Lamborghini unveils the Urus, a high-performance hybrid SUV, after eliminating electric cars

Lamborghini on Wednesday unveiled a new hybrid performance model for its Urus SUV, as the Italian automaker continues to rely on gas and electric vehicles after abandoning its plans for pure electric vehicles.

The Urus SE Performance features more aggressive exterior styling, including a larger grille and hood scoops, as well as interior improvements over current models of the SUV.

Lamborghini describes the new Urus SE Performanceante as “the world’s fastest super-SUV,” capable of doing 0 to 100 kilometers per hour, or roughly 0 to 60 mph, in 3.3 seconds and reaching a top speed of 312 kilometers per hour, or 194 mph.

The vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle, meaning it has a gas engine as well as a plug to charge the battery pack for improved electrical performance. Lamborghini said it is powered by an electric motor and a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, generating 812 horsepower and about 738 pound-feet of torque.

“It’s very important. It’s a game-changer,” Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann told CNBC.

Lamborghini owned company Volkswagen AGIt said it would announce pricing for the Urus SE Performante closer to the car’s arrival to U.S. customers. The 2026 Urus SE starts at around $250.00 to $280,000, depending on model.

The Urus has played a crucial role in Lamborghini’s success since its introduction nearly a decade ago. The car represents about 50% of the brand’s global sales annually, according to Winkelmann, with total Lamborghini sales approaching 11,000 cars last year.

The unveiling of the new performance PHEV comes months after the company confirmed its plans to cancel electric vehicles to continue focusing on hybrid models. Winkelmann declined to comment on whether Lamborghini would return to gasoline-only models, but said “never say never” when asked by CNBC about such vehicles.

Lamborghini canceled its electric car plans before rival Ferrari unveiled its first electric car, the Lucy, in late May. Luce was met with intense backlash.

Winkelman previously declined to comment directly on Luce or the responses she received, but said “innovation is critical” to success. However, he said innovation should not be done for the sake of innovation or forced on customers.

“By observing the market… we saw the acceptance curve [of EVs] “Our customer type is not growing, so we decided to move away from a fully electric car to a plug-in hybrid,” he said.