Lamborghini has spent almost half a century shaping its own vision of the Super SUV, long before the idea became a major luxury trend. The story began with the Cheetah prototype in 1977, moved through the wild LM002 in 1986, and reached a new level with the modern Urus family. Today, the Urus SE stands as the most advanced expression of this journey, combining plug in hybrid technology with the performance, attitude, and exclusivity expected from Sant Agata Bolognese.
Lamborghini started exploring the SUV world with the Cheetah, a military focused prototype shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1977. The project later evolved through LM001 and other experimental versions, but the major breakthrough came when engineer Giulio Alfieri moved the V12 engine to the front of the vehicle. This change helped create the LM002, which debuted in 1986 and became widely known as the original Lamborghini Super SUV.
Powered by the 5.2 liter V12 from the Countach Quattrovalvole, the LM002 delivered 450 CV and could exceed 200 km per hour despite its serious size and weight. Pirelli developed special Scorpion tires for it, helping the SUV handle desert dunes with confidence. Inside, Lamborghini added leather, wood trim, air conditioning, and handcrafted details, giving the LM002 a rare mix of off road strength and exotic luxury. Production ended in 1992 after just 301 units, making it one of Lamborghini’s most distinctive icons.
Lamborghini revealed the Urus concept in 2012 and launched the production model in 2017, creating a new chapter for the brand and for luxury SUVs. The Urus introduced Lamborghini’s first modern twin turbo V8 engine, producing 650 CV and 850 Nm of torque. It accelerated from 0 to 100 km per hour in 3.6 seconds and reached a top speed of 305 km per hour, bringing true supercar energy into a more practical body style.
Lamborghini also gave the Urus advanced driving technology to support its performance on and away from asphalt. Rear wheel steering, active anti roll bars, and the Tamburo driving selector allowed drivers to choose modes such as Strada, Sport, Corsa, Neve, Terra, and Sabbia. The design carried clear Lamborghini DNA, with bold proportions, hexagonal details, and a driver focused cabin built around the Feel like a pilot philosophy. The Urus quickly attracted new customers and helped expand Lamborghini’s global presence.
Lamborghini expanded the Urus family with models that each express a different side of the Super SUV idea. The Urus Performante pushed performance further with 666 CV, steel springs, carbon fiber parts, improved aerodynamics, and a production SUV record at Pikes Peak in 2022. The Urus S brought the same 666 CV output with more focus on luxury, comfort, and versatility through adaptive air suspension and expanded Ad Personam options.
The Urus SE then introduced Lamborghini’s plug in hybrid era for Super SUVs. Revealed in 2024, it combines a twin turbo V8 with a 141 kW electric motor to deliver 800 CV and 950 Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km per hour in 3.4 seconds, reaches 312 km per hour, and can drive more than 60 km in electric mode thanks to its 25.9 kWh battery. With new hybrid displays, improved aerodynamics, more than 100 exterior colors, and 47 interior combinations, the Urus SE turns Lamborghini’s SUV story into a mix of power, technology, sustainability, and personal style.
Started my career in Automotive Journalism in 2015. Even though I'm a pharmacist, hanging around cars all the time has created a passion for the automotive industry since day 1.
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