What's not to love about SUV's? I'm not exactly the target market for the larger vehicle but since they're becoming a more acceptable choice for the urban explorer, I've decided to throw care for the environment out of my electric sunroof and just enjoy the spaciousness. The sheer thrill of unnecessary clearance, the aerodynamics of a giant brick and the fun of burning a fat percentage of my weekly pay cheque on premium ULP... Fuck yeah! With my over enthusiasm for the larger vehicle you'd think I'd be stoked when I came across the Lamborghini SUV concept unveiled at the Beijing motor show, but you would be very mistaken.
You see, I have these things called eyes which are used to look at the world. And I get excited by beautiful, inspiring, well thought out things...There's no doubt the people at Lamorghini are far smarter than me and the car was created using every ounce of their huge brains, but it definitely was not created using their eyes nor was it out of any particular desire for unique design. Look at the front, something similar about it? It's an ugly version of their own signature grill cross-bread with a Renault concept or something. The back sweeping lines? Very similar to the new Range Rover Evoque. And most of all, it just reminds me of a more angular Porsche Cayenne - a car that no one would describe as beautiful. Impressive, yes. Beautiful, no.
Then the name, the Urus. Yes, that's really it. And yes, it does sound like a medical term for a gents plumbing disease. Not the level I'm used to from these guys - Adventador, Gallardo, LP 570-4 Superleggera... the Urus. I can just picture myself hitting up the local GP and complaining about a burning sensation in my johnson only to have the doc reply, "Sorry sir, you have a serious Urus infection. We're going to have to amputate." Although this name may come to be appropriate as purchasers of the car realise that a super STD is preferable to driving their new whip.
The best of the SUVs are not made to be speed machines, they're comfortable utilities. Look at the Range Rover or the Volkswagen Toureg - it's like driving a lounge room. And as funny as it would be to do 200k/ph looking out the sash windows while comfortably reclining on my Ikea chaise longue, it's more likely I'd want to travel at a reasonable, comfortable speed and enjoy the ride. The best of their class are made to be spacious, high off the ground and to feel like a very, very luxurious tank. They might not have the speed or exclusivity of the Urus but I'll take a lounge-tank over this any day.
No release date as of publication - no specs given (other than an undefined 600hp engine).
WORDS: Dave Keating