Lamborghini Is Set to Build an SUV by 2018

In a dramatic departure from its usual repertoire of covetable, low-swept supercars, Lamborghini has announced its plans to manufacture the Urus, its first serious attempt at the SUV market. Having once taken a stab in the form of the Countach-engined LM002 in 1986 (which ultimately slipped off the radar for its uncovetable price tag), Lamborghini is considerably more serious this time, opting to double the size of its Sant’ Agata factory in Italy, in the process adding 500 new jobs in its bid to reach a target of 3,000 SUVs produced per year — in comparison, the carmaker manufactured 1,400 Gallardos and Huracans, and 1,200 Aventadors last year. For this seismic shift, Lamborghini has enlisted the help of its parent company, the Volkswagen Group, which will allow Lamborghini to pick and choose from an existing inventory of parts to assemble the Urus with. Due to hit showrooms by 2018, the Urus will likely bear little resemblance to the original 2012 concept shown above, given the fast-paced nature of car design trends. Meanwhile, keep an eye on this space for any developments concerning Lamborghini and its peculiar new venture in the Urus SUV.