Ferrari Purosangue: impossible turned possible
The Ferrari Purosangue is the first ever SUV – or FUV if you prefer – to roll out of the Maranello factory in 2023!
When Lamborghini launched the Urus, its first SUV, a few years ago, I asked myself how other brands would behave. The popularity of this category of cars was growing extremely fast, leading even exclusive supercar brands – hitherto focused on building extremely fast machines with rally roots – to decide to enter a new segment.
The Lamborghini Urus blazed a trail, followed by the likes of Maserati (Levante), Bentley (Bentyaga) and even Rolls-Royce (Cullinan). On the other hand, Bugatti has rebelled, announcing a few days ago that it will not build an SUV or a full “electric” for the next 10 years. But Bugatti seems to be the exception that proves the rule – Ferrari has just shown the Purosangue, its first ‘almost’ SUV. With this, my favourite brand has reached the competition.
What’s roaring under the bonnet?
Traditionally, what interests me most is the power unit and its performance. In the Purosangue you will find a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 with a power output of…. 725 HP! This “monster” accelerates the car to “100” in 3.3 seconds, 200 km/h appears after 10.6 seconds and the top speed is 307 km/h. But don’t think that this unit has a simple job – with a weight of over 2,000 kg, the Purosangue is not lightweight. Nevertheless – compared to the competition – this car has better parameters, especially regarding top speed.
An 8-speed automatic gearbox is responsible for the smooth shifting of gears, and for even smoother cornering – special motors at the dampers that lower the car by 1 cm in bends.
Elegant sporty interiors
Inside, there are no surprises, at least on the level of quality of the materials used and the workmanship. The light-coloured leather juxtaposed against the black of the concourse looks good, and the four bucket seats give everyone the fun of riding a sports car. Interestingly, seats can be ordered … with massage for an additional charge.
The cockpit is pure Ferrari quality – the driver has a customisable display giving him the most important data about the car, while the passenger in front has his own screen at his disposal. This means there is no central screen at all.
Not an SUV in the end?
The makers of the Purosangue claim that… it is not an SUV, but an FUV, i.e. Ferrari Utility Vehicle. In their view, it is a one-of-a-kind car and there is something of truth in this statement. The Purosangue has a bit of a sports car feel to it (weight distribution 41 per cent front/59 per cent rear), and the not-insignificant 18-centimetre ground clearance indicates that it is not an off-road car. SUV-like and practical, on the other hand, is certainly the large – as much as 500 litres – boot, which can accommodate quite a few bags and suitcases.
The first Ferrari Purosangue will be on the road in 2023. Those wishing to drive such a car will have to budget around € 400,000.
