Luxe SUVs for the Wealthy

Rich drivers with a need for speed have long fueled demand for high-end auto brands such as Maserati, Ferrari, and Lamborghini. Sometimes, though, the panache and speed of a supercar just isn’t enough. “An SUV comes in handy when you need to ferry more passengers and things about, like when you go shopping,” says 26-year-old Bill Liu, who runs a real estate company in Shanghai and owns a Range Rover Evoque along with five sports cars, including a $1 million gray Lamborghini Aventador.

To grab space in the garages of wealthy owners like Liu, exotic Italian sports-car maker Lamborghini will unveil an SUV prototype at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show in April, says a person familiar with the Sant’Agata Bolognese-based company’s plans. The Volkswagen-owned luxury brand may have a version to sell by 2016, says the person, who could not speak on the record prior to the public announcement. “Chinese customers love their big cars,” says Christian Mastro, Lamborghini’s general manager for the Asia-Pacific region. “All the brands are making cars more specific for the Chinese market.”