The Urus Performante: Lamborghini's Wildest Ride Yet

With the patent Raging-Bull magic and madness, this car crafts an experience that proves performance and practicality can, somehow, go hand in hand

- Sharan Sanil

It's common knowledge that Lamborghini invented the word 'supercar' back when the Miura launched in the sixties, but did you know that the term 'super-SUV' a title that's drawn some criticism over the years can also be traced back to the Italian manufacturer's history? Arguably, Lamborghini married the two terms when they plonked the Countach's flagship V12 into the 'Rambo Lambo' LM002- an outlandish concept that was part military contract, part luxury road-presence king, and eventually, part collectors' item, with just 328 examples in existence.

The Urus, however, isn't nearly this rare. As Lamborghini India Head, Sharad Agarwal, reminds us, the global sales tally for last year sat at a robust 5,367, helping shatter rising sales records for the company. This was further compounded with a jaw-dropping 18-month waiting period for Indians willing to fork over Rs 4.22 crore for the latest Performante variant. Why indeed, would India's elite rush to Lamborghini dealerships, fistfuls of cash in tow? Key fob in hand, I was about to find out.

Going Up The Hill

With memories of the original fresh in mind, I was excited to see if the Performante looked as good as it sounded on the spec sheet, and it certainly didn't disappoint. Parked in the driveway of a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru, sat a convoy of three Urus Performantes, led by a Huracán. I decided to go for the first one a stunning example in Lambo's dramatic 'Rosso Mars' shade of red.