While it might be a controversial move for a supercar maker, the V12-powered Ferrari Purosangue has finally debuted as the Italian brand's first-ever SUV.
Ferrari calls it a four-seat four-door sports car, but it's not fooling anybody. This is the Ferrari equivalent to the Porsche Cayenne, Lamborghini Urus, and Aston Martin DBX.
A naturally-aspirated 6.2L V12 lurks under the hood making 715 horsepower, 528 lb-ft of torque, and spinning all the way past 8,000 rpm. It will soon be the only Ferrari with such an engine, as the order books are now closed on the V12-powered 912 Superfast and GTS models.
The Purosangue gets an all-new chassis that's not shared with anything else in the lineup or with a corporate partner. It's a move that let Ferrari rear-hinge the back doors to make it look extra cool (though they won't make it easier to get in or out), and the company says the chassis is actually lighter than its other 2+2 cars. A carbon fibre roof panel helps keep the weight low, though the panel can be swapped for a full-length electrochromic glass panel roof.
Ferrari has gone to Canadian engineering firm Multimatic for the Purosangue's suspension. Instead of the company's spool valve dampers already used on some high-end sports cars, Ferrari has gone with brand new active versions of the spool valve system. This lets Ferrari lower the body while in motion and should give the Purosangue incredible handling dynamics by car standards, let alone crossover requirements.
The company hasn't always been able to make its 2+2 designs work, but this one looks absolutely amazing. It looks like a longer FF, but having solved all of that car's in-between oddities. The nose is exceptionally stylish, borrowing from the Monza SP1/2 specials and getting a front-hinged hood. The headlight openings are actually air ducts and not lamps, but in this case, it helps add to the car rather than take away from the design.
Inside it has four heated bucket seats, all of which look ready for a track day. The Purosangue looks like any other Ferrari GT except bigger, which means it has Ferrari's largest cargo space to date. All four seats are individually adjustable for comfort, but there's no word on how much legroom is available for passengers in the back.
Impressively for a V12 Ferrari, this car has some eco credentials. The brand says 85 per cent of the trim for the Purosangue was produced sustainably, including using recycled fishing gear and other plastic. There's even an all-new Alcantara material made from recycled polyester. Instead of traditional carpet or leather, buyers can opt for a high-strength fabric Ferrari says is used in military uniforms for its toughness.
The Ferrari Purosangue is expected to go on sale next year, and it'll likely knock on the door of half a million dollars. Expect them to sell out almost as quickly as the V12's acceleration.
