Lamborghini Urus SUV's V8 twin-turbo engine to belt out 650 hp; plug-in hybrid version to follow

Automobili Lamborghini is gearing up for the launch of its most important vehicle of the decade -- Urus SUV. The debut of Urus is expected by the end of this year, and now CEO Stefano Domenicali has revealed more details.

Also read: Lamborghini Huracan Performante launched at Rs 3.97 crore in India

Speaking with Automotive News, Domenicali said that Urus will be launched with a power output of 650hp. The mill has already been confirmed Volkswagen Group's latest 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8.

In terms of power, the 650hp stands between the output of Lamborghini's Huracan and Aventador supercars. Stefano Domenicali also confirmed Urus in as a plug-in hybrid version a year after the standard model launch which is expected in 2018.

Urus is expected to rev up a top speed of 328kmph and is billed to be the world's fastest SUV going past Bentely Bentayga, which boasts of a 301kmph top speed. Though the SUV is based on the same platform as the Audi Q7, Urus will be a lot lighter than the rival SUVs; thanks largely to the extensive usage of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer. The SUV will be offered in both all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive variants and go up against Bentley Bentayga and upcoming SUVs including Audi Q8, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Aston Martin DBX, BMW X7 and Mercedes-Maybach SUV.

According to former Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann, the company calculates sales potential 3,000 units per year for Urus. To put it in to perspective, that is roughly the company's total sales for its supercars in 2016. Hence, Urus will be the best selling Lamborghini product in the future. In line with Lamborghini car names inspired from the fighter bulls, the name Urus comes from aurochs, a large, black European wild ox.

Pricing for the Urus is expected to start below $200,000. Urus will be built alongside Huracan and Aventador sports cars in Italy.