Last weekend, the Shanghai round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Challenge officially kicked off at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Super Trofeo is a world-renowned single-make series, with a calendar that includes three continental series in Europe, North America, and Asia, as well as a World Final. The competition classes include Pro, Pro-Am, Am, and Lamborghini Cup. The Shanghai round is the second race of this year's Asian series. We were invited to watch the race and, in between activities, test-drove the Lamborghini Urus SE, the brand's second plug-in hybrid model.
Lamborghini has already launched its first plug-in hybrid super sports car in China, the Revuelto, which is powered by a plug-in hybrid system combining a 6.5L naturally aspirated V12 engine with a total of three electric motors—two at the front and one at the rear—producing a combined system output of 746 kW. Working with the powertrain is an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission in a transverse layout, along with an all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds, from 0 to 200 km/h in under 7 seconds, and has a top speed of over 350 km/h. Lamborghini's second plug-in hybrid model is the Urus SE that we test-drove this time. In the era of new energy, the Urus SE is one of the few SUVs on the market that carries on super sports car DNA.
Compared with the Urus, the Urus SE has an all-new exterior style, with a larger grille and slimmer headlights. The hood now extends directly forward to the middle of the headlight cluster, and the Lamborghini logo has been moved from the front bumper to the front hood.
On the side of the body, the fuel filler and charging port are visible, which may be the only place where the side profile differs from the Urus design. As for the rear design, even from a distance, one can tell at first glance that this is an SUV produced by Lamborghini.
Inside, the Urus SE still maintains a strong combat atmosphere. Lamborghini's most recognizable fighter-jet-style start button maximizes the sense of ceremony. To the left of the start button is the vehicle's driving mode adjustment, offering six driving modes: Strada, Sport, Corsa, Sabbia, Terra, and Neve. In addition, the vehicle offers four energy modes: EV, Hybrid, Recharge, and Performance. Perhaps also out of consideration for national pride, the authentic Italian language also requires some adaptation time for Chinese users who are new to Lamborghini.
In terms of the powertrain, as a plug-in hybrid SUV, it is equipped with a 4.0T V8 engine and an electric motor, with a combined output of 588 kW and peak torque of 950 Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, from 0 to 200 km/h in just 11.2 seconds, and has a top speed of up to 312 km/h. For the electric drive portion, the Urus SE is equipped with a 25.9 kWh battery pack, providing more than 60 km of pure electric range. Although the pure electric range is relatively short, it is enough to ensure that this super SUV can travel quietly in densely populated areas and avoid disturbing residents.
In terms of details, the Urus SE also features exquisite details and luxurious materials. For example, the interior uses a large amount of carbon fiber trim, and the headrests feature embroidered Lamborghini logos. Of course, as long as there is a sufficient budget, the interior options can satisfy users' needs to the greatest extent.
This test drive was mainly divided into three parts: an off-road experience, drifting around a slalom course, and road driving. In the spacious parking area outside the circuit, on a watered-down surface with some cones simply placed, we were asked to complete drifting around the slalom course and launch starts.
To be honest, I had been worried that this large SUV would be relatively difficult to initiate a drift, but unexpectedly it was much easier than I imagined. However, the next step—the follow-up action, that is, steering control—requires some learning time. Returning the steering too early can easily cause oversteer and a spin. Since it is a rear-biased all-wheel-drive model, while countersteering, one also needs to correctly control throttle input. Therefore, constantly sensing the shift in the vehicle's center of gravity and maintaining excellent visibility became the key to ultimately succeeding in drifting around the slalom course.
Then, in the subsequent launch start experience, I truly felt the wildness of this super SUV. At the moment of launch, accompanied by the engine's instantaneous high-rev roar and the brief screech of the tires, I was violently "kicked" forward by a force. It is hard to imagine that this is the acceleration sensation provided by an SUV.
The brand also arranged a simple on-site off-road experience to demonstrate the Urus SE's performance on rough roads. For Lamborghini owners, this counts as a relatively extreme outdoor environment they could take this car into. In off-road mode, the air suspension raises the chassis by 75 mm, so there is no need to worry about scraping the underbody. The mud on the body proved that, in addition to being fast, this super SUV also has a certain degree of passability.
As for open-road driving, although it was only a brief 10-minute experience, in Strada mode this Urus SE can also show a gentle and docile side, noticeably more moderate than Sport mode, which slightly eased the previously somewhat tense driving atmosphere. I believe that driving the Urus SE over long distances can also greatly reduce fatigue, and passengers in the rear seats can also enjoy a certain level of comfort.
Regarding Lamborghini's performance in the Chinese market and the super sports car brand's future development strategy, Konstantin Sychev, Executive General Manager of Automobili Lamborghini for Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and Francesco Scardaoni, Regional Director of Automobili Lamborghini Asia Pacific, accepted an interview.
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Konstantin Sychev, Executive General Manager of Automobili Lamborghini for Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau
Francesco Scardaoni, Regional Director of Automobili Lamborghini Asia Pacific
Q: How is the Urus SE performing in the Chinese market? How do Chinese consumers view this model?
A: Since its launch last year, the market acceptance of this model has remained fairly stable compared with the previous generation Urus. For example, the proportion of new customers for the Urus SE is slightly lower than that of the first-generation Urus. This is because many customers had a very good experience with the first-generation Urus, so when they changed cars, they chose the Urus SE.
Q: What value can Lamborghini's electrification process bring to the new energy vehicle market?
A: Lamborghini's hybridization plan began with the launch of the Revuelto in 2023, and the introduction of the Urus SE is part of this plan. At present, Lamborghini has completed the hybridization of its entire model range, becoming the first super luxury car brand with a full hybrid lineup (Revuelto, Urus, Temerario). Our customers have fully understood that, for Lamborghini, hybridization does not mean making compromises. Thanks to the electric motor configuration, we have brought everyone a new experience in driving dynamics, torque distribution, and active torque vectoring control. This means that the vehicle's performance is even more outstanding, with no need for compromise, and the new models are always better than the previous generation. Thanks to our improvements to the vehicle, it is more powerful, the engine sound remains thrilling, and the driving experience is further enhanced.
Q: Lamborghini's electrified product strategy is to have electric motors assist the engine to achieve better performance. Can you talk about Lamborghini's longer-term product strategy?
A: As for the long-term product strategy, it was already determined when we launched the "Direzione Cor Tauri" electrification plan: first the Revuelto, then the Urus SE, and then the Temerario. For us, hybridization is not a transitional stage, but an important milestone in our electrification process, because our customers demand hybrid models, especially in the super sports car segment. At present, the market has not shown strong demand for fully electric super sports cars, and we have always said that when entering the field of fully electric models, we do not seek to be first, but to be best. Our product strategy is to launch our fourth model before 2030, namely Lamborghini's first fully electric GT 2+2 model. Before that, all of our existing products will continue to be equipped with hybrid systems. After that, we plan to still retain internal combustion engine plus hybrid solutions, especially in super sports car products.
Q: What are your expectations for performance in the Chinese market in 2025?
A: Lamborghini's global sales are continuing to grow. In the Chinese market, our focus is on maintaining market share, and we have indeed done so. In fact, last year our share in China's super sports car segment even increased. This year our focus is to further consolidate the results we have achieved in terms of market share. Although market conditions are currently fluctuating, in the medium term we still believe we can restore a growth trend in the Chinese market. The Chinese market is a very important strategic market for Lamborghini, and we have a solid foundation in China. As I mentioned in my speech today, this year is an important year marking the 20th anniversary of our entry into the mainland China market. We plan to hold a series of related marketing activities to further consolidate the market position we have already achieved.
Q: Will Lamborghini consider bringing some classic car programs to the Chinese market for exhibition and marketing purposes?
A: This year marks the 20th anniversary of Lamborghini's entry into the mainland China market. Later this year, we will plan a brand event at which we will display some classic Lamborghini models. In addition, this year we will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Lamborghini Polo Storico classic car restoration center. It is Lamborghini's vehicle restoration and certification body, where every historically significant Lamborghini car can be restored to its best condition. At the same time, we are also closely monitoring relevant laws and regulations in China to see whether there is an opportunity for customers to drive their classic cars. As a brand, we are well aware that Chinese customers have a strong interest in and demand for classic models. Once the time is right, we will certainly do our best to give customers the opportunity to access these classic models.
