Lamborghini reveals new Urus performance hybrid SUV after ditching EVs

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The Lamborghini Urus SE Performante.

Courtesy Lamborghini

Lamborghini on Wednesday revealed a new hybrid performance model of its Urus SUV, as the Italian auto manufacturer continues to lean into gas-electric vehicles after abandoning plans for pure EVs.

The Urus SE Performante features a more aggressive exterior design, including a larger grille and hood scoops, as well as interior improvements compared with current models of the SUV.

Lamborghini is calling the new Urus SE Performante the "fastest Super SUV in the world," capable of reaching 0-100 kph, or roughly 0-60 mph, in 3.3 seconds and hitting a top speed of 312 kph, or 194 mph.

The vehicle is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, which means it has a gas-powered engine as well as a plug to charge a battery pack for improved electric performance. It is powered by an electric motor and a 4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, delivering 812 horsepower and roughly 738 foot-pounds of torque, Lamborghini said.

"It is very important. It's a game changer," Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann told CNBC.

The interior of the Lamborghini Urus SE Performante.

Courtesy Lamborghini

Lamborghini, which is owned by Volkswagen AG, said it would release pricing for the Urus SE Performante closer to the vehicle arriving for U.S. customers. The 2026 Urus SE starts at about $250,00 to $280,000, depending on the model.

The Urus has been crucial to Lamborghini's success since its introduction nearly a decade ago. The vehicle represents about 50% of the brand's global sales annually, according to Winkelmann, with total Lamborghini sales nearing 11,000 vehicles last year.

The reveal of the new performance PHEV comes months the company confirmed plans to scrap EVs to continue focusing on hybrid models. Winkelmann declined to comment on if Lamborghini would return to gas-only models, but said "never say never" when asked about such vehicles by CNBC.

Lamborghini canceled its EV plans before rival Ferrari revealed its first all-electric vehicle, the Luce, in late May. The Luce was met with intense backlash.

Winkelmann previously declined to comment directly on the Luce or the responses it has received, but said "innovation is paramount" to success. However, he said innovation should not be made for innovation's sake or forced upon customers.

"By observing the market ... we saw that the acceptance curve [of EVs] for our type of customers is not increasing, and that therefore we decided to move away from a full-electric car into a plug-in hybrid," he said.

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