New Lamborghini Urus is the fastest SUV ever

Italian supercar manufacturer Lamborghini has diversified its lineup with the official launch of the new Urus SUV. The brand calls it the world's first super-SUV, and it's set to arrive in the UK in the first half of 2018.

Unmistakably a Lamborghini, the Urus takes the title of the world's fastest SUV from the Bentley Bentayga, boasting a top speed of 190mph over the Bentayga's maximum 186mph. The name 'Urus' comes from the world of bulls, as is tradition – Urus, or Aurochs, were one of the wild ancestors of domestic cattle.

The new Lamborghini Urus is the fastest SUV ever

The Urus will also complete the benchmark 0-60mph sprint in less than 3.5 seconds courtesy of its 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine. It's the first time a turbocharged engine has appeared in a Lamborghini, and it's based heavily off the unit in the Bentley Continental GT. In the Urus it develops an astonishing 641bhp and 850Nm of torque, sent through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The Urus is also four-wheel drive (obviously) and features four-wheel steering, for added manoeuvrability at low speeds and extra stability when cruising. In normal driving, the car is 60 per cent rear-biased, but can send up to 87 per cent of torque to the rear or 70 per cent to the front if necessary.

The Urus debuts a new set of controllable driving dynamics. Selected through a bespoke control on the centre console, drivers can choose between Strada (Street), Sport and Corsa (track) modes, as well as three unique off-road modes – Terra (off-road), Neve (snow) and Sabbia (sand). It can even be fitted with all-terrain tyres from the factory, if you're mad enough to want to take your Lamborghini off-road...

Inside, there's seating for five, and a dash that combines equal parts Lamborghini and Audi. It's perhaps not surprising the Urus shares so much with Audi – it's based on the same MLB Evo platform as the Q7. However, it should be quite a lot more exceptional to drive.

"The Urus elevates the SUV to a level not previously possible, the Super SUV. It is a true Lamborghini in terms of design, performance, driving dynamics and emotion as well as drivable every day in a range of environments," said Stefano Domenicali, chairman and CEO of Lamborghini. "The Urus fits perfectly within the Lamborghini family as a high-performance car."