Lambo SUV not locked in -- yet

Lamborghini says its first SUV, based on the Urus crossover concept that wowed onlookers at the 2012 Beijing motor show, is not confirmed for production.

The denial by Maurizio Reggiani, board member for research and development at Automobili Lamborghini, is at odds with last year's reports that CEO Stephan Winkelmann had locked in a 2017 production date.

Speaking to assembled media at the weekend's third round of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia series in Japan, Reggiani said production of the high-performance SUV had not yet received the green light from the Italian supercar-maker's parent company.

“Urus is still not confirmed for the brand," he said. "We still wait final approval from the [Volkswagen] group, and we are continuing to work for that approval.

"Should we get approval, our target is for end of 2017 production."

However, Eginardo Bertoli, Lamborghini Japan GM of sales and marketing, was more forthright: “We expect Urus commencement in late 2017 with deliveries being seen in 2018.

"In Japan it will be priced similarly to the Huracan, to maintain the brand’s position as premium,” he said.

For reference, the Huracan is priced at $428,000 in Australia – a price that would make the Urus the most expensive SUV ever sold here.

When the question of Urus/Huracan pricing similarity was put to Reggiani, he merely said: “More or less. But price at this moment is not important.

"What is important is the approval from the group. We are part of a big company and must respect the rules.”

That approval appears to be a formality given, as we reported last year, the Urus has supporters at the highest levels within the Volkswagen group.