Does it hint that a hotter road-going Urus is on the way?
As if the Urus wasn't quick enough, now Lamborghini will build a racing version. We previously reported on the track-spec Urus ST-X Concept
in late 2018, but now Squadra Corse, the brand's motorsports division,
has announced official details of the track-special SUV and its
competition schedule.
Lightness is key to any successful race car, and to that extent
Lamborghini fitted a carbon-fiber hood to reduce weight over the front
end. The hood also features new intakes to enhance cooling airflow to
the engine. At the rear, a larger carbon-fiber rear wing provides
downforce, while a racing exhaust system should shave a few pounds and
add a few decibels. The interior has been enhanced for track duty as
well with the addition of racing seats and a roll bar.
Power remains unchanged at 641 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque
from the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8. Combined with the same eight-speed
automatic transmission and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system of
the standard car, that should prove sufficient to keep Urus ST-X drivers
moving at race pace.
Lamborghini
has only announced a single race for the vehicle so far. It's set to
take place at Misano Circuit on Italy's east coast during the 2020 Super
Trofeo World Finals, the culmination of the brand's Huracan-based
racing series. Winners from that series will be invited to compete
against renowned car and motorcycle race pilots. Lamborghini says the
race will take place on a "special track," which will hopefully combine
tarmac and dirt.
The Urus ST-X makes clear that Lamborghini considers its SUV a
performance vehicle like any of its other offerings. Much like the
Huracan has been upfitted to Performante spec and the Aventador transformed into the fire-breathing SVJ, the preparation of the Urus for competition seems to indicate a hotter version
is on the way. We're eager to see what components and knowledge from
the ST-X program may eventually make their way onto that vehicle. Until
then, it'll be great to watch a herd of these big bulls stampede across a
racetrack.
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