The off-road Urus seems to be a little further away than other models on the development horizon of Lamborghini.
It would seem that the designers and engineers at Lamborghini have had their work cut out for them ever since they announced that they would develop their legendary all-wheel drive ability and take it into the ultimate four-wheel drive platform, a real off-road vehicle.
Since the curtain was raised on the Urus concept at the Beijing Auto Show in April this year, Lamborghini has thrilled us with its Gallardo revision, the Sesto Elemento Limited Edition, the Aventador J one-off, and is still planning the car that will take the place the Gallardo once occupied. Approval from parent company VW is still not forthcoming on the Urus concept, not surprisingly.
Despite several private viewings subsequent to the Chinese début, little is known about the ongoing development work. What is known is that the required development to take the concept into a model fit for production would take as much almost five years. That means that even if approval were imminent, the Urus would not be road ready until 2017. That gives us all plenty of time to save up for what will certainly be one of the priciest if prestigious SUVs around.
As all Lamborghinis are, by their birthright, already fully 4×4, you can get a feel for what this superb driving dynamism and control feels like with a self-drive hire of any one of their auspicious supercars. The latest Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder is a fabulous example of this. Flawlessly finished in Baloon White, this car is a tangible yet immensely visceral expression of Lamborghini design and engineering.
The design of the car is truly fascinating. Rear-engined, the longitudinal position so characteristic of Lamborghinis is utilised fully for maximum flair in the Gallardo. The passion for performance so inherent on these cars oozes from every air intake, geometric shape, and angle of the Gallardo. The aerodynamics blatantly emphasise what lies beneath. The 5.2 litre V10 pushes out 560 hp, which grants your wish to accelerate to 62mph in just 3.6 seconds, and to 124 mph in just 13.1 seconds.
Given the Sypder body shape, it is hard to ignore the interior as well. Spacious and every bit as fascinating as the outside, this cabin is your sanctuary from the elements. With the top down however, you get the best possible opportunity to savour the legendary Lamborghini growl as the car accelerates and everyone stares in wonder, during your self-drive hire experience.