It’s happening. The first SUV from Ferrari is set to be revealed later this year while a teaser shows what to expect from this rather controversial subject. Ferrari is one of the best-known brands in the world and its hallowed ground for super sports cars with an unmatched pedigree. However, when the same marque enters the, admittedly, lucrative luxury SUV space, then the whole world sits up and takes notice. Expected to be called Purosangue which means ‘thoroughbred’ in Italian, the new SUV is set to change the goalposts when it comes to performance cars in this spectrum. The unique positioning will mean the Purosangue would occupy a different niche in terms of pricing or even powertrains. Nothing has been officially revealed by Ferrari other than this tantalizing image.
However, the car will come with V12 and V8/hybrid powertrains. The V12 engine is central to the cherished Ferrari ethos of soul and power hence, the new SUV will instantly be a part of the stable with that engine underneath its hood. The focus for the Purosangue would be performance and extreme handling with Ferrari pushing its latest tech into the car. A bespoke platform, adjustable suspension, and an anti-roll system further pushed the Purosangue into the ‘super sports’ SUV category. Needless to say, it would be expected to perform like a proper Ferrari, regardless of its body style. Being an SUV, there would be some kind of off-road ability dialed in with an off-road specific drive mode and the ability to do some serious mud plugging. While it won’t be a Land Rover, the Purosangue would be two kinds of a car into one with extreme performance and capable off-road abilities.
It is also right to remind that this would not be the first 4-wheel drive Ferrari since the GTC Lusso or the FF were proper grand tourers in their own right. The Purosangue would be higher off the ground but the cabin would be luxurious like any new Ferrari but more attention would be lavished to the rear seat occupants as well with screens and specific controls. It is a new kind of Ferrari after all… That said the driver would still be at the heart of what matters with the Purosangue. The new HMI (Human-Machine Interface) controls would provide maximum control to the steering wheel with various touch-based surfaces.
Let’s talk design and the image shared by Ferrari shows a true Prancing Horse with the headlamps from the SF90 Stradale and the tail-lamps from the Roma. The proportions hint at a swoopy low-slung crossover replete with sports car-like details. It is a tantalizing prospect for the Tifosi and while it is indeed a touchy subject, the Purosangue looks all set to silence critics. A Ferrari SUV? Might as well get used to it.
