Ferrari clearly said that they would never give us an SUV. Well, they are still standing by those words only bending the rules a bit by bringing us a V12-powered “four-door four-seater,” which isn’t necessarily being called an SUV, but we all know what we see here to be in the “form” of an SUV.
In today’s automotive landscape, crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) or sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are all the rave in the American lifestyle, and rightfully so as they offer versatility in many different packages – even ones that are considered to be performance variations. When it comes to performance, Ferrari knows a lot and in the past, the prancing Italian brand has toyed with “family” vehicles like the Ferrari FF. This time, it looks as if Ferrari is taking on the likings of the Lamborghini Urus, Mercedes-AMG GLE63, Aston Martin DBX, Audi RSQ8, BMW X5 M, and maybe even the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
What Ferrari has done today with the reveal of their new Ferrari Purosangue is bring us something that will be cherished, something that will reach its demise in just under a decade from now, and that thing is a naturally aspirated V12 engine! No other modern-day SUV can make a claim to having such an engine – even if Ferrari isn’t calling the Purosangue an SUV – we know what we see here.
The new 2023 Ferrari Purosangue touts 718 horsepower at 7,750 rpm and 528 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm with 80% of the torque peak happening at just 2,100 rpm. The 6.5-liter V12 engine is a worked engineering marvel from the 812 Competizione that revs to 8,250 rpm and should give the Purosangue enough oomph to hit 60 mpg from a standstill in about 3.2 seconds. That’s not bad for a 4,600-pound Italian machine. The top speed is almost 200 mph, which will place the Ferrari Purosangue at the top of the SUV food chain.
All four wheels receive power and there’s a redesigned 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that handles that V12 power firing off shifts that are faster than any other 7-speed dual-clutch unit in a Ferrari. The 8th gear is reserved for cruising duties to lower the rpms and potentially save a drop or two of fuel – don’t expect stellar fuel economy here.
Ferrari pulled out all of the stops to make the Purosangue unique in its own right for a tall-statured hatchback that you shouldn’t dare call an SUV. Also, you see those doors!!! Yes, suicide doors. Ferrari isn’t messing around. Though, Ferrari may tell you that’s more of a half-door in the rear but, again, we call it like we see it.
There’s unique styling that gets traits from past Ferraris, including the modern Roma. There are 22-inch and 23-inch wheels showcasing 15.7-inch carbon ceramic brake rotors up front and 15-inch rears. 225/35 tires wrap the front wheels while wide 315/30 are mounted on the rear 23-inch wheels.
The trick suspension setup is multi-link with Multimatic active shocks that use 48-volt motor actuators to help control body movements on the fly much faster than air springs, which eliminates the use of anti-roll bars further saving weight. The system can lower the vehicle or raise it to have 8.5-inches of ground clearance.
The body and rigid structure are comprised of carbon fiber, aluminum upper structures, and high-strength steel body panels. In a way, I admit that this is probably the best-looking “new” Ferrari and may very well be the ‘fastest’ SUV – ahem, four-door four-seater that burns gas from a current automotive manufacturer.
Inside the cabin is tailored for four individuals with the front passenger having their own “information” screen much like in other modern Ferraris. The rear passengers will be treated to seats that are nearly as heavily bolstered as the fronts where there will be the proper luxury treatment throughout with a selection of fine leathers and materials. There’s even a ‘green’ approach where about 85% of the trim on the Purosangue has been sustainably produced using recycled materials.
The Ferrari Purosangue will arrive during the fourth quarter of 2023 and carry a price tag that starts around $400,000.
