2022 Lamborghini Urus Sport Utility 4d on 2040-cars

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Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster spied testing undisguised

Lamborghini typically does more versions of its V10 models than it does with its V12s. Just look at how many model variants the Gallardo spun off over its many years of production, compared to the few the Murcielago did. But with both now retired, and the Aventador on the market longer than the Huracan, it's the larger of the two that's beefing up the Raging Bull's product portfolio. We're looking at and referring to the upcoming Aventador SV Roadster. Lambo has already confirmed that the Superveloce Roadster was in the works, and we even saw a heavily camouflaged prototype undergoing testing near the Arctic Circle. But this time it's completely undisguised, without a shred of camouflage to keep it from our prying eyes. It isn't hard to guess at the technical details here, since it combines the best attributes of two existing versions: namely the LP 700-4 Roadster and the LP 750-4 Superveloce. So look for a 6.5-liter V12 channeling 740 horsepower to all four wheels through the company's proprietary seven-speed ISR transmission, just like the SV coupe. It'll be a bit heavier with its removable carbon-fiber roof panel and the requisite extra bracing, but it's doubtful the slight weight penalty will actually translate to any substantial drop in performance. Noticeably absent, however, is the big rear wing that adorns the back of the SV coupe. We'll have to hold tight to find out if the production version will get the spoiler or not, and there's little precedent to go by here since Lambo has never really offered a convertible Superveloce before. With the wing or without, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster will likely debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show come September, with production already confirmed to be limited to 500 units – or 100 less than the existing coupe that's already sold out.

Runway Rumble: Nissan GT-R, Ducati 1098 and Lamborghini Reventon Roadster battle it out

One 2.5-mile runway, three different ways to take off: a Ducati 1098, a tuned Nissan GT-R with 580 horsepower and a launch control upgrade, and a Lamborghini Reventon Roadster. You'd naturally expect the Ducati to assert it's lightweight, high-horsepower authority in these matters, but with more than two miles to run, the ride that gets the jump at the line isn't always the one that gets the win.
That comes in especially handy for the Lamborghini, which suffers from a bad start in the first race and just looks plain ordinary in the second, until it finds redemption. You can see how it all goes down in the video below.

The rationale behind Lamborghini's Urus

If you've been following developments in Sant'Agata Bolognese lately, you'll know that the world's most unabashed supercar producer is adding an SUV. Code-named "Urus," it will join the brand's existing two-model (Aventador/Huracan) lineup. It's a bold move for a company with a reputation built on iconic two-seaters including the Miura, Countach, and Diablo, and by its CEO's own admission the decision "will radically change Lamborghini." Why risk the company's exclusive, extroverted image on a vehicle associated with mundane tasks and parents who can't bear the thought of driving a minivan? Two reasons, says CEO Stephan Winkelmann. "The SUV Segment is still fast growing worldwide," he notes. Indeed, global demand for SUVs is up 88 percent since 2008, making utility vehicles the fastest-growing segment around the world, according to IHS Automotive. Utilities now comprise 19 percent of the global vehicle market. In addition, "sales can be equally distributed over our three major regions...the Americas (the US is Lambo's top market), EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), and Asia Pacific." Lamborghini expects Urus to double sales from its current 2,500 cars per year to nearly 5,000. Adding a third model line "supports more consistent volumes and competitiveness of the company and our dealers," he continues. Further, Winkelmann maintains that an SUV fits the DNA of Lamborghini. "Our brand has a history of many types of cars such as GTs, super sports cars, and with the LM002 from 1986 to 1992, even an SUV. We learned together with our designers and product people that the SUV represented this opportunity the best." Structural implications include an expansion of the diminutive company's roughly 1,200-employee workforce by 50 percent, or 500 new hires, and the construction of a new facility near its headquarters to build the Urus. Building the new Lamborghini in Bologna is key to differentiating Urus from the other Volkswagen Group premium SUVs (Bentley Bentayga; Porsche Cayenne; Audi Q7 and Q8; and Volkswagen Touareg) that will share the same platform, and Winkelmann put great effort into persuading VW the move made economic sense. "We worked many months building the business case for approval because we are convinced the SUV will be a success and the best place to build it is in Sant'Agata Bolognese," Winkelmann stresses. "We are not simply adding another line in an existing building. Rather, we are talking about greenfield construction.