Do not name the Ferrari Purosangue an SUV.

For one, the corporate does not, omitting the moniker from its launch supplies and press bulletins, dubbing it as a substitute “the primary four-door, four-seater Ferrari.”

Ferrari’s mystique is constructed on racing and rarity. Slapping the famed prancing horse on simply one other SUV can be opposite to its fastidiously crafted picture and exclusivity. And, Ferrari is pretty late to the section and needs to tell apart the Purosangue from the SUVs of its luxurious rivals. Porsche launched the Cayenne greater than 20 years in the past, Lamborghini has been making the Urus for greater than 5 years and Aston Martin rolled out the DBX in 2020.

But, the most important motive to keep away from these three letters: From behind the wheel, the Purosangue isn’t any SUV.

The Purosangue, its identify which means “pure blood” or “thoroughbred” in Italian, comes with a 7.5 liter, V-12 engine. The automobile begins at $400,000, however with further choices, most consumers will find yourself paying greater than $500,000.

Driving it was in contrast to something I would skilled earlier than. It isn’t an SUV, however it’s unquestionably a Ferrari.

It begins with the outside. In photos, the Purosangue appears to be like bulbous, pedestrian, even just a little boring — particularly in comparison with the Urus, with its space-age winglets and angles. However in particular person, the Purosangue is completely proportioned, extra like a crouching tiger than racehorse.

The automobile’s vents, air buttresses, spoilers and diffusers can solely be appreciated up shut and had been the results of lots of of hours within the wind tunnel.

The Purosangue is massive, weighing over 2 tons, and measuring 16 ft lengthy and 6½ ft vast.

The 2 rear passenger seats aren’t token “sports activities automobile seats” for toddlers, however they’re totally adjustable particular person seats that comfortably match even these passengers over 6 ft tall.

Sliding into any seat of the Purosangue is blissfully un-Ferrari-like. No crouching or spinal origami required to climb in. The rear doorways, known as “welcome doorways,” are rear-hinged much like a Rolls-Royce, and glide open with the faucet of a button.

The cargo house can simply deal with a big grocery run and, with the rear seats folded again, a bicycle or bigger gear.

All of that feels like an SUV however wait till you begin up the engine and press the accelerator.

Maybe to compensate for the naysayers who mentioned Ferrari would denigrate the model with a truck, Ferrari selected to energy the Purosangue with its most celebrated engine: a naturally aspirated, V-12. It is old-school, uncooked energy and generates 715 horsepower with 528 pound-feet of torque.

It is also midfront mounted, with the gearbox on the rear, so the automobile has a 49:51 weight distribution, extra akin to a sports activities automobile than an SUV.

Roaring down the freeway or by way of windy nation roads, the Purosangue sounds and seems like a extra nimble automobile.

It isn’t the identical as a Ferrari sports activities automobile, let’s not child ourselves. But, the steering is sharp and lightweight (virtually too gentle till you get used to it), the brakes are agency and the ability is on the spot and gratifying.

Whenever you drive the Purosangue, chances are you’ll not squeal or scream such as you would possibly in another Ferrari. However you’ll undoubtedly smile at what the engineers at Maranello have managed to create.

Ferrari’s different massive innovation for the Purosangue is the suspension. The supercar maker created a brand new energetic suspension system that features a “True Lively Spool Valve System,” which mixes an electrical motor with a hydraulic damper to shift power at excessive speeds.

The result’s much less physique roll and unbelievable cornering. Throwing the Ferrari round high-speed turns feels easy and evenly balanced.

The Purosangue is just not good, after all.

Some long-time Ferrari homeowners who’ve pushed the automobile advised me they had been disillusioned with the inside, which they mentioned appears to be like “too fundamental” — particularly at a price ticket of as much as $500,000.

The cabin is straightforward, and Ferrari was happy with utilizing recycled, environmentally pleasant supplies for the Alcantara upholstery. But, competing with luxurious SUVs, the Purosangue inside may use a bit extra luxurious.

Some Ferrari homeowners and sellers additionally griped concerning the engine sound, which they mentioned was too muted for his or her liking. As one Ferrari collector advised me, “For a Ferrari V-12, the engine simply does not sound correct.”

To my ears, it sounded superb, stuffed with all the standard Ferrari rumbles on the low finish and whines at larger RPMs, but not so aggressive that it could annoy your neighbors within the cul-de-sac.

As essential because the engine sound has historically been for Ferrari homeowners, it will not be as important to prospects curious about a four-door.

One seller advised me that a couple of third of the consumers of the Purosangue are new to the Ferrari model, which suggests Ferrari has succeeded in constructing a automobile to broaden its market.

Is it a “pure blood” Ferrari? Is it an SUV? Ferrari purists can debate what to name it. The proof is within the gross sales. The Purosangue is bought out for greater than two years and the one obtainable slots are for 2026.

I name it a hit.

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