The legendary test driver doesn’t mind getting the Super SUV dirty.
Valentino Balboni was a Lamborghini test driver for 40 years. He drove almost all of Sant’Agata Bolognese’s raging Bulls during that time. His contribution to the company is so significant that Lamborghini presented a special-edition Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino balboni in 2009, just one year after his retirement.
The 69-year old Italian still loves Lamborghinis, and is a big fan of the LM002’s spiritual successor, Urus. The DailyDrivenExotics invited him to take the 650-horsepower SUV for an off-road adventure.
Although the Urus may not be as capable as a Mercedes G-Class, or a Land Rover Defender in rough terrain, it is well-equipped to handle muddy roads. This is despite the huge 21-inch wheels and limited ground clearance, even with Terra drive activated. Although it is true that very few Urus owners will take their SUVs at 190 mph off-road, it’s still interesting to see Valentino Balboni going where no Urus has ever gone before.
Lamborghini is working on an upgraded, off-road-ready Urus. This was shown a few months ago in the STX concept. The SUV’s smaller variant will be more than a showpiece. It will have a 25 percent weight reduction over the road model and compete in a single-brand championship that will feature a combination of a traditional race track and an off-road surface. The competition will be launched next year in Europe, and the Middle East.
Valentino Balboni isn’t the only one who drives the Urus off-road. Harry Metcalfe, respected journalist, wanted to see how Lamborghini’s new SUV handles on grass. You can see the video below.