No It's Not An SUV
BBC TopGear India|April 2024
But an FUV Ferrari Utility Vehicle
RAMESH SOMANI
No It's Not An SUV

Ferrari Purosangue has rewritten history for Ferrari; it’s something that no one had anticipated. The growing popularity of luxury performance SUVs has resulted in writing on every Italian wall for a need for accessible four-door, four-seat, four-wheel-drive SUVs, which can still be a behemoth with a 6.5-litre V12, and is a quintessential Ferrari. It was the loud request from its customers, as well as market dynamics, seeing the phenomenal success of the Lamborghini Urus must have also played a crucial role in Ferrari going back to the drawing board and blessings the world with the Purosangue.

It has been re-engineered and is unique; the bonnet opens the other way, and the rear doors open the opposite way, like a Rolls Royce, and surprisingly, it has good space inside. The Phantom’s luxury and comfort can’t be matched but the rear two passengers won’t complain for even a 1000 km ride. Ferrari does not think it made an SUV, but an FUV - Ferrari Utility Vehicle; difficult to digest, but they have a point, and what’s in a name if the names of Lamborghini and Renault were swapped, it would still mean the same. I spent a little over 24 hours with the Purosangue in the desert city of Dubai and absolutely loved it, also because it’s understated and at times passed off oblivious of the fact that it’s a supercar and it’s a Ferrari. It does not get the eye-rubbing attention a Spyder or an F8 tributo of SF90 would get, and that’s sometimes a good thing. Purosangue has battered physics by rocketing from a standstill to 100kmph in 3.3 seconds, still weighing over two tonnes and four usable seats that can fit large-sized adults.

DRIVING

This story is from the April 2024 edition of BBC TopGear India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 2024 edition of BBC TopGear India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BBC TOPGEAR INDIAView All
The Next Great Family MPV?
BBC TopGear India

The Next Great Family MPV?

“Whoa, that’s a nice-looking Minivan!” Said no one ever.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
MG COMET
BBC TopGear India

MG COMET

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THOUGHT THIS CAR TO BE COMPLETELY useless when it came out.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
BMW i7
BBC TopGear India

BMW i7

WHEN THE i7 PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND PARKED ITSELF next to the Mercedes EQA and the MG Comet, it just struck me that this is how the future will be.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
BBC TopGear India

SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP

McLaren's finest faces off Corvette's nat-asp swansong as the Brits and the Americans square up... in a Spanish playground. Expect fireworks

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
NEXT LEVEL
BBC TopGear India

NEXT LEVEL

Thought the 750S was fast? The McLaren P1's successor - the W1 is ready to spread its wings

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
MANUAL LABOUR
BBC TopGear India

MANUAL LABOUR

Two cars from opposite ends of the performance spectrum with one crucial thing in common...

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
PRO VS SLOW
BBC TopGear India

PRO VS SLOW

At last, we have our hands on the Valkyrie. But is its performance only accessible for the pros... or can anyone enjoy it?

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
THE OUTBURST OF OFFROADING
BBC TopGear India

THE OUTBURST OF OFFROADING

The high-volume market is a point of interest for all manufacturers here in India.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
THE BATTLE OF CRUISER-COMMUTERS
BBC TopGear India

THE BATTLE OF CRUISER-COMMUTERS

WHO DOES THE BEST COMMUTER WORK WHILE NOT BEING A TRUE COMMUTER MOTORCYCLE?

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
LEAVING EVERYTHING ON THE TRACK
BBC TopGear India

LEAVING EVERYTHING ON THE TRACK

FT. YMRP ROUND 3 From being second, I DNF'd from the race on the last corner

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024