Lamborghini Urus is going to be a fully electric SUV by the end of the decade
Lamborghini’s best-selling Urus Super SUV is going fully electric. The high-performance sports brand CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed that an electric Lamborghini Urus would arrive by the end of the decade.
Lamborghini, as we know it today, was born on the idea of enhancing the driving experience and providing the “perfect car.”
Well, the auto industry has changed significantly since Ferruccio Lamborghini unveiled his first model in 1963, the 350 GTV. Despite several ownership changes since, Lamborghini has remained true to its roots, producing some of the most sought-after supercars across the globe.
However, as Lamborghini has witnessed over the years, to truly thrive in the auto market, it takes evolving.
After watching the SUV market continue to expand over the years, the iconic brand unveiled what it called the first “Super Sport Utility Vehicle” in 2017, the Lamborghini Urus that takes the soul of a sports car and combines it with the functionality of an SUV.
The Urus has helped propel the automaker to new heights as it broke sales records over the past two years. But Lamborghini is watching the industry transition again, this time to electric vehicles.
Last January, Winkelmann claimed 2022 would be the last year we would see a new solely gas-powered Lambo released.
Beginning this year, Lamborghini is focusing on hybrid and PHEVs as it progresses toward its first fully electric vehicle. The brand is spending $1.8 billion over the next four years with plans to convert several popular models, including the Urus, to a PHEV by 2024.
Lamborghini’s first fully electric model, a “2+2, two-door car with more ground clearance,” will hit the market in 2028. The brand’s EV will be followed up by an electric Urus model in 2029.
Electric Lamborghini Urus SUV due out in 2029
According to Winkelmann, speaking with journalists Friday and confirmed by Road & Track, the high-performance Urus Super SUV will receive an electric upgrade in 2029.
Lamborghini’s leader confirmed:
In ’28 and ’29 we will have our first two BEVs. We will have a fourth model, so today we have three models. It will be the first one to be completely a BEV car in 2028. And then in 2029 there will be the new Urus.
Winkelmann added that the automaker’s first two electric vehicles, due by the end of the decade, will help lower overall emissions by 80%.
Until then, Lamborghini plans to “hybridize” its lineup with an Aventador HEV due in 2023, followed by a Huracan PHEV in late 2024, and a Urus PHEV SUV also in 2024.
Electrek’s Take
Lamborghini is wise to convert its best-selling model overall, the Urus, to electric. However, waiting until nearly the end of the decade might be costly.
Several automakers – like Tesla – already have high-performance, long-range SUVs, with more due out in the next few years.
Although Lamborghini has established itself as a brand people idolize, new electric brands are popping up rapidly, stealing traditional automakers’ shine.
I can’t wait to see what the electric Urus will look or perform like, but by then, it may not be as impressive.
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Environment
Baidu- and Geely-backed JiYue brand unveils ROBO X EV that goes 0-100 km/h in under 1.9 sec
JiYue, a Chinese EV brand focused on delivering all-electric “robocars” to the masses, has unveiled its latest model, and it’s quite a deviation from its previous EVs—but in the best way. Earlier today, JiYue launched the ROBO X supercar, designed for high-speed racing. By high speed, we mean 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 1.9 seconds. My mouth is watering.
JiYue has only existed since 2021, when parent tech company Baidu announced it was expanding from software development into physical EV production, joining forces with multinational automotive manufacturer Geely.
The new “robotic EV” marque initially launched as JIDU with $300 million in startup capital before garnering an additional $400 million in Series A funding, led by Baidu, in January 2022.
In August 2023, Geely took on a larger role in JIDU alongside a greater financial stake as the brand reimagined itself as JiYue, inheriting the JIDU logo and its flagship model, the 01 ROBOCAR.
In December 2023, Baidu and Geely unveiled a second model called the JiYue 07. It was born from JIDU’s ROBO-02 concept, which debuted in 2023 and was designed to compete against the Tesla Model 3 in China.
The 07 finally launched in China earlier this year with 545 miles of range. With an all-electric SUV and sedan on the market, JiYue has unveiled an exciting new entry in the form of a performance supercar called the ROBO X. Check it out:
JiYue’s new ROBO X EV is available for pre-order now
JiYue showcased its new ROBO X hypercar in front of the crowd at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show earlier today. Similar to previous models but with a unique spin, JiYue described the ROBO X as an AI smart-driving supercar that, for the first time, blends artificial intelligence and autonomous driving into a high-performance, race-ready EV.
When we say “high performance,” we mean a quad motor liquid-cooled drive system that can propel the ROBO X from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 1.9 seconds. JiYue called the new ROBO X a “performance beast” with “the perfect balance of excellent aerodynamic performance and high downforce.” JiYue CEO Joe Xia was even bolder in his statements about the ROBO X:
For the next 20 years, the design of supercars will bear the shadow of Robo X. This is the best design in the history of Chinese automobiles today, and it is a landmark presence.
Fighter-style airflow ducts bolster the EV’s aerodynamics, efficiency, and overall posture. Per JiYue, the two-seater ROBO X is expected to deliver a maximum range of over 650 km (404 miles).
The new supercar features falcon-wing doors, a carbon fiber integrated frame, and a professional racing HALO safety system offering 360° of support. The interior features an AI smart cockpit with SIMO real-time feedback to give drivers an immersive racing experience.
Furthermore, JiYue said the vehicle will utilize parent company Baidu’s Apollo self-driving technology, which could make it the first electric supercar to apply pure-vision ADAS technology that enables track-level autonomous driving.
Following today’s unveiling of the ROBO X, JiYue has officially opened up pre-orders in China for RMB 49,999 ($6,915). That said, reservation holders will need to be patient as JiYue shared that it doesn’t expect to begin mass production of the ROBO X until 2027.
What do you think? Will people be talking about the ROBO X for the next 20 years?
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This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes the launch of the Lectric XPedition 2.0, Yamaha e-bikes pulling out of North America, LiveWire unveils an electric scooter concept, PNY readying its cargo e-scooters for pilot testing, Royal Enfield’s first electric motorcycle, and more.
The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the Wheel-E podcast today:
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Crude oil futures were on pace Friday for loss for the week, as a supply gut and a strong dollar depresses the market.
U.S. crude oil is down more than 2% this week, while Brent has shed nearly 2%.
Here are Friday’s energy prices:
- West Texas Intermediate December contract: $68.56 per barrel, down 14 cents, or 0.2%. Year to date, U.S. crude oil has shed about 4%.
- Brent January contract: $72.36 per barrel, down 20 cents, or 0.28%. Year to date, the global benchmark has lost nearly 6%.
- RBOB Gasoline December contract: $1.99 per gallon, up 0.46%. Year to date, gasoline has fallen more than 1%.
- Natural Gas December contract: $2.70 per thousand cubic feet, down 2.98%. Year to date, gas has gained more than 4%.
The International Energy Agency has forecast a surplus of more than 1 million barrels per day in 2025 on robust production in the U.S. OPEC revised down its demand forecast for the fourth consecutive month as demand in China remains soft.
A strong dollar also hangs over the market, as the greenback has surged in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory.
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