Ferrari reveals the Purosangue – just don’t call it an SUV! 

Ferrari has finally unveiled its new Purosangue – a higher-riding, all-wheel drive, four-seater, four-door with lots of interior space whose name means ‘thoroughbred’.

Just don’t call it an SUV or a crossover, or you will encounter the ire of the legendary Italian carmaker, which doggedly maintains it’s a unique sports car ‘unlike any other’.  And insists it’s definitely NOT a Sports Utility Vehicle wearing a Prancing Horse badge.

Powered by a mighty 6.5-litre 725-horsepower V12 engine, the new Purosangue, costing about £350,000 or $400,000, accelerates from rest to 62mph in just 3.3 seconds and to 125mph in 10.6 seconds, up to a top speed of 192mph, with a scintillating soundtrack from the twin exhaust pipes to match.

It is Ferrari’s entry into a world of high-speed SUVs, targeted at very deep-pocketed families, that includes among others the highly successful Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Aston Martin DBX – though is twice as expensive as these rivals.

It’ll certainly cause a stir on the school run and comes with some genuinely new and unique features.

It also has serious sportscar credentials. The high-powered engine is linked to an eight-speed F1 DCT (dual clutch transmission) gearbox and uses a new and intuitive active suspension system, 

The new gearbox promises faster and more precise shifts, and ratios which are the same as on the Ferrari SF90 Stradale and 296 GTB models.

But the Purosangue’s hefty price-tag of around £350,000 on the road carries a significant Ferrari brand premium and is higher than rivals – which are less adamant about not being SUVs.

Deliveries of the first left-hand models begin from late summer next year with right-hand drive models for the UK and other similar markets from September next year.

In February leaked photographs of the front and rear of the Purosangue in the factory were published on the internet, though Ferrari subsequently issued its own teaser pictures and videos to stir interest.

However, there is also great sensitivity and aversion in Ferrari ranks towards the new Purosangue being tarred with the SUV brush. 

That comes despite its great Italian rival Lamborghini admitting that its Urus is one – although characteristically it claims it’s an SUV. 

On its website, Lamborghini says: ‘The soul of a super sports car and the functionality of an SUV: Lamborghini Urus is the first Super Sport Utility Vehicle in the world.’ 

Just six years ago, Ferrari promised the world at the 2016 Paris Motor Show that it would never build one of its own.

Two years later in 2018, former Ferrari boss Louis Camilleri told Car Magazine: ‘I abhor hearing the word SUV in the same sentence as the Ferrari. It does not sit well with our brand. This vehicle will be unique in so many ways, and it will redefine expectations.’

It’s even been referred to, rather clunkily, as a ‘Ferrari Utility Vehicle’, but now it’s officially simply a ‘sports car’.

Revealing the new car at the atmospheric Teatro del Silenzio in Lajatico, near the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, Ferrari said: ‘The Purosangue, the Prancing Horse’s first ever four-door four-seater, is unveiled today.’

Seeking to justify its contention that the Purosangue is neither an SUV nor a crossover, Ferrari insists it is in a class of its own – a vehicle ‘unlike any other’ – and the first four-door four-seater in its 75 year history.

It stressed: ‘To enable the company to achieve the ambitious goals set for this project and create a car worthy of a place in its range, a completely different layout and innovative proportions compared to modern GT archetypes (so-called crossovers and SUVs) were adopted.’

The spacious and luxurious interior is described as a ‘sporty lounge’. 

With a new chassis created from scratch the Purosangue is designed to comfortably accommodate four adults. Each of the four electrically adjustable and heated seats can be moved independently and for those in the front there’s an optional massage function with a choice of five different massages and three levels of intensity.

Two rear seats, when fully raked forwards, significantly increase the Purosangue’s normal 473 litres of luggage space in what is the biggest boot ever seen on a Ferrari.

The new, innovative and intuitive active suspension system uses an instantly reactive electronic motor to reduce body roll, enhance cornering, and cope rapidly with changing surfaces and bumps to ensure a smoother ride. It works in harmony with other electronic stability controls and a new automated anti-lock ABS braking system developed in conjunction with Bosch.

Rear hinged ‘welcome’ doors at the back make it easier for passengers to get in and out. However, unlike the earlier Mazda RX-8, which had a similar feature, the Ferrari retains a central B-pillar which means the rear door can be opened independently.

The front doors open normally with a 63-degree opening (five degrees wider than other models). The brand-new electric, rear-hinged back door has a 79-degree opening.

Ferrari says: ‘When the front and rear doors are opened together, the interior seems bigger than imagined when they are closed thanks to the meticulous work lavished on keeping the roof proportions compact.’

A lightweight carbon fibre roof keeps down the weight and can be replaced by an optional full length electrochromic panoramic glass roof.

It’s the first Ferrari fitted with hill-descent control to maintain its speed on steep downward inclines.

Red may be Ferrari’s favoured colour but the interior of Purosangue is also quite green with 85 per cent of the launch trim for the car produced in an environmentally-friendly manner.

The fabric roof-lining is recycled polyester, the carpet is made from recycled fishing nets retrieved from the oceans. It’s the first car to use newly formulated Alcantara trim that is 68 per cent derived from recycled polyester.

Instead of traditional carpeting or leather floor trim the floor, owners can choose a bulletproof, ballistic fabric used in military uniforms because of its exceptional toughness and durability. There’s also a new contemporary dark brown semi-aniline leather has also been introduced, as well as an optional new carbon-fibre weave integrating very fine copper wire.

An air quality sensor checks the air outside the car and uses smart recirculation system to stop harmful particulates from entering the cabin.

There’s no rear windscreen wiper, so the rear screen is cleaned by the air flows along the rear glass surface.

The Purosangue’s bonnet is front-hinged, referencing the Ferrari Monza SP1/SP2 and other legendary past Ferraris.

The aluminium rear hatch is electrically activated with two electric tailgate lifters allowing it to be opened to 73 degrees for easy access to the boot.

Inside the modern and sophisticated cabin, the driver’s cockpit is inspired by the SF90 Stradale and is almost exactly mirrored on the front passenger side with a 10.2-inch digital display. Ferrari said: ‘The cabin looks and feels like an extremely elegant, sporty lounge. When the doors are opened, a surprisingly generous amount of space is revealed.

Road noise is kept at bay too. The new single-shell carbon-fibre roof with integrated soundproofing delivers rigidity levels on a par with a glass roof, while still weighing 20 per cent less than an aluminium roof with soundproofing.

Specific launch colours include Nero Purosangue – which in certain lighting creates very intense red reflections which enhance the car’s volumes.

For the first time the car also offers compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay systems as standard.

Ferrari insists: ‘The Purosangue stands head and shoulders above the rest of the market thanks to its performance and comfort.’

The firm said the four-door with its Formula One-inspired calibration has the most powerful engine ‘in its segment’ noting: ‘Furthermore, it can deliver 80 per cent torque even at low revs for unique driving pleasure at all times’.

Don’t call it an SUV… 

As Ferrari claims the Purosangue is neither an SUV nor a crossover – but a unique proposition – some at the launch were scratching their heads as to exactly which market or segment the firm was referring.

And although Ferrari may not wish its new car to be identified as an SUV or crossover, there’s no doubting it felt compelled to answer the challenge of the booming SUV and crossover market in which rival performance and luxury car-makers have already made significant inroads, including with the Lamborghini Urus, Maserati Levante, Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, Aston Martin DBX, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Bentley Bentayga.

Explaining why it does not believe the Purosangue is an SUV or a crossover, Ferrari says its exterior styling combines a powerful stance with ‘the impression almost of a floating coupé’ noting: ‘Despite the fact that the Purosangue’s volumes are more imposing than Ferrari’s most powerful sports cars, the way the height is treated stylistically creates an impression of overall lightness.’

Drag created by the Purosangue’s higher ground clearance is eliminated by clever aerodynamic tweaks ahead of the front wheels.

Vehicle dynamics are inspired by Ferrari’s most extreme sports cars make the Purosangue ‘an authentic Ferrari four-door sports car’. 

It added: ‘The Purosangue sets a new standard in the automotive industry, thanks to its innovative layout’.

It noted: ‘Development of the Purosangue’s dynamic performance focused on creating a car that was completely unprecedented on the world stage: a model offering usability and comfort standards that would position it at the very top of the market as well as delivering signature Ferrari vehicle dynamics and performance on a par with the rest of the range.’

Yet, while SUVs are known for their commanding driving positions, Ferrari says simply: ‘Naturally enough, the Purosangue has a more commanding driving position than other Ferraris, but the configuration is the same as on every other Ferrari.

‘As a result, the driving position is still intimate and close to the floor to provide greater connection to the car’s dynamic capabilities.’

It adds: ‘The driving position and the heady, naturally-aspirated V12 soundtrack deliver an entirely new yet also entirely Ferrari driving experience.’

So there you have it. Despite looking like an SUV and feeling like an SUV, Ferrari is adamant that the Purosangue is anything but an SUV. And don’t try telling them otherwise!