First driving test Lamborghini Urus Performante – the fastest SUV you can buy

The Urus was not exactly a childish device, but Lamborghini has taken it a step further with the Performante. The cure consists of sixteen extra horses and the option to put it on Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres. The maximum power has been raised to the devilish value of 666 hp, while the use of extra carbon fiber has reduced the weight by 50 kilos. In practice, the extra power alone is hardly noticeable. Not surprising when you know that the engines of the Urus already have more horsepower than the manufacturer says. The diet will carry more weight than the small motor cycle. Or less, we should say in this case.

You can also get the Lamborghini Urus Performante with sports suspension, with even more track width.

Urus Performante weighs 2.2 tons

According to our own scales, this version weighs 2,197 kilos. Although that is 47 kilos more than what the manufacturer states, it is also 44 kilos less than the value that the pre-facelift version recorded in our measurement (2,241 kilos). The practical consumption of the Performante will probably be a concern for many owners. Nevertheless, we measured it. The manufacturer itself claims a fuel consumption of 14.1 l / 100 km, but during our test round the Performante liked 15.4 liters per 100 kilometers. That is not really a positive value, but also only nine percent above the manufacturer’s specification. We sometimes see that differently.

Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires belong to the Performante.

0 to 100 in 3.2 seconds

Now it’s time for a part that is much more important in a car like this: performance. We mount the measuring device, switch on the launch control and let the Lambo do its thing. After going from 0 to 100 km/h several times, we arrive at an average time of 3.2 seconds. That is a tenth faster than Lamborghini gives up. This falls under the heading of ‘measurement tolerance’. Lamborghini also specifies a time for the sprint from 0 to 200 km / h, with our test Urus only having to admit a tenth of the factory value at 11.6 seconds. The standard ceramic brakes do their job impressively and bring the Urus to a standstill in 31.5 meters from 100 km/h. Mind you, the test car is shod with the optional Trofeo R tires. Its soft rubber mix helps enormously with the exercises we subject the car to. Because you probably sometimes take a longer ride with this kind of sports enthusiast, we have of course investigated the travel qualities of the Performante. During the motorway drive to the circuit it has already become clear that the developers have placed the emphasis on driving dynamics. No air suspension is available for the Performante, as is the case with the regular versions. The only option is a sports suspension that has been further tightened and fine-tuned. With this, the Urus also sniffs 20 millimeters lower above the asphalt, while the track width has been increased by 16 millimeters.

If we look at the design, the further down bumper immediately catches the eye at the front, an intervention that improves aerodynamics. The two boomerang elements are reminiscent of the Huracán Tecnica. The bonnet is made entirely of carbon fiber, while a small roof spoiler with two carbon fiber ends adorns the rear. It is reminiscent of the example of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. A small carbon fiber flap adorns the spoiler lip below the rear window. All these efforts lead to a 38 percent increase in downward pressure.

Laws of physics

Does that help a bit during a fast lap around the circuit? Well, sure! It is true that oversteer is quite present, but that can hardly be prevented with such a colossus. After all, you can’t just bend the laws of physics. Due to the high weight, the sidewalls of the tires are compressed more, preventing them from exploiting their maximum cornering potential.

Still, the driving dynamics are amazing. The car blasts out of corners with the active rear differential of its Torsen four-wheel drive, and it always does so with a slight amount of oversteer due to the enormous power, and some slip that makes the car a little more nimble. On a small hill in the course, the rear feels quite loose and in the fast left corner that follows, the Urus dances back and forth between understeer and oversteer. You can hit the brakes late. The braking system with ceramic brakes and 440 mm discs is particularly powerful. In the next corner we slow down while driving halfway over the curbstones, causing the rear to turn in nicely. However, it does not slip when exiting the bend. Neat. With a time of 1:34.86, the Urus Performante is the fastest SUV on this course. It is also 2.13 seconds faster than the pre-facelift Urus. And, not unimportantly, it is also faster than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, even if it is only 24 hundredths of a second.

We don’t think many Lamborghini Urus owners will head to the circuit, but it’s nice to see this car doing so well there, isn’t it? This is clearly the fastest SUV you can buy, and (potential) Lambo owners need no more information.