The era of the über SUV looks set to continue with Lamborghini revealing a second derivative of its recently refreshed Urus. The new Urus S combines the Performante’s 656bhp V8 to a less overtly focused chassis tune, forming a new entry-point to the range and creating a little more distance between it and Porsche’s closely related Cayenne GT Turbo in the process.
Specifications of the engine are the same as the Performante, so together with that 656bhp power figure is a peak torque of 850Nm spread between 2300 - 6000rpm. This torque figure is also the same as the original Urus, but rather than being the most the engine can provide, it has more to do with headbutting peak torque ratings further down the drivetrain, including its eight-speed automatic transmission.
Power is sent to all four wheels via a variable all-wheel drive system that has both an active centre and rear differential, giving the Urus mechanical torque-vectoring across the rear axle.
Despite similar outputs, the Urus S’s 3.5sec sprint to 100kmph is 0.2sec slower than the Performante, the drop explained by a slight variance in weight to the Performante’s favour, not forgetting its stickier Trofeo R rubber. This drop in performance extrapolates at 200kmph, with the S taking a full second longer than the Performante at 12.5sec, while top speed is down 6kmph to 304kmph.
The S retains the previous Urus’s adaptive air suspension system, leaving the more aggressive coil-spring setup to the Performante. This gives the S more variability, while also retaining (an albeit limited) level of off-roading capability. There’s a myriad of driving modes to choose between, alongside the ability to personalise all of the chassis elements in a separate ‘EGO’ mode. In any case, the Urus’s drive modes vary the powertrain, gearbox, rear differential, suspension, steering and active anti-roll system setup. Lamborghini hasn’t specifically confirmed it, but we expect the previous Urus’s record-breaking 440mm carbon-ceramic front discs to remain, gripped by ten piston calipers.
Outside, the Performante’s new front and rear bumpers are retained, but work with new wheel options available in sizes between 21- and 23-inches. Lightweight elements such as the carbonfibre roof, rear stacked wing and carbonfibre lower elements are still optional, but more road-biased elements such as a glass roof and roof rails are now back on the options list.
The Urus has been exceptionally successful for Lamborghini, explaining why this new two-tiered approach has been taken. As well as further varying the Urus’s skill set, it also allows the S to veer more on the sensible side alongside its extra performance.