The Lamborghini Urus SUV has been on sale since 2018 and it’s been a hit for the brand ever since. So it’s not surprising that the Urus SUV lineup is growing with the all-new sporty Urus S model, and bringing it to a whole new level…the Urus Performante.

Performante, of course, meaning performance. And while the base Urus can certainly handle its own on a road course, the Performante is tailored for a track day.

It starts with 47 kilos, or just over 100 pounds, of weight savings due to the use of carbon fiber on the hood, fenders, interior, and optionally on the roof. The titanium sport exhaust system is also lightweight while at the same time enhancing sound inside of the cabin. 22-inch lightweight forged wheels are standard with available 23-inchers.

The Performante sees an increased 38% of downforce on the rear thanks to a newly designed rear spoiler and aerodynamics have improved by 10%.

The ride height has been lowered by 20mm while the track width has been widened by 16mm. And the air suspension has been replaced by a stiffer, steel coil one.

“I’m glad that I have the opportunity to drive the Urus Performante on the street because let’s be honest, most people will daily drive this. It has to be comfortable enough to drop your kids off at school in. And I really like the increased throttle response because all that I have to do for a lot of this city driving is just tap on the throttle. It’s just a very simple driving experience and yes, the suspension is a little bit stiffer but not in a way that is uncomfortable like some other track focused cars.”

Power comes from the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that now boasts 657 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque.

The Performante has four drive modes: STRADA for the street, SPORT for a little more fun, CORSA for the track, and an all-new RALLY selection for the dirt.

The track-specific but street-usable Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires have been adapted for use on an SUV and developed in cooperation with
Lamborghini.

So where better to test this Italian super SUV’s capabilities than at the Autodromo Vallelunga, outside of Rome.

“So the Performante doesn’t have that much more horsepower than a base Urus, just about 16 more, but the engine response is just really incredible. The minute my foot touches the pedal just a little bit, it goes. It’s really fantastic. And I know we’ve shaved some weight too using a lot of carbon fiber inside and out, but this is still a pretty large SUV and it absolutely does not feel like that on the track. There’s so much torque going to the rear wheels that it handles just so well. And this track has a lot of tight corners and its handling it with ease. Oh, this is my favorite part. There’s so much grip with these tires as well.””

And we also had a chance to test out the Performante’s brand new RALLY mode on a proper dirt track.

The improved rear wheel steering and torque vectoring allows for moves like…this.

“[Laughs] That was it!”

It was pretty impressive how easily the super SUV let me throw it around while still keeping full control of the vehicle.

Driving a Lamborghini is always an incredible experience but this was arguably some of the most fun I’ve ever had in one.

The Lamborghini Urus Performante starts around $260,000 and customers should start seeing deliveries by the end of the year.

We’ll have more on what’s next from Lamborghini coming up on MotorWeek!