The Performante is back, and it plugs in
The original Urus Performante was a simple proposition: take the Urus S, cut weight, add aggression, keep the twin-turbo V8. It made 657 hp and held the SUV lap record at the Nurburgring. Then Lamborghini killed it, along with the Urus S, when the SE arrived as the sole Urus variant for 2025. One hybrid SUV, 789 hp, no alternative.
Now the Performante name returns, bolted onto the SE platform. The Urus SE Performante was revealed today, July 1, and it brings the expected formula: more power, less weight, sharper everything. The difference is that this time around, the V8 has an electric motor strapped to it, and that changes the character of the car more than any aero kit could.
The numbers
The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 produces around 620 hp on its own. The electric motor, integrated inside the 8-speed automatic, adds another 181 hp. Combined system output lands at 801 hp (812 PS) and 1,000 Nm (738 lb-ft) of torque.
That is 12 hp and 50 Nm more than the standard Urus SE. The gains sound modest until you compare against the outgoing non-hybrid Performante: +146 hp, +150 Nm. The electrification did its job.
Performance claims: 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds (one tenth quicker than the SE), 0-200 km/h in 10.8 seconds (four tenths quicker), and a 312 km/h (194 mph) top speed. The 25.9 kWh battery provides about 60 km (37 miles) of electric-only range. That number is unchanged from the SE.
Where the weight went
Lamborghini claims a 32 kg reduction over the standard SE. The headline item is the Akrapovic titanium exhaust, which saves over 10 kg by itself. The X-pipe crossover is gone, replaced by true dual pipes, which changes the sound profile. Lamborghini says the new system is louder while reducing low-frequency drone, which is the kind of calibration work that separates a factory exhaust from an aftermarket one.
The Integrated Power Brake system saves 4 kg and claims 10% more braking power with 12% faster response times. A revised NVH package sheds 3.3 kg. The standard Corsa Tex Dinamica upholstery (a microfibre similar to Alcantara) replaces leather, saving 2.7 kg. The rest comes from carbon fibre body panels: hood, roof, front bumper, wheel arches, side skirts, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler, all in exposed carbon.
Curb weight sits at 2,473 kg (5,452 lbs). Still heavy by any standard, but that is the cost of carrying a V8, an electric motor, and a 25.9 kWh battery in a vehicle this size.
AURA suspension
The most significant technical change is the suspension. The SE Performante replaces the SE's single-chamber air springs with a new dual-chamber, dual-valve system called AURA. Lamborghini claims it delivers a wider operating range between comfort and sport: 55% less body roll than the previous Performante, 25% less vibration, and a 12% faster reaction time.
The result, in theory, is a car that can absorb road imperfections in Strada mode while also being stiffer and more responsive in Corsa. Whether a 2,473 kg SUV can genuinely rival dedicated sports cars on track is beside the point. The target is other super-SUVs, and the AURA system is Lamborghini's answer to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT's three-chamber setup.
Rally mode
The SE Performante adds a fifth driving mode: Rally. Lamborghini describes it as calibrated for loose surfaces, using a 6D sensor coupled with the brake controller to manage traction on gravel and dirt. It is a nod to the Huracan Sterrato, and it is the kind of feature that will sell exactly zero cars but generate a lot of Instagram content.
Aero
Downforce is up 23% over the standard SE and 16% over the old Performante. Drag is down 3%. The changes are subtle from the outside: S-duct hood vents, NACA brake cooling ducts, and a revised rear diffuser. The 23-inch Y-spoke wheels are a new design, wrapped in Pirelli P Zero rubber, with Bridgestone Potenza Race semi-slicks available as an option.
Our take
The SE Performante is what the Urus lineup needed after Lamborghini consolidated everything into the single SE variant. The hybrid system adds weight and complexity, but it also adds 146 hp over the old Performante, and the torque-fill from the electric motor at low revs makes the powertrain feel more complete than the V8 alone ever did.
The AURA suspension is the real story here. Dual-chamber air springs are not new in the segment (Porsche and Bentley have been doing this for years), but the claim of 55% less body roll versus the previous Performante is aggressive. If it holds up, the SE Performante will be a measurably different car from the SE, not just a trim package.
Orders are open now. Pricing has not been officially confirmed, but the SE starts at around $252,000. Expect the SE Performante to land near $300,000 before options.
Photo: Lamborghini