Autoblog

Chinese patent filing may mean Lamborghini Urus closer to production

Jeffrey N. Ross — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 15:04:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Lamborghini, Design/Style

The Urus SUV still hasn't received the official green light for production, but that hasn't stopped Lamborghini from protecting its performance crossover in the land of stolen vehicle designs. These patent drawings submitted in China show what appear to be the Urus in the same concept form that we first saw last year at the Beijing Motor Show.

Last we heard, the Volkswagen Group had put development of the Urus on hold even though, more recently, the Bentley EXP 9 F (aka, the Falcon) has reportedly been given the nod. Although the existence of these patent images don't necessarily mean the Urus is going into production, they are at least another excuse to debate the SUV's stealth-bomber-style lines.

Chinese patent filing may mean Lamborghini Urus closer to production originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Feb 2013 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini and Bentley may hold off on SUVs so VW can conserve cash

Chris Tutor — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, SUV, Europe, Crossover, Bentley, Lamborghini, Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials, Luxury

After surveying the European economic scene, Volkswagen may have decided now is not the time to launch utility vehicles with Bentley and Lamborghini badges. Bentley officials say they will continue to push for support for the EXP 9 F and Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelman has said planning for the Urus will continue until VW tells it to stop.

That decision could come on November 23, when VW's board will vote on the company's budget for equipment, factories and vehicles. With VW's sales slowing and the Euro economy slumping further, some industry watchers say the company is more likely to build its cash reserves than to introduce super-expensive luxury SUVs or crossovers.

"Such vehicles are anything but obligatory during a crisis," says Frankfurt-based Equinet AG analyst Tim Schuldt in a new Automotive News Europe story. "Delaying their launch would be no drama but help save costs."

Lamborghini and Bentley may hold off on SUVs so VW can conserve cash originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini developing Urus while still awaiting green light

Matt DeLorenzo — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini

While much of the focus for Lamborghini at the Paris Motor Show was on its new strategy for the Gallardo line using styling cues to differentiate the rear-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive and Superleggera models, the Italian automaker is continuing development of its Urus SUV, even though it has not yet gotten final approval yet.

Stephan Winkelmann, the firm's CEO and president, is confident that the project will be approved by the VW Group, but has not yet received the final blessing and says much depends on the whether or not there will be a new architecture to underpin the vehicle. "It [Urus] has been well received both at Beijing and at clinics in America and Europe," Winkelmann said. "The point is that it is not a replacement vehicle, but a new vehicle and as a result we will be relying on the group to go forward." However, the fact that Porsche showed the Panamera Sport Turismo concept demonstrates that there is enough flexibility in that platform to perhaps support the Lamborghini concept.

"Even if we get the go-ahead now, [and] we have to go immediately, it won't be ready until 2017," Winklemann explained. In the meantime, the company is aggressively pursuing the new Gallardo strategy and promises to have its successor that goes beyond the current facelift ready by 2014. Next year, Lamborghini will busy itself with building the 20 Sesto Elemento carbon-fiber intensive models as well as celebrating the company's 50th anniversary as well as adding a U.S. slate to its European and Asian spec racing series. The events, according to Winkelmann are important because "we sell the dream, but we also must maintain the dream. We have to be more and more involved in the lives of the vehicles."

Lamborghini developing Urus while still awaiting green light originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini Urus Concept is warmly welcomed at Pebble Beach

Michael Harley — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, SUV, Crossover, Lamborghini, Misc. Auto Shows

We crawled all over the Lamborghini Urus Concept, and even took the time to open the doors and sit behind the wheel of the utility vehicle at "The Quail: A Motorsport Gathering" during the festivities at Pebble Beach this past weekend. While there has still been no official announcement of whether or not the concept has received a thumbs-up for production, all indications are that the program is moving forward for a launch around 2015.

As we have mentioned previously, this Lamborghini is expected to be built on modified PL73 architecture (underpinning the next-gen Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne and Bentley EXP 9 F Concept). Our bet is that it will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, an engine shared with the new Bentley Continental GT V8, making in excess of 600 horsepower (possibly with the help of hybrid technology). With a targeted curb weight of 4,400 pounds, it will not only be the most powerful SUV on the market but one of the lightest and quickest, too (the BMW X6 M has 555 horsepower and weighs 5,324 pounds).

Rub elbows with the well-to-do on the Monterey Peninsula, and their excitement seems to indicate the market is ready for 3,000-plus copies of a $180,000-plus sport-ute from the Italian exotic sports car maker. The fiery Urus Concept seems to have everything going in its favor. Now, all it needs is a green light.

Lamborghini Urus Concept is warmly welcomed at Pebble Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini eyes low weight, Audi-sourced twin-turbo V8 for production Urus

Noah Joseph — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, SUV, Crossover, Lamborghini

Long before Lamborghini unveiled the Urus concept for its new SUV at the Beijing Motor Show last month, we got two chances to preview the show truck: once at the factory in Italy and once at a private preview in New York. The Italian automaker's development chief Maurizio Reggiani wasn't prepared to talk about powertrain options at the time, but in speaking with Automotive News, he's now given us a hint of what to expect should the Volkswagen Group board give the project the green light.

As expected, the Urus would have to be based on the same platform that is slated to underpin the next Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and Bentley EXP 9 F (if similarly approved) in order to make good business sense. Unfortunately, that new PL73 architecture is made principally of steel, a material that Lamborghini has been getting away from in favor of new types of carbon fiber construction. In order to keep weight down - Lambo is targeting 4,400 lbs for the Urus, significantly less than its potential competitors - it would need to make other components out of carbon to compensate.

That covers the mass side of the power-to-weight ratio that is integral to any performance vehicle. As for the power, Reggiani says the company has yet to make a final decision. The last time Lamborghini made an SUV - the legendary LM002 "Rambo Lambo" - it was powered by the same high-revving V12 as the Countach, lending to speculation that the Urus could incorporate the new V12 from the Aventador or the V10 from the Gallardo. Reggiani, however, indicates that the new twin-turbo V8 powering the latest Audi RS models and the Bentley Continental is a more likely choice, given that it would help keep weight down and provide more low-end torque than the naturally-aspired 10 or 12-pots the Raging Bull marque currently produces for its sports cars.

Lamborghini eyes low weight, Audi-sourced twin-turbo V8 for production Urus originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini trademarks Huracán

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:44:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Lamborghini

Lamborghini is on a bit of a naming spree. Back in April, it was revealed that the Italian automaker (and hopeful SUV maker, too...) put its legal stamp on the names Urus and Deimos, the first of which, as you're likely aware by now, is the moniker adopted for the concept version of its future sport utility vehicle.

Deimos, on the other hand, has yet to grace any bullish Italian supercars, at least none shown to the public, so we're curious to see where that ends up. Muddying waters even further is a report from Car and Driver that Lamborghini has also recently trademarked the name Huracán.

Huracán, in case you hadn't made the connection yourselves, is the Spanish word for hurricane, but it's also the name of a Mayan god of fire, wind and storms, according to C&D. That dovetails nicely with Deimos, which was the name of a terrifying mythological Greek god.

What either of these as-yet unused names has to do with Spanish bulls or matadors (if anything), we have no idea. We also can't say with any certainty what future Lambos, concept or production, will be graced by these names. But we certainly look forward to finding out.

Lamborghini trademarks Huracán originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini Estoque not quite dead yet

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini, Beijing Motor Show

Following the debut of the Lamborghini Urus SUV in Beijing this week, it's only natural to ask: What happened to the Estoque?

At the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini unveiled the striking sedan concept as a way to preview a new model line for the brand, but since then, nothing has come to fruition. AutoWeek sat down with Lamborghini CEO Stefan Winkelmann, who shed some light on the decision to move forward with a sport-utility vehicle rather than a rakish sedan.

"It was placed on hold because of a number of reasons, including the lack of a suitable platform. We haven't given up on the idea of a sedan entirely, but we see more potential in a sport-utility vehicle encapsulating typical Lamborghini attributes."

Given the fact that the production Urus isn't slated to hit the market until around 2015, that means a Lamborghini sedan will likely be even farther out. Nearly four years later, we're still quite fond of the 2008 concept, but we aren't sure if we can hold our breath for another five-ish years.

Lamborghini Estoque not quite dead yet originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini Urus stomps onto the stage in China [w/video]

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, SUV, China, Videos, Crossover, Lamborghini, Beijing Motor Show, Design/Style

The Lamborghini Urus super-SUV is, arguably, the most significant debut of the 2012 Beijing Motor Show. Maybe not in terms of sales volume, but at it's a completely new direction for the modern Lamborghini brand (nevermind the LM002 "Rambo Lambo" from the '80s), and moreover, it shows the first glimpse into the new premium SUV architecture that will gradually make its way through the entire Volkswagen Group portfolio.

We've already divulged the nitty gritty details about the Urus, including the meaning behind its questionable name (it's a Spanish bull - go figure), but now it's time to take a look at the bruiser live on the stage in Beijing. Before its debut, we were skeptical about how a high-riding Lamborghini SUV would look, but if we're honest, we like what we see. It's absolutely in-tune with the rest of Lambo's design language, and it's not nearly as enormous as you might think. We just wonder how much space there is in the back seat and how much utility is offered by the cargo bay.

Click above to peruse through a high-resolution gallery of images live from Beijing, and scroll down to watch a video of the SUV's unveiling live from the Chinese expo.

Continue reading Lamborghini Urus stomps onto the stage in China [w/video]

Lamborghini Urus stomps onto the stage in China [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini Urus super SUV officially unveiled in China

Matt Davis — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, SUV, China, Lamborghini, Beijing Motor Show

Everything You Want To Know About Lambo's Super SUV

The promise is to make it the most powerful series production SUV on the market, but also the least polluting.

Lamborghini has told us repeatedly that it wasn't planning on doing such a thing anytime soon. We expected most likely the front-engine four-door super sedan - playing off the 2008 Estoque showcar and 1968-'78 Espada - to become the raging bull's third model line.

Feast your eyes on the Lamborghini Urus, or "LB736." First off, yes, it is part of an upcoming (i.e. sometime in 2015) Volkwagen Group premium SUV onslaught. In the company of Lamborghini design director Filippo Perini and research and development guru Maurizio Reggiani, we were able to pry into all of the details back in mid-March during a special preview at company headquarters. We've had to hold off scribbling until today because the official debut for the edgy 4x4 happens right about now at the Beijing Motor Show. China is foreseen as a good market for the supersonic SUV, but the United States remains Job One.

In comparison to the clumsy Bentley EXP 9 F concept seen at the recent Geneva Motor Show, the Urus hits us almost gleefully by comparison; it's right on the money with Lambo's current design language. Lamborghini's Perini understands that this is a polarizing proposition: "When Lamborghini creates a whole new model line, it's automatically risky since it doesn't happen so often."

And we were nervous about it, too, imagining a four-seater setup that would need to ride way too high, sort of like the first generation Porsche Cayenne or that Bentley. But when the veil came off and the hard lights hit it, we were pleased.

Continue reading Lamborghini Urus super SUV officially unveiled in China

Lamborghini Urus super SUV officially unveiled in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini Urus SUV storms out early

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:46:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Crossover, Lamborghini, Beijing Motor Show, Design/Style

Here it is, folks: the Lamborghini SUV. The only thing missing from these photos are the flying pigs.

Dubbed Urus, the Lambo sport-ute will officially be unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show shortly, but thanks to the magic of the Internets, the first few photos of the mighty 'ute have been leaked. It looks pretty similar to all of the renderings we've seen in the past, albeit with sleeker headlamps and a more low-slung appearance.

The Urus is expected to share its platform with the next-generation Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 and upcoming Bentley SUV, but is tipped to be about 220 pounds lighter than all of those. Power is expected to be provided by a 5.2-liter V10 that produces around 584 horsepower.

We'll have all of the official details shortly, so keep your eyes peeled for more. In the meantime, have a click through our attached gallery to see the full brace of leaked shots.

Lamborghini Urus SUV storms out early originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini Urus SUV silhouette revealed in official invite

Zach Bowman — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, China, Crossover, Lamborghini, Beijing Motor Show, Design/Style, Luxury

Lamborghini has made no secret of the fact that it plans to officially unveil a new high-performance crossover at the upcoming 2012 Beijing Motor Show. We now have our first idea of what the vehicle looks like thanks to the company's invitation to the show.

The invite shows a line drawing of the crossover's profile, though the text mentions no details about the beast. Rumors are already swirling, with reports indicating that the vehicle will be called the Urus when it debuts. As you may recall, Lamborghini recently trademarked Deimos as well.

What will the high-riding Lamborghini bring to the table? Details are scarce so far, though a tweaked version of the same V10 that feeds the Gallardo may wind up behind the headlights. With around 584 horsepower and an MSRP of around $200,000, the machine will be exclusive no matter what it's called.

Lamborghini Urus SUV silhouette revealed in official invite originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini SUV to be named Urus

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Lamborghini, Beijing Motor Show, Luxury

The Lamborghini SUV that we'll shortly be ogling over when it's introduced at the Beijing Auto Show has a name: the Lamborghini Urus. That's the word according to Chinese media, at least, which would leave the rumored Deimos name for some other Lambo creation.

We'll save you the trip to Wikipedia: a "urus" is an extinct European ox, Bos primigenius, a forebearer of domestic cattle whose last example roamed the Polish forests until 1627. A shaggy-haired, plodding bovine is a bit down on excitement compared to its taurean siblings, so we'll also keep Urus Khan - descendent of Gehghis and ruler of at least one horde - in the naming inspiration pool. In keeping with Lamborghini tradition, there's presumably a fighting bull that's carried the name at some point, as well.

The Urus is expected to have a reworked ten-cylinder powerplant from the Gallardo, a rumored 584-horsepower and $200,000 price tag. It's slated for a 2015 release, and following that could be a hybrid that pushes past the 600-hp mark. Stay tuned for official images and information as the Urus rolls out in Beijing.

Lamborghini SUV to be named Urus originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Range-topping Lamborghini Urus rumored anew

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Lamborghini, Rumormill

2010 Lamborghini Reventón Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery

So you like the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV, but you're struggling to justify the price. After all, it may be just as fast as the Reventón, but it only costs a third of that range-topping bull. You like that it's the latest limited-edition hypercar from Sant'Agata Bolognese, but will everyone think you're slumming by not getting the most expensive bull in the barn? Come to think of it, maybe you can hold out for the Reventón Roadster, which should easily surpass the coupe as the ne plus ultra in the Lambo lineup. Of course, you could just stick with your ordinary LP640-4 or LP650-4 Roadster a little longer and wait for the Murcielago replacement in a year or two.

When that so-called Jota finally debuts, it will bring with it a new carbon fiber chassis and an equally new direct-injected 6.0-liter V12 thought to be good for at least 700 horsepower. Yeah, that's probably the way to go. After all, the economy isn't exactly the best right now and plunking down $1.5M for a new car might make others unnecessarily envious. Haters. Of course, if you wait too long, you might find yourself debating waiting a little longer still for the Jota-besting halo car from Lamborghini, the rumored Urus.

CARS UK is quoting "a source close to Lamborghini" when they talk about this new halo vehicle, which is expected to take on all comers, especially that "FX70" Enzo-replacement coming out of Maranello. Using a modified Jota chassis, the Urus will go on an even stricter diet to make it a ~~featherweight~~ lighter heavyweight. It will drop the few bits of aluminum that are expected to be used on the Jota and go all carbon fiber. That, active aerodynamics, and a nearly 800 horsepower version of the Jota V12 in its engine bay should allow the Urus to challenge even the Bugatti Veyron with a sub-3-second 0-60mph time. The real question becomes -- Can you wait until 2012 for the Urus or will you buckle a year earlier and pop for the Jota in 2011? You know what, just get both.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lamborghini Reventon Roadster

[Source: Cars UK]

Range-topping Lamborghini Urus rumored anew originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris Preview: Lamborghini "Urus" concept teaser shot #3

John Neff — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Paris Motor Show, Supercars, Lamborghini

Click above for gallery of Lamborghini "Urus" teaser shots

A third teaser shot of Lamborghini's mysterious concept car has surfaced on the web just weeks before its debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. All signs point to a front-engine, four-door coupe concept similar in form to the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide. The first teaser merely showed the car's rear diffuser, but the second showed its front wheel with a fender vent clearly visible that indicates a front-mounted engine. This third teaser shows the rear taillight and what we can clearly see as the cut line for a trunk lid. The taillight itself features LEDs and seems to be inspired by new taillight designs on the Reventon and LP560-4. Though we don't have a name for the concept yet, Lamborghini recently registered the name "Urus" with the Italian copyright office. All will be revealed soon enough, though expect a few more teasers between now and Paris.

Gallery: Paris 2008: Lamborghini Estoque Concept

[Source: Lambo Power]

Paris Preview: Lamborghini "Urus" concept teaser shot #3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini likely to reveal four-door Urus concept in Paris

John Neff — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini

Click above to view high-res gallery of Lamborghini Urus teaser shots

Lamborghini has already released two official teaser shots of the concept it will debut early next month at the Paris Motor Show. InsideLine originally speculated that it would be a four-door sedan along the likes of the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide, but Lambo told us the website was just guessing and that no company execs had leaked the concept's layout. Nevertheless, Automotive News is now reporting that its own inside sources confirm the bullish concept will indeed be one of them new fangled four-door "coupes", while a carspyshots.net forum member found some copyright evidence that Lamborghini may called it the Urus. Wikipedia tells us that the Urus was a type of large, horned cattle in Europe that went extinct in 1627.

Though what we're calling the Urus will debut as a concept in Paris, AN reports the model will be near production ready when it takes the stage next month. While lots of speculation is still swirling, most agree it will feature a front-mounted engine located behind the front axle and that the Urus' motor will be smaller than the Gallardo's V10. The most likely choice is an engine sourced from Audi, probably turbocharged, though concepts often feature exotic engines not destined for production.

Gallery: Paris 2008: Lamborghini Estoque Concept

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd, carspyshots.net]

Lamborghini likely to reveal four-door Urus concept in Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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