than Corsa (Race).
(More below gallery.)
Its 4.0-liter V8 growl gets deeper, more menacing. The hairs on my arms stood at attention from the sinister crackle and burble. Even on roads slicked with hours of rain, this raging bull charges forward with a cacophony of sound and a blur of speed.
The Urus can allegedly hit 190 mph. I’m sure that’s true, but I got nowhere close to that during my time with the Urus.
See, Lamborghini has plenty of record-breaking supercars that shine at ridiculously high speeds. They have grand tourers that can luxuriously host two for long trips along Monaco. They have race-winning purebreds that show up to the track ready to win.
The Urus isn’t out to push top speed records (though it’s fast), its not out to win races (though it will beat most from light to light). It is meant for those grand touring trips, but with family and dogs and entertainment.
And that’s really the point of it: impractical practicality.
If you wanted a true off-roader you’d go for a Land Rover. If you wanted a Luxuriant offroader, you’d go for the Bentley Bentayga. If you wanted
But you don’t want any of that. You want it all, and you want it packaged with that Lamborghini flair, style, and essence.
And that’s why you dream of an Urus, too.
Will people off-road the Urus?
The real question is: Why wouldn’t people off-road in their Urus?
In a region known for its exuberant and outdoorsy populations, I do fully expect the Urus to hit some pretty interesting terrain. The Urus has Sabia, Terra and Neve modes for Sand, Mud, and Snow. And, up and down the west coast, drivers can find all three terrains a few hours drive away from the others.
The kind of people that buy an Urus are the kind of people that would start their day with a brisk ski down the slopes of Stevens. Drive down from their chalet to the dunes of Moses Lake for some sand fun, then out to a vinyard for a dinner with a view. With the obligatory fun on the paved bits in between.
Is it still a Lamborghini?
This is something I’ve been asked a lot since my jaunt in this European Bison. Is a V8 SUV still worthy of the title graced by so many V12 two-seaters? So many legendary greats that were bequeathed the fighting Taurus.
I downshift on the flappy paddles and can’t tell when the dual-clutch shifts from one gear to the next. The Urus hunkers down and pushes against the road, the mist-grayed horizon coming quickly. Giggles erupt as the engine barks upon slowing. It isn’t just experiencing speed, but emphatic, irrepressible joy whilst doing so.
Dear God, yes, the Urus is still a Lamborghini. Though, admittedly, I’ve nothing to compare it to except Mercedes-Benzs, McLarens, and a smattering of other exotics. And, also admittedly, this one shares a lot of bits and bobbles with Audis, Bentleys, and Porsches.
The Urus is made of the same durable materials as the Sesto Elemento, the Sixth Element (carbon). The Forged Carbon Fiber in the Urus and Sesto offers better resistance to density ratio and adapts to designs easier, even mechanical applications. While normal carbon fiber is durable and strong, Forged Carbon Fiber Composites take that to the… well, the Lamborghini-level.
When you engineer an SUV in the same way you might a Murcielago or Huracan, something special happens.
That something special isn’t in having more than one companion on the drive. That something special isn’t the ability to take one’s doggo with them (and hope it doesn’t rolf in the corner fun). That something special isn’t the ability to attack corners with the same gusto as one might the aforementioned greats.
That something special is that one only needs one vehicle to make that possible: The Urus.
To order your own Urus, head over to the folks at Seattle-Bellevue Lamborghini. They’re waiting for those discerning few who require an all-in-one package of fun that they can take anywhere the road leads them.
