2027 Lamborghini Urus SE Performante driven: 597kW hybrid SUV readies for Australian debut

What the new Urus flagship is

Lamborghini's new Urus SE Performante is the go-faster flagship of its hybrid SUV line-up, reprising the 'Performante' badge previously used on the Gallardo and Huracan. CarExpert, which drove pre-production examples in Italy, reports the model made its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and will join the existing Urus SE in showrooms, giving the brand a twin-pronged ultra-premium SUV line-up. The current-generation Urus still has around three years to run before an all-new replacement arrives in 2029, according to CarExpert. ²

MotorTrend's first look describes the SE Performante as the most powerful production internal-combustion SUV in the world at present, with combined output of 801 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque in US specification, up from 789 horsepower in the standard SE. ³

Powertrain and chassis changes

The SE Performante keeps the Urus SE's 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8, producing 456kW and 800Nm, with an electric motor between the engine and eight-speed torque-converter automatic adding 141kW and 483Nm. CarExpert notes system outputs rise to 597kW and 1000Nm, up 9kW and 50Nm on the standard SE, the gains coming from software tweaks. Claimed figures include 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds, 5.7L/100km on the WLTP cycle, a 60km electric range from the 25.9kWh battery, and a 312km/h electronically limited top speed. Kerb weight is listed at 2473kg. ¹²

Lamborghini has trimmed 32kg from the SE, predominantly through extensive carbon-fibre use, with CarExpert reporting the Performante carries the most carbon-fibre components of any production SUV. A titanium Akrapovic exhaust is 10kg lighter than the standard system. MotorTrend details the aerodynamic work: a three per cent drag improvement over the Urus SE, 23 per cent more downforce than the SE, and brake cooling that is eight per cent more efficient, aided by a new NACA duct directing air to the brakes. ¹³

A new 'AURA' dual-chamber air suspension system replaces fixed coil springs and is claimed by Lamborghini to halve body roll and reduce vibrations by 25 per cent, per CarExpert. Ride height can be raised by up to 70mm for light off-roading, and a new Rally drive mode joins the existing ANIMA modes. At the chassis's core is a 6D sensor borrowed from the Fenomeno hypercar, measuring three axes of acceleration plus pitch, roll and yaw, working with eight additional accelerometers to feed real-time data to the chassis control and braking systems. ¹²

How it drives: CarExpert at Vairano

CarExpert's track test took in 15 minutes lapping the Vairano Proving Ground's handling circuit in a production example, ahead of the car's Australian debut. The reviewer found the big SUV turned in sharply with rear-wheel steering helping it cut a direct path through corners, showing almost no body roll through high-speed bends despite measuring 5117mm long. The Pirelli tyres held excellent grip, and in Corsa mode the car was eager to rotate on the throttle while remaining controllable. ¹

Carbon-ceramic brakes measure 440mm at the front and 410mm at the rear. CarExpert reports Lamborghini says the SE Performante stops from 200km/h in seven fewer metres than its significantly lighter predecessor, with the eight per cent improvement in brake cooling helping resist fade. Peak torque of 1000Nm arrives from 2250rpm to 5500rpm, giving immediate throttle response, though the reviewer found the upgraded exhaust less raucous inside the cabin than expected, with much of the audible drama piped through the speakers, likely a consequence of tightening noise regulations. CarExpert rated the car 'Very Good', calling it dynamically brilliant but noting the exterior is 'an eyeful' and that the hybrid battery eats into boot space. ¹

Cabin, practicality and equipment

Inside, the SE Performante is trimmed in Corsa-Tex, Lamborghini's version of Alcantara, across the ceiling, doors, dashboard, seats, steering wheel and centre console, with carbon-fibre, red honeycomb stitching and embroidered lettering setting it apart from the standard car, according to CarExpert. The infotainment gains snappier software and graphics inspired by the Revuelto, with a Performante-specific telemetry system in both the 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen for tracking lap times. Second-row legroom is around 40 inches, broadly on par with other large SUVs on the Volkswagen Group MLB Evo architecture. ¹

Boot space is a compromise of electrification: CarExpert reports the original Urus offered 616 litres, while current plug-in hybrid versions are limited to 454 litres with seats up, expanding to 1596 litres with the rear seats folded. Standard equipment includes the carbon-fibre bonnet, rear wing and splitter, 22-inch alloy wheels, the Akrapovic exhaust, 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a suite of driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Neither ANCAP nor Euro NCAP has crash-tested the model, though CarExpert notes related Audi SUVs previously achieved five-star ANCAP ratings under 2019 criteria. ¹²

Australian timing, price and context

CarExpert reports the SE Performante is pencilled in for an Australian launch in the first half of 2027, likely between early and mid-year, with pricing to be announced closer to that date. Lamborghini has hinted at a roughly 10 per cent premium over the base Urus SE, which is currently priced at $457,834 before on-road costs, suggesting an entry point around the $500,000 mark. For context, CarExpert lists the Ferrari Purosangue at $839,992 before on-road costs, the Bentley Bentayda Speed at $513,600 and the Aston Martin DBX S at $475,000 before on-roads, while the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT and Audi RSQ8 share the Urus's underpinnings at far lower prices. ¹²

On running costs, CarExpert notes Lamborghini Australia backs all its vehicles with a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, five years of free servicing and three years of complimentary roadside assistance, though SE Performante-specific details such as service intervals are not yet available. There are five official Lamborghini dealerships in Australia, covering the five most populated states. The wider Urus range remains significant for the brand: CarExpert reports the model accounted for about 70 per cent of Lamborghini's global sales last year, while US outlet CarGurus notes the SE Performante's return follows the previous non-hybrid Performante being discontinued after 2026, with the hybrid formula carrying the badge forward. ¹⁴