It took three quarters of a century, but Ferrari finally launched their first four-door. Dubbed the Purosangue, the new model joins a lineup that includes everything from the stylish and modern Roma 296 to the untamed SF90 and the luxurious 812. Depending on your perspective, it’s about the perfect timing – or a move so despicable that Enzo’s parents have to line up right away. from the San Cataldo Cemetery and into the Ferrari boardroom to rumble.
Consider the evidence as we take a closer look at the new competitor from Maranello. During the black box session where the phone was confiscated, we were given the opportunity to see first hand one of the most anticipated car releases of the year. Before our first hand accounts, let’s consider positioning. At least based on our presentation, Ferrari is distancing itself from the idea that the new model is actually a sports vehicle. “We don’t call it an SUV,” said Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna. “We’re not even talking about SUVs.” In that case, okay.
Packaging Problem
The Purosangue configuration does make the case for this Ferrari to be more of a puffy four-door sports car (with apologies for certain Japanese cars) than a mid-road sports car. For starters, it can only be had with two bucket-back seats, not a family-ready bench, or – God forbid – a third row. Second, there are enough packaging sacrifices made for the sake of sportiness to show that the folks at Modena really aren’t interested in crowd fun.
For starters, the modest 16.7 cubic feet of trunk volume seems like an afterthought in reference to a coupe-like silhouette that favors aerodynamics over absolute practicality. While Ferrari don’t reveal drag coefficient statistics for their GT cars, neither Flavio Manzoni (head of brand design) Gianmaria Fulgenzi (boss of development) describes a “subtle dance” between their respective departments to do their job while maintaining slick aerodynamics. .
Ferrari pulled all the stops to stack the Purosangue deck for a balanced layout. As such, the massive V12 jams against the firewall and the 8-speed dual clutch gearbox is the rear transaxle that helps produce a 49/51 front-to-rear weight balance. The standard carbon fiber roof ensures the lowest possible center of gravity. Interestingly, Ferrari set a new rear-hinged door setup for this starter, complete with la Bentley Bentayga EWB and Rolls-Royce Cullinan power covers (not to mention the Genesis G90).
The rear doors open with a 79-degree swing, which is important for easy entry and exit – especially since the rear seats aren’t the most spacious. I’m 5-foot-11, and “sitting behind me” in the back doesn’t make much extra room between my knees and the back of the curved front seat. Not inconvenient, but not as extensive as other super luxury SUVs.
Ferrari claims their Purosangue stands alone in its own category. While we’re all for the idea of individuality, let’s compare the 118.8-inch wheelbase with some competitors: it’s close to the Lamborghini Urus Performante (118.2) and Bentley Bentaya Speed (117.9), 1.7 inches shorter than the Aston. Martin DBX707 (120.5), and falls between less exotic breeds like the vibrant Porsche Cayenne GT (114.0) and the more expansive BMW Alpina XB7 (122.2). In bulk, Purosangue claims an estimated dry weight of 4,482 pounds – possibly the lowest in that competitive set.
Old School Power, Modern Control
As the hefty cargo area and rear seats suggest, it doesn’t all lose out on practicality. Critically, Purosangue hasn’t even tried an eco-friendly drivetrain – at least not yet. Instead, the new kid on the block embraces the old school with a massive, naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 that claims the highest output of any Ferrari GT in history: 715 horsepower and 528 pound-feet of torque. The factory produces 80% of torque at just 2,100 rpm, peak horsepower at 7,750 rpm, and a maximum rotational speed of 8,250 rpm, which should give it a pretty attractive powerband.
Aiding that flexibility is a dual clutch transmission that offers eight forward gears to choose from. The dry sump engine packs a new valvetrain and revised intake geometry meant to aid low-end power delivery. The Purosangue is estimated to hit 62 mph in 3.3 seconds and reach a top speed of over 192 mph. Like the GTC4Lusso, the new model has an all-wheel-drive powertrain, and the front-drive unit disengages above fourth gear and/or around 125 mph.
While the Purosangue engine housing adheres to familiar guidelines, the suspension includes future-proof technology to maximize ride quality and handling. Working with Multimatic, Ferrari developed an active suspension system that utilizes the Canadian company’s True Active Spool Valve (TASV) technology, which uses four 48-volt actuators to control damper stroke. Since the setup does not have a stabilizing rod, actuators can work together to manage pitch and roll. Quick-acting adjustments can adjust wheel movement and ride height, the latter of which can drop by up to 10 millimeters when the vehicle is cornering.
Intangible Tells a Story
We can research specs and dimensions all we want, but sometimes it’s the little things that make up the big picture of a new puzzle like the Ferrari Purosangue. Is this a sporty crossover? An SUV? A sedan on steroids? Considering its focus on providing a driver experience for four passengers, it seems that Ferrari is actively choosing to sacrifice a bit of utility for the sake of performance. Heck, they didn’t even install a tow hook to maintain its position as an on-road player.
For better or for worse, many potential buyers will value this purposeful four-seater more on its style than any other single factor – which is understandable, as the starting price of €390,000 (about $400,000 USD) attracts buyers who already own multiple cars. in their garage. I’ll say this: While the titanium silver color may not be the strongest color, personally the Purosangue looks elegant with a mass scent, especially the puffy hamstrings that help give the vehicle a sense of motion (and emotion).
As it stands, Ferrari has taken the long-awaited leap forward, and personally the Purosangue looks more balanced, refined and attractive than the spy shots we’d believe. Here’s to hoping our next encounter is a passionate motor in the driver’s seat. Until then, the latest Ferrari seems to have tackled the nebulous genre with a number of performance-focused techniques. Whether you call it sedans-on-stilts or SUVs, the one fact that it looks built around the driver bodes well for the Prancing Horse’s future.
