Official: Lamborghini SUV Confirmed, Sales To Start In 2018

Lamborghini has finally confirmed plans to launch on the market an SUV. Lamborghini first previewed the vehicle in 2012 with the Urus concept but concerns over the health of the global economy as well as labor relations and potential incentives from the Italian government kept delaying the green light from being given.

At a press conference in Rome today, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann finally confirmed that the automaker will in fact go ahead with the SUV. Sales are scheduled to start sometime in 2018.

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Though not mentioned by the automaker, it’s believed that the Italian government has awarded Lamborghini upwards of 80 million euros (approximately $87 million) in tax breaks and other incentives. In return, Lamborghini will hire around 500 new employees and invest significantly in expanding its facilities.

Lamborghini has confirmed that production will take place at its home in Sant’Agata Bolognese, which will need to be expanded for this third model line, increasing from the current 80,000 square meters to an area covering approximately 150,000 square meters. The project will include the construction of new facilities, such as a new production line, warehousing and enlargement of the R&D department. The addition of a third model line will also provide important opportunities for the supplier network.

It's possible that the basic body for the SUV will be built at the same plant in Slovakia where bodies for other Volkswagen Group SUVs are sourced, as Lamborghini’s new model will share the high-riding version of the MLB Evo platform, currently found in the latest Audi Q7 and destined to underpin Bentley’s Bentayga as well as next-generation versions of the Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg.