The Lamborghini Urus has arrived! Here's what you need to know...

By Ané Theron

The covers have been pulled from what is perhaps the hottest production SUV the world has ever seen. Maserati gave us the Levante, Bentley gave us the Bentaya, and Lamborghini is now bestowing its super-SUV, the Urus, upon Mzansi. Here's all you need to know about this track-slaying beast, which is said to be just as good in the sand as well.

1.The Urus is based on the Volkswagen Group’s MLB Evo platform which can also be found underpinning the Bentley Bentayga, Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. (The Urus is 5112mm long, 2016mm wide and 1638mm high, with a wheelbase of 3003mm.)

1. Typically Lamborghini, the Urus name is derived from bulls. Urus (also known as Aurochs) are "extinct wild ancestors of domestic cattle". But this particular Urus has nothing domestic about it, apart from how instantly at home you feel inside the cockpit!

2. It doesn't come cheap. Lamborghini is all about exclusivity, and that’s a privilege for which you’re going to pay. While a Maserati Levante starts from R 1 650 000, and the Bentayga costs from R2 950 000, the Urus will set you back an airway-constricting R3.5 million – before ticking any option boxes. So, if you do buy one, you won't be met by a sea of them in the private school parking lot.

3. Even if you can put down that kind of cash, you're going to have to wait your turn, just like the rest of the elite. There's currently only one Urus in South Africa, and it's at the new Lamborghini showroom in Century City, Cape Town. A surprising number of wealthy people have pre-ordered their Uruses (Uri?), which will be arriving in the fourth quarter. If you'd like to order one now, you're welcome to join the 12-month waiting list...

4. It sounds as good as it looks - despite having a downsized, twin-turbo petrol V8-engine instead of the other models' naturally aspirated V10s & V12s, the Lamborghini Urus still has a face-melting 478 kW and 850Nm of torque. This is handy for extra low-down grunt when off-roading, which is why they've employed it. The Urus's power-to-weight ratio is also best in class. It's still a 2.2-ton SUV, mind you, and the proof of its vaunted dynamism pudding will be in the driving - which will happen at the local launch in the not-too-distant future.

5. The Urus has bragging rights of being the fastest SUV available, with a top speed of 305 km/h and a 0-100 km/h acceleration figure of 3.6 seconds. It takes 12.8 seconds to reach 200 km/h. Power is transferred via an electro-hydraulically controlled 8-speed auto 'box. Lamborghini specifically developed a unique torque converter for a faster response from the engine.

6. (Have I mentioned how pleasing it is to listen to that villainous V8-voice? It has been enhanced slightly to sound more brutish, but who cares...)

7. Its interior looks like a R3.5million car should - all flat screens and tan leather and that infamous 'signal red' fighter-jet switch over the 'start' button. But it's the crème de la crème of opulent material choices, and the way it’s all been put together so perfectly, that makes you want to break into song. Something Italian, preferably.

8. There are driving modes for days, namely Strada (Street), Sport, Corsa (Race) Sabbia (Sand), Terra (Dirt/Gravel) and Neve (Snow), and Ego (which is completely customisable). Adaptive air suspension will raise the chassis when venturing into the bundu with your Lambo, as crazy as that idea sounds.

9. The Urus's all-wheel-drive system features a Torsen self-locking centre diff with a 40/60 split to the front and rear axles respectively. The rear differential features torque vectoring - this technology provides the differential with the ability to vary the torque to each wheel.

How much off-roading will your average Urus-driver do? I’m not too sure about that, but wherever the lucky owner will take his Urus, he can be sure of being met with flashing cameras – be they from adoring onlookers or speed traps... I mean, just look at it!

10. But here's my favourite part: The different driving modes are selected by flicking the 'Anima' switch - Anima is Italian for 'Soul'. That’s Lamborghini for you...