Ferrari has finally unveiled its long-awaited SUV, the Purosangue. Meaning 'Thoroughbred' in Italian, the name is intended to reassure customers and fans of the brand that this high-riding five-door Ferrari is still worthy of the name. Although Ferrari is adamant that this car is hugely different to other super-SUVs, it's very clearly an alternative to the Aston Martin DBX707, Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT and Lamborghini Urus.
When is an SUV not an SUV?
When it's a Purosangue, according to Ferrari. The Italian company claims it has gone about building this high-riding, practical five-door in a very different way to other 4x4s. Whereas some other cars are built to be comfortable, capable and spacious first, then sporty second, Ferrari says it's the other way around with the Purosangue.
While the basic shape is certainly from the coupe-SUV mould, Ferrari has done a lot of work to maintain the Purosangue's sporting credentials. For starters, the bodywork is essentially designed in two parts, with a chunky lower part seen around the skirts and wheel arches, while a sportier upper section seems to float on top. As is so often the case with Ferrari products, science has shaped the upper bodywork, with sculpted panels and vents that direct air around the car in the most efficient way. There are even air ducts in the bumper to clean up the flow around the huge alloy wheels, which measure 22 inches in diameter at the front and 23 inches at the rear.
But while aerodynamics is critical to the Purosangue image, it wouldn't be a Ferrari without little bits of art thrown in. The roofline, for example, has shades of the GTC4Lusso, while the rear lights and tailgate design have hints of 296 GTB and Roma.
Practical Purosangue
Of course, the most noticeable thing about the Purosangue is its extra doors. Ferrari has elected to install rear-hinged doors, a bit like a Rolls-Royce Phantom, except they're obviously smaller and lighter. They're still closed electrically using a switch in the cabin, however. Anyway, we digress. Ferrari says the doors are hinged at the back to reduce the length of the vehicle, which would otherwise have to be around 100mm longer simply to provide access to the rear seats.
Slip through those doors and you'll find the Purosangue has four seats - there's no centre rear seat - and plenty of space. The 473-litre boot is about the same size as that of a Range Rover Evoque and Ferrari says four adults will fit with ease (in the main cabin, not in the boot...).
And of course, the cabin is filled with luxurious touches that have a slightly sporting edge. The sculpted sports seats, for example, are trimmed in soft leather and there's metal woven into the carbon fibre to make it look more "elegant" than it would in a Ferrari coupe. All four seats are electrically adjustable to help passengers get comfortable, and there's a split infotainment system with a screen for the driver and another for the passenger.
The driver's screen will be familiar to anyone who has driven a modern Ferrari, and it merges the functions of a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment screen, using touch-sensitive controls positioned on the steering wheel. On the opposite side, in its own binnacle, is the infotainment system with its touchscreen interface, giving the passenger access to vehicle data as well as the usual media and navigation systems.
FAST Ferrari
To help the Purosangue live up to its sports car billing, Ferrari has fitted plenty of performance-orientated technology. Not only does the car come with a modified version of the GTC4Lusso's ultra-complex all-wheel-drive system, but it's all controlled by logic inspired by the hybrid SF90 hypercar, allowing the car to distribute the power where it's needed. And in higher gear ratios, it reverts to a time-honoured, sports car-style rear-wheel-drive system.
The Purosangue also gets the four-wheel-steering system from the 812 Competizione, while there's an electronically controlled rear differential and an eighth-generation Side Slip Angle Control (SSC) system, which works with the new anti-lock braking system to help aid cornering performance and fun.
Ferrari has also fitted its Ferrari Active Suspension Technology (FAST) to help keep the car's high-riding body under control. The system uses electric motors to tweak the damping on the move, which Ferrari claims will give the car greater body control and comfort than an air suspension system, which it deemed too slow for the Purosangue's needs.
While Ferrari doesn't really advertise the Purosangue as an off-roader - it says the car is set up primarily for road use - the company's bosses claim it's designed to offer greater access to Ferrari performance on various types of terrain. It's supposed to be particularly good in the snow and on those gravel tracks that often pass for access roads in parts of Italy.
Eschewing economy
In a two-fingered salute to fuel economy, Ferrari has given the Purosangue a 6.5-litre V12 petrol engine. It's based on components we've seen before in Ferrari models, but the whole thing has been tuned to provide more torque at lower engine speeds, which is in keeping with the needs of a heavier car that's traversing more challenging terrain.
As a result, the engine has many of the same characteristics as other V12s, with a 65-degree 'vee' and the 6.5-litre capacity, as well as a dry sump oil system and high-pressure direct injection. However, the engine has a bespoke intake, its own timing and a unique exhaust system, while the cylinder heads are derived from the 812 Competizione's. The crankshaft is modified, too, lengthening the stroke of the piston.
Thanks to all that, the V12 engine produces 725hp at 7,750rpm, while 716Nm of torque is produced at 6,250Nm. However, the engine has been tuned to produce 80 per cent of that torque at just 2,100rpm. Armed with those impressive figures and teamed with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the front-mid-mounted engine can drag the Purosangue from 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds and on to 200km/h in 10.6 seconds. The top speed is in excess of 310km/h.
Pretty penny
Jeff McCartney, Group Operations Director at Charles Hurst Belfast - home to the only official Ferrari dealership on the island of Ireland - said:
"As the only official Ferrari dealer on the island, we've been continually investing in our luxury showroom to accommodate a wide range of new, approved pre-owned and build-your-own options to ensure that we always deliver a world class retail and aftersales experience that befits this powerful motoring brand. With wide appeal, the new Ferrari Purosangue will be a welcome and compelling addition to our extended range."
Purosangue prices start at €390,000 in Italy, including local taxes, but you can bet your bottom euro that would be considerably higher in Ireland, thanks to the dreaded VRT.
Not that the astronomical prices are putting customers off. Ferrari says the Purosangue is designed to be an everyday Ferrari for collectors who already have some of the brand's sports cars in their garage. It's something with which to replace their Range Rovers. As a result, existing collectors get first refusal, and demand is already sky high. According to Ferrari, the order books may have to close in the not-too-distant future, and the first deliveries of left-hand-drive examples aren't expected until next summer.
That's because the brand has pledged to limit production of the Purosangue to 20 per cent of Ferrari's total output. Given the company built just over 11,000 new cars last year, that's a pretty strict limit, and it means competition for the new model will be fierce. Those desperate to buy one should get their order in sooner, rather than later. Right-hand-drive cars are expected to arrive with customers in the third quarter of 2023.
Jeff McCartney commented: "Eagerly anticipated, the new Ferrari Purosangue promises high-grade performance and premium luxury in a striking vehicle that oozes authentic Italian style and we've been busy preparing for its arrival. With early interest and enquiries from loyal Ferrari buyers and newcomers across Ireland here in Belfast, we're looking forward to welcoming them after this month's big reveal and we expect strong order demand right from the outset and well into the new year."