Lambo’s new top spec SUV gets 801bhp and more carbon than any Urus that has gone before

What’s better than a rear spoiler? Why, two rear spoilers of course! At least, that seems to have been the thinking at Lamborghini when it was coming up with ideas for this new Urus SE Performante.

Another idea was to equip this high-performance plug-in hybrid variant with 801bhp and 738lb ft of torque, making it the most powerful Urus yet. And then they decided to fit more carbon fibre than ever before for good measure.

Most of that carbon has been left exposed too. You can see it on the new bonnet, the front splitter, the redesigned air intakes, the wheel arches, the diffuser and both of those spoilers. All in all, it contributes to a weight reduction of 32kg vs the standard plug-in Urus SE. Still tips the scales at 2,473kg though, so it’s hardly a featherweight.

A new titanium exhaust system developed in collaboration with Akrapovič contributes 10kg to that weight loss total, and we’re told to expect “a more structured, transparent, and powerful exhaust note”. Right.

Still, it should pair well with a 0-62mph time of 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 194mph. That’s the same acceleration figure as the previous Urus Performante without any electrical assistance for its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, but the top whack has climbed by 4mph.

Lambo reckons this new car gets 16 per cent more downforce than the old Performante though (and 23 per cent more than the SE), while the aerodynamic drag is the same despite a higher ride height. The new look also provides better cooling, and the eight-speed auto gearbox has apparently undergone a “major software update” to improve its responses. Plus, a 25.9kWh lithium-ion battery now means you can travel more than 37 miles on electric power alone.

There’s also a new dual-chamber air suspension system that Lamborghini says will halve body roll during fast driving, and like the old Performante there’s a ‘Rally’ drive mode for maximum attack on loose surfaces.

On the inside it follows Lambo’s aerospace inspired concept, with a panel of physical buttons, a new 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a specially designed steering wheel. Plenty of exposed carbon in here, too.