The Lamborghini Urus helped to redefine performance crossovers and now the company is taking things even further with the new Urus Performante. Designed to take the “supreme performance and distinctive looks of Lamborghini’s ground-breaking Super SUV to the next level,” the Urus Performante is distinguished by an aggressive front bumper and a ventilated carbon fiber hood. The latter is available fully painted or with visible carbon fiber for a splash of character.

Speaking of the lightweight material, customers can order a carbon fiber roof that “references” the Huracán Performante and Super Trofeo. Elsewhere, there’s a carbon fiber front splitter and black intakes, which provide an aggressive look as well as improved engine cooling. Designers also gave the model new air curtains, carbon fiber wheel arches, and a larger spoiler that helps to increase rear downforce by 38%. Staying out back, the crossover has been equipped with a carbon fiber diffuser and carbon rear bumper. They’re joined by an Akrapovič titanium sports exhaust system, which produces a “characteristic Lamborghini resonance.”

 

For a sportier stance, the Urus Performante rides on new steel springs that lower the model by 20 mm. The track also increases 16 mm, while the crossover rides on 22- or 23-inch lightweight wheels that feature titanium bolts as well as specially developed Pirelli P Zero tires. The sporty styling continues in the cabin as the model comes standard with black Alcantara seats that feature hexagonal accents. Buyers will also find black anodized aluminum trim and a flat-bottomed leather/Alcantara sport steering wheel.

Lamborghini will offer a host of options including a Dark Package that sees various controls and switches given a matte black treatment. Customers can also opt for leather as well as Ad Personam options such as matte carbon fiber trim and red door handles. Given that this Urus wears the Performante moniker, it comes as little surprise the crossover has lost weight and gained power. Starting with the latter, the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 has been tuned to produce 657 hp and 850 Nm of torque. That’s an increase of 16 hp and it enables the model to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 306 km/h. The improved performance is due, in part, to the Performante’s “highest number of carbon fiber parts in its segment.” They help to reduce the crossover’s weight by 47 kg and this gives the model a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio.

 

Improved performance and reduced weight is only part of the story as the Urus Performante has been equipped with a recalibrated steering system, which promises more “precise inputs and direct feedback.” The model also has a new differential for optimized torque distribution as well as revamped drive modes. In regards to the latter, there’s a new Rally setting that elevates the “Super SUV’s fun-to-drive sportiness to a thrilling new level on dirt tracks.” As Lamborghini explained, oversteer is amplified with anti-roll and damping systems optimized for steel springs on rough surfaces.

Thanks to all these updates, the Urus Performante has already proven itself as the model set a new record at Pikes Peak with a time of 10:32.064.  This beat the previous SUV record of 10:49.902. Deliveries are slated to begin late this year and pricing starts at US$ 260,676 in the United States. Europeans will need to shell out € 218,487 while UK residents will need to cough up £ 170,260.