Lamborghini unveils manic 490kW Urus Performante

The 2023 Lamborghini Urus SUV has received the Performante treatment, with the new go-faster variant revealed this week at Monterey Car Week.

The Lamborghini Urus Performante will be landing in Australia, asking from $465,876 (before on-road costs) with first vehicles expected to arrive in Q2 of 2023.

In the meantime, the Lamborghini Urus Performante is fresh from setting the record for a production SUV at this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, blitzing the Bentley Bentayga’s 2018 record by 17.838-seconds.

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The existing Urus’s twin-turbo V8 has been massaged to 490kW/850Nm, powering the Urus Performante up to a maximum speed of 306km/h. The boosted V8 breathes through a titanium Akropovic exhaust.

Meanwhile, a 47 kilogram reduction in weight gives the Urus Performante a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 228kW per tonne. Homologation of Chinese Domestic Market vehicles, however, sees vehicles sold in China wound down to 470kW.

New composite panels, including an optional carbon-fibre roof, provide the Urus’s weight savings, with the new front fascia providing extra cooling properties. Down the side, there are new air curtains to smooth airflow over the front wheels, directing air to the newly-designed rear spoiler – which provides a 38 per cent increase in rear downforce.

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The Lamborghini Urus Performante is cornered by forged 22-inch, or optional 23-inch, wheels, mounted on a 16 millimetre wider track with steel springs that lower the ride height by 20mm.

Lamborghini is also offering newly-developed Urus-specific Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tyres, delivering high dry grip at higher ambient temperatures, with increased purchase on cold wet surfaces.

Rear-wheel steering is aided by a torque-vectoring rear differential that functions both on-road and off-road.

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Speaking of which, the high-riding Urus won’t be tackling Cape York’s Old Telegraph Track, but offers a new Rally drive mode emphasising an oversteer character on loose surface. Strada (comfort), Sport and Corsa (race) drive modes remain.

Inside the cockpit, new hexagonal Performante trim proliferates throughout nero cosmos black Alcantara upholstery as standard. Leather is available as an option, with further colour and trim options offered alongside many Performante-specific options – not to mention Lamborghini’s Ad Personam program too. The Urus Performante also gains new instrument graphics specific to the variant.

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First international customer deliveries are expected before the end of the year. A spokeperson for Lamborghini Australia has confirmed the Urus Performante's impending arrival, asking $465,876, with vehicles expected locally from Q2 2023.