2024 will be the final year of purely internal combustion vehicles at Lamborghini. The Huracan's replacement will switch to a plug-in hybrid V8 of the twin-turbo variety, whereas the V8-only Urus S and Urus Performante will be discontinued for a plug-in hybrid setup as well.
Most likely due in the second half of 2024 for the 2025 model year, the Urus PHEV – or whatever it will be called – has been spotted testing with rater weird camouflage around Lamborghini's factory. Not quite the 1984 Ford Econoline-based Mutt Cutts van from Dumber and Dumber, this Urus PHEV appears to be as near production as it gets compared to previous prototypes.
Pictured in a lovely orange paint color that seems pretty close to Arancio Borealis, the prototype rocks black-painted side skirts, mirror caps, and B pillars. The roof appears to be finished in gloss black as well, whereas the multi-spoke wheels appear to be shod in Pirelli rubber.
At the rear, the only uncamouflaged areas are the quad exhaust outlets and the liftgate window. There's no denying that Lamborghini has worked its magic on the headlights, taillights, and bumpers as well, and the same can be said about the interior. The big question is, what's hiding under the skin?
Although we're certain that the Porsche-Audi V8 is tuned specifically for this application, we don't know much else about it. Looking at the bigger picture, the twin-turbo V8 may be a hotter version of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid's twin-turbocharged V8 engine.
Photo: Varryx on YouTube
The most powerful Cayenne of them all, the aforementioned model develops 544 kW and 950 Nm at full chatter. That's 739 metric ponies or 729 mechanical ones and 700 pound-feet of torque in plug-in hybrid mode. The Porker's 4.0-liter V8 develops 591 horsepower as opposed to 657 for the Urus S and Urus Performante. As for the electric motor, that would be 174 horsepower, thank you!
Porsche further advertises the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid with a top speed of 295 kilometers per hour (183 miles per hour) and a 0-100 of 3.7 seconds. Otherwise put, 3.5 from zero to 60 miles per hour. Regarding the plug-in hybrid part of the powertrain, electric range is estimated at 73 kilometers (45 miles) in the WLTP's combined test cycle or 82 kilometers (51 miles) in the urban test cycle.
Electric range probably isn't as important for the 2025 Lamborghini Urus PHEV as being quicker and faster than its German sibling. The Raging Bull of Sant'Agata Bolognese is likely targeting 750 ps (740 horsepower), which is more than the plug-in hybrid BMW XM Label (748 ps or 738 horsepower) and the internal combustion-only Ferrari Purosangue (725 ps or 715 horsepower).
Similar to the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, the Urus PHEV is expected with trick air suspension featuring two-chamber and two-valve technology. This design makes it possible to adjust the rebound and compression stages separately, therefore improving ride quality and driving dynamics. A derivative of the Panamera's Porsche Active Ride suspension shouldn't be ruled out either, but bear in mind that the Panamera is based on a different platform (the MSB rather than the MLB Evo).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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