New Lamborghini Urus SE Is A 789hp Plug-In Hybrid SUV

Even Lamborghini needs to go electric, and so the Italian supercar maker’s updated Urus SUV now comes with plug-in hybrid power for the first time.

Revealed during the Beijing auto show this week, the so-called Super SUV is named the Urus SE and it pairs an existing twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 engine with a single electric motor and a 25.9 kWh battery pack.

Lamborghini said the V8 engine has been “re-engineered to work in optimal synergy with the electric powertrain.” It produces 612 horsepower and 590 ft-lbs of torque, while the electric motor, located inside the car’s eight-speed automatic transmission, sends an additional 189 hp and 356 ft-lbs to the all-wheel-drive system.

The result is a total output of 789 hp (up 133 hp on both the Urus S and Urus Performante) and 701 ft-lbs of torque – remember, you can’t simply add the totals of the engine and motor together, as they aren’t configured to deliver their maximum outputs at the same time.

Regardless, Lamborghini said the Urus SE can sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.4 seconds – a tenth quicker than the non-hybrid Urus S but just behind the Performante – and from 0 to 124 mph (200 km/h) in 11.2 seconds, beating the S by a healthy 1.3 seconds. Top speed is 194 mph — 5 mph higher than the Urus S.

All this, Lambo said, makes the SE the most powerful Urus ever, and also the fastest production car in its segment. While the non-hybrid Aston Martin DBX 707 hits 62 mph a tenth quicker, at 3.3 seconds, its 193 mph top speed is a fraction behind the Lamborghini.

The Lamborghini hybrid system is similar to what’s offered by the Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid – hardly a surprise, given the two companies are both part of the VW Group – and both cars use the same battery.

Although the electric system makes the Urus SE quicker, faster and more powerful, it also lets the car work as a pure EV for up to 40 miles on a full charge, and at up to 80 mph. If you have a charger at home and a fairly short commute, it’s feasible that the Urus SE could be used as an electric car for much of its daily duties.

Inside, the Lambo SUV has new, larger 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display, plus an equally large digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. The central display features a new telemetry system for the SE, giving access to the car’s driver assistance systems. The user interface has been updated with new graphics similar to those of the Revuelto, Lamborghini’s hybrid supercar.

Priced from $258,000, the Urus SE now offers a dizzying 11 drive modes, including Strada, Sport and Corsa for road and track use, plus Neve, Sabbia and Terra Terra for off-road surfaces. The hybrid system also has EV Drive, Hybrid, Performance and Recharge mode options. The Urus SE’s air suspension raises or lowers depending on which mode is selected.

Outside, there’s a set of new 23-inch wheels called Galanthus and fitted with Pirelli P Zero tires. Other rim sizes include 21 and 22 inches. The exterior paint color range has been expanded, with more than 100 bodywork options now available, including the two new launch shades, called Arancio Apodis (orange) and Biano Sapphirus (white). There are 47 color combinations for the interior and four types of embroidery.