Lamborghini Urus to get plug-in hybrid tech

Lamborghini has confirmed its all-new Urus will be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain alongside a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8.

The news that the Italian car maker would offer a hybrid version of its first SUV since the 'Rambo Lambo' LM002, was revealed by Lamborghini's R&D chief, Maurizio Reggiani in an interview with Autocar magazine.

The R&D boss also confirmed the Urus would also get the Audi SQ7's 48V-powered active anti-roll suspension but it's still not confirmed what engine the plug-in hybrid powertrain tech will be applied to.

In the Audi Q7 e-tron, the plug-in hybrid system is combined with its 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6. Together, the large SUV produces 275kW/700Nm - enough to see the hybrid Q7 sprint to 100km/h, from rest, in just 6.2 seconds - but that may not be enough for a Lamborghini SUV.

More likely, is the firm will add the hybrid tech to the twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 but one thing's for sure, the plug-in tech will never be used on the Huracan or Aventador.

Not only will it be impossible to package the hybrid's battery cells and electric motors on both cars' platforms, Reggiani says in a supercar you need "to feel the spark of every cylinder" and that "we will keep normally aspirated engines".

The R&D boss told Autocar, while developing the Urus, his team of engineers concentrated on power, weight and aerodynamics to ensure its first SUV in a generation will "change the rules of the game" when it comes to handling.

Lamborghini is likely to reveal its production version of the Urus later this year ahead of it going on sale in 2018.

According to Reggiani, the design of the Urus will be "pure Lamborghini" and that the SUV has evolved "considerably" since the 2015 concept. The R&D chief said the production SUV will also be "better inside and out" compared to the concept.