Lamborghini Urus Performante Debuts With New Pikes Peak Record

Lamborghini has elevated the performance of its own SUV, while raising the stakes for competitors, with the new Lamborghini Urus Performante. The Urus was already the fastest SUV in the world, with a top speed of 190 mph, and it was one of the quickest with a zero-to-60 time of 3.2 seconds and a quarter mile elapsed time of 11.3 seconds. In a world with instant-torque electric SUVs capable of sub-3-second runs to 60 and quarter mile times under 10 seconds those are impressive numbers for a 4,800-pound SUV.

But the new Lamborghini Performante ups its game, giving the twin-turbo V8 a power bump from 641 to 666 peak horsepower, a weight reduction of 103 pounds, a 1-inch drop in ride height, and a new “Rally” driving mode for high-speed, off-road driving. We don’t know how these performance tweaks impact acceleration, though Lamborghini is claiming the same zero-to-60 time and top speed for the Urus Performante. Automakers often quote conservative numbers for their vehicles before independent testing shows quicker times, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen with the Performante.

But even if acceleration remains roughly the same the Urus Performante has already achieved world record status, shooting to the top of Pikes Peak (14,115 feet) in 10 minutes and 32 seconds. That time makes the Urus Performante the fastest production SUV to make that climb, beating the previous record by over 17 seconds. Beyond the improved horsepower, curb weight and ride height numbers, the latest Urus features a series of upgrades to aid high-speed performance.

Exterior enhancements include a newly-designed carbon fiber hood, a carbon fiber rear bumper and diffuser, a standard Akrapovic exhaust system, and an optional carbon fiber roof. A new rear spoiler increases downforce by 38 percent, and a .62-inch wider track features optional 23-inch forged wheels (with titanium bolts) sitting under carbon fiber wheel wells and wearing Pirelli Trofeo R tires developed specifically for the Urus Performante. Adding to the exterior enhancements is newly optimized differential, delivering a higher ratio of the Urus Performante’s 627 pound-feet of torque to each wheel.

Interior upgrades for the Performante include new hexagonal seat stitching, Performante trim on the doors, headliner and seats, with matte carbon fiber trim, red door handles and customized kick plates available. A “Dark Package” can extend the matte black interior treatments throughout the cabin. The Urus Performante includes the expected driving modes for Strada (street), Sport, and Corsa (race), but adds “Rally” mode for dirt track driving, allowing for increased oversteer with optimized body roll and suspension damping.

Lamborghini says the first Urus Performante deliveries will take place before the end of 2022, with a starting price of $260,676. As the logical extension of the Urus’ existing performance capabilities, the Performante version will add to the SUV’s compelling balance of fun and functionality in an even more visually striking package. We’re not sure how much longer V8-powered performance vehicles will be around, but the Urus Performante confirms they will go out with the proverbial bang.