Lamborghini Urus Performante First Drive Review:
The Lamborghini Urus, despite its appearance of being aggressive, rapid, and sharp, is actually rather gentle. like, too subdued. Thank goodness, the new Performante offers the Urus a more aggressive edge and boosts its performance to a level that is difficult to match in any other SUV.
A healthy diet is the first thing to make. With features like a titanium exhaust, lightweight wheels, and a carbon fibre top and hood, the Performante is 104 pounds less than the similarly-priced Urus S. The Performante additionally does away with the SUV’s conventional air suspension in favour of permanent steel springs, improving cornering capabilities but somewhat degrading ride comfort. This, together with 0.6-inch wider front and rear tracks, a 0.8-inch lower ride height, and extremely gripping Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres, significantly enhance the balance and grip of the Urus Performante.
The Urus Performante absolutely rips around the 2.5-mile main circuit of Italy’s Autodromo Vallelunga. Rear-axle steering and increased torque vectoring assist drive the SUV’s rump through each curve, and the steering is properly weighted and never darty, allowing you to neatly tuck the Urus’ nose into small turns. Because of the more active side-to-side power shuffle, the new Torsen centre differential transmits more torque to the rear than it does in the normal Urus, and lateral grip is excellent.
Over the 17.3-inch carbon-ceramic discs attached to the standard 10-piston aluminium brake callipers, speed is swiftly reduced on Vallelunga’s lengthy back straightaway. Though I’d want more highly bolstered front seats to prevent me from sliding about in the process, you realise how much more speed you can carry around each bend as you go around the track lap after lap.
The Urus’ Corsa drive mode, which slightly loosens the grip on the traction control and allows for modest amounts of manageable oversteer, is the perfect choice for the circuit at Vallelunga. Drive the Urus off the track and onto some rocky tracks, though, if you really want to have fun with the rear end. Interestingly, this option keeps you from applying full power while dialling in some countersteer on corner exit. A new Rally mode that is specific to the Urus Performante will truly let you hang the tail out when turning. Do not do this on the Trofeo R tyres either, unless you have access to really costly sets of rubber.
Power output is the only aspect of the Urus Performante that Lamborghini left unchanged. The Performante’s eight-speed automatic transmission shifts more quickly and the throttle is more responsive than the Urus S’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, which produces the same 657 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. In comparison to the Urus S, the Performante can go from 0 to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds because to its less weight, grippier tyres, and faster acceleration. I mean, bragging rights.
The only obvious differences between the Performante and the normal Urus are a carbon fibre spoiler that increases rear-end downforce by 38%, as well as carbon fibre sill and wheel arch extensions. Thank god the tacky tuning fork painted grille vanes are gone, and the Performante now has a tonne of awesome colour options to choose from, just like every other Lamborghini. The purple is fantastic.
