Lamborghini chief engineer Maurizio Reggiani recently sat with Automotive News to talk about his company’s latest creation, the Urus SUV. Turns out Lamborghini has big plans for its new model, as it’s intended to double their sales – from the current 1600 to around 3000 units a year – and also be the best performer in its segment. Hard trick to pull, but Lambo has all the resources it needs thanks to its parent Volkswagen.

Urus production won’t commence until 2017, but Lamborghini is already working on pre-production stuff and hopes to get things ready by the end of this year. Then the Urus has to wait for VW to officially launch its new unibody SUV platform – PL73 – which underpins the next Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, as well as Bentley’s upcoming sport utility. Only then the production can begin.

Lamborghini has set themselves an ambitious goal to make the Urus the lightest SUV in the market with a targeted weight of around 4,400 pounds, which is a full 440 pounds lighter than its siblings from Audi and Porsche. That will be achieved largely through the use of carbon fiber, inside and out.

Lamborghini has not yet decided on the engine, but chief Reggiani says a V8 is likely. An Audi-sourced V8 could be a suitable option for the Urus, as it’s lighter and shorter than Lambo’s V10 engine and with a bit of tweakery can easily make the 600 horsepower that is set at minimum power level for the Lamborghini SUV.

via: Autonews