Lamborghini Urus:
Just the Latest Lambo SUV
Well folks, I’d like to say that this is one of the signs of the impending apocalypse—a Lamborghini SUV—but believe it or not, there is a precedent here.
See, in the midst of the Italian supercar maker’s 30-year (1970-2000) period of financial distress, they did create a limited run high-end SUV called the LM002. Made to the tune of 328 copies from 1986 to 1993, it seemed just as out of character for Lamborghini then as the Urus does now—perhaps more so, given that the SUV craze of the early ’90s hadn’t yet taken place.
Whatever the quality of its reception, the LM002 did pave the way at least somewhat for the latest Lambo. Not completely, mind you; they’re still very different cars in concept—the LM002 being more of a rugged, Hummer-like vehicle and the Urus existing more in the vein of a polished Land Rover or BMW X5M.
The Urus’ powerplant looks to be a bit less exotic than its forebear’s as well. In contrast to the LM002’s 5.2l V12 (a massive 7.2l marine V12 was even available by special order), the Urus will sport a more “mundane” 5.2l V10 routing 584 hp through all four wheels.
So while the idea of a Lamborghini SUV may still be jarring, it’s a concept with history, and given that Porsche has been cranking out Cayennes for the past ten years, we might well wonder what took Lambo so long?
Awesome. I love the new look of the Lambos. Edgy yet muscular, beautiful yet menacing. Sure it’s no Aston or Maserati, but then again it’s not meant to be. Their look is distinctive yet not too contrived. What more can you ask for in an exotic car? ;)
I like it; I’d just be concerned that it looked a bit too, well…toy-like, maybe? Not sure what it is.
You’re right…it does look like it was modeled after a matchbox car instead of the other way around…and usually that’s a turn off, but not in this case. For some reason. It’s incomprehensible why I like the new Lamborghinis and not several others that try to do the same thing. Maybe it’s because the few times I’ve been in the presence of one there is this aura that commands respect like no other brand I’ve ever seen in person. So perhaps I feel that there is substance there that may be missing in other cars that are similar stylistically? (Like the new Camaro, for instance…)
Interesting. Do you feel that a Lamborghini has more presence than, say, a Ferrari or a Maserati? Not a leading question; genuinely curious.
Definitely. I can’t really articulate it, but this impression was rooted in the trip I took to France with your family way back when. In Monaco we were surrounded by exotic cars…every boy’s dream. There were all manner of Ferrari, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, and Maserati. But even there, amongst all of that automotive exotica, I saw very few Lamborghini. I still remember taking a stroll with the guys down to the shore one night after supper. We were just talking and joking around when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I heard it. No…*felt* it. Reverberating off the walls, this low burble. Not a loping idle like an American muscle car. But a low, even, echoing, thrum that sounded both deep and urgent. The sound filled the dark streets. It wasn’t until I came around the corner that I saw what it was: a Lamborghini. Just sitting there, in front of a nightclub, idling there for others to admire as they walked past. There was something very different about seeing and walking past that car than any of the other Ferrari or Maserati we had looked at, walked past, or been taking pictures of that day. I’m not prone to imagery, but all I could think of was it felt like walking past a huge lion as it sat there growling at me. Made me tingle. No other car has ever made me tingle like that before or since. It had the power and aggression of a big block race car, but smooth like velvet. Menacing but at the same time so beautiful and bizarre. Like there was no compromise…you could have it all in one car. Racecar, edgy prototype, luxurious grand tourer, refined cruiser, muscle car and classy chick magnet all in one. Don’t get me wrong…I love a Ferrari, Maserati, Aston, etc. But never have I personally experienced a car that felt so self-aware and utterly self-confident. All the other cars are amazing in their own ways, but not as seemingly complete and capable on all fronts as Lamborghini. And none…none…have ever communicated so much to me while simply sitting at idle as the Lambo. And it makes you wonder. If it seems so incredible just sitting here at idle, what must it be like to drive? Sadly, as of this moment, I can only dream…
(Basically, what I’m saying is that even surrounded by all the other exotic cars of it’s genre, the Lamborghini feels like something special. I see the occasional Ferrari, Maserati, Viper here and there and they always make me sit up and take notice. But to this day when I see a Lamborghini, it makes me *feel* something in the gut. And even the other of my all time favorite cars (Audi R8, Dodge Viper, Aston Martin – any model) can’t impact me in person like a Lambo can. Dunno why. They just feel more…alive…to me for some reason.)
I understand your reaction, especially how you describe the car as “self-confident.” If there’s one adjective to apply to the automaker, even through all its ups and downs, it’s probably that one. The cars just have a strut, a certainty about their mission in life (to wow people) that even Ferrari and Porsche can’t match. It may have something to do with the fact that Lambos aren’t raced nearly as much as the other two brands—it focuses the company and the cars better.
I get why you reacted the way you did, particularly when you call the car “self-confident.” If you had to pick one word to describe the automaker, despite its various highs and lows, “self-confident” would likely be it. These cars possess a swagger, a sense of purpose (to astonish onlookers) that even Ferrari and Porsche seem to lack. This might stem from the fact that Lamborghinis aren’t raced as frequently as the other two brands, which perhaps sharpens the focus of both the company and its vehicles.