The 2027 Lamborghini Urus SE Performante First Look: Lighter, More Powerful, and Carbon Fiber-ier

Lamborghini, it seems, is hellbent on winning the “most powerful super-SUV" battle—at least for vehicles that still rely on gasoline for their primary means of motivation. Its latest creation is the 2027 Lamborghini Urus SE Performante, an even more powerful and (slightly) lighter-weight version of the already bonkers plug-in hybrid Urus SE. And as of right now, the SE Performante is the most powerful production internal combustion SUV in the world.

Plug-In Power

Under the hood, the Urus SE Performante works off a version of the regular SE’s powertrain, a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 with an electric motor attached in front of the eight-speed automatic transmission. The SE’s output is an already massive 789 hp and 701 lb-ft of torque; the SE Performante ups that ante to 800 hp and 738 lb-ft.

Lamborghini’s claimed performance figures are super-worthy, indeed. It says the Urus SE Performante will reach 62 mph in just 3.3 seconds and achieve a top speed of more than 193 mph. MotorTrend has yet to test the Urus SE, but the standard, non-hybrid Urus Performante we tested back in 2023 reached 60 mph in a supercar-like 3.0 seconds.

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The difference in acceleration times likely has much to do with weight: The Urus Performante weighs 4,993 pounds on our scales, while Lamborghini claims the hybrid SE and SE Performante weigh 5,550 and 5,450 pounds, respectively. But, thanks to extensive carbon-fiber use, the SE Performante achieves a power-to-weight ratio of 6.8 pounds per hp.

Like the Urus SE, the SE Performante benefits from a 25.9-kWh battery, here giving it the ability to drive under electric-only power for more than 37 miles at speeds of up to 86 mph.

Working the Air

The SE Performante is no lightweight, but Lamborghini shaved off roughly 70 pounds relative to the SE thanks in part to a hell of a lot of carbon-fiber bits, the most exposed carbon fiber ever used on an Urus, in fact. The roof, hood, wheel arches, side skirts, and rear diffuser are all made from the stuff. Paired with even more aggressive and aerodynamic styling, the carbon additions truly set the Urus SE Performante apart.

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Bigger air intakes send more air to the radiators to help with cooling, and the new hood has an even more pronounced dome. The SUV’s stance has been lowered, and it’s also wider overall. A new 23-inch wheel design is housed under redesigned carbon-fiber wheel arches. In the rear, the car wears the biggest diffuser of any Urus to date, and a taller and more integrated carbon-fiber spoiler works in conjunction with the rear wing. Thematically familiar hexagonal shapes are found all over.

All that aero adds up to empirical improvements, as well. Because of its newly optimized front bumper, the Urus SE Performante sees its drag coefficient improve over the Urus SE by 3 percent. It also gains 23 and 16 percent more downforce over the Urus SE and Urus Performante, respectively.

Lamborghini also added new hood vents, fender outlets, and bigger wheel-arch vents to achieve better powertrain thermal management. A new, SE Performante–optimized NACA duct helps direct cool air toward the brakes. The automaker says brake cooling is now 8 percent more efficient than compared to the Urus SE.

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Other Performance Hardware

A Lamborghini must sound like a Lamborghini, so the SE Performante comes with a new Akrapovič titanium exhaust system. This setup gets rid of the X-shaped connection between the left and right cylinder banks, rendering them independent. This preserves the uneven firing sound of each bank for a more raw, visceral, muscular sound. The car even has something called an “overshoot at start” function that barks the engine revs to 2,400 rpm before settling down, which we know your neighbors will love. All told, the new exhaust shaves off 22 pounds.

The SE Performante also utilizes the “6D sensor” technology that made its debut on the few-off Lamborghini Fenomeno that essentially reads the vehicle’s movements for better dynamics management.

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Finally, the SE Performante rides on new dual-chamber air springs and dual-valve dampers. Put together, the car should be able to do it all: ride comfortably and smoothly, provide super-precise handling, ensure optimal levels of traction and safety, and maintain stability. There are four sensors on each wheel hub and an additional four on the chassis that feed the control unit driving data to help it predict and respond to load changes. The SE Performante cuts the roll gradient by 55 percent over the outgoing Urus Performante, as well, according to Lamborghini.

A New Drive Mode

An updated version of the 12.3-inch central infotainment screen displays Revuelto-inspired graphics, and the specially designed steering wheel gets a carbon-fiber bezel. The familiar Tamburo drive mode selector sees an additional mode: Rally. As its name suggests, this is the mode for slinging your SE Performante through the gravel, dirt, and other off-road terrain.

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The rest of the cabin is expected Urus fare but trimmed in fancy microfiber fabric that saves an additional 6 pounds. If you want something more traditional, the Unicolor Performante Leather Interior upholstery is available as an option.

Lamborghini has not shared the SE Performante’s official pricing just yet, but with all the extensive carbon fiber and performance hardware, we’re estimating a base sticker in the $320,000 range.

It’s a lot, but consider the Urus SE’s range of capabilities, able to dip its toe in both internal combustion and electrified performance. Now take that and increase it, and you get the SE Performante. There are only a handful of super SUVs on the market that have better numbers, but those are all-electric, and this one still sounds like a Lamborghini. To some, that’s what makes it worth it.