BREAKING THE RULES

After years of declaring it would never build an SUV, Ferrari has finally bitten the bullet and rolled out the Purosangue

- Gautam Sharma

Italian for Thoroughbred,” pronounced “Puro-san-gway”, but far from being a me-too offering, the V12-powered Ferrari Purosangue is a completely fresh take on the genre, and it comprehensively rewrites all dynamic metrics for what’s achievable by a 2,2-tonne, 1,6-m-tall wagon. This being so, Ferrari’s claim that it’s an FUV” Ferrari Utility Vehicle rather than an SUV isn’t empty marketing hyperbole.

The Ferrari Purosangue’s ex-factory starting price positions it far above contenders such as the Aston Martin DBX 707 and Lamborghini Urus Performante. Despite the stratospheric asking price, the waiting list will be extensive, as Ferrari execs have said the company will cap Purosangue production so that the model accounts for no more than 20% of its overall sales volume 

SCI-FI ENGINEERING

Arguably the biggest technological advance the Ferrari Purosangue makes is in its new active suspension system to reduce the effects of body roll and serve up tenacious grip and handling without any trade-off in ride quality.

It employs Multimatic’s True Active Spool Valve TASV) tech, which uses 48-volt electric motor actuators and spool-valve hydraulic dampers with coil springs air suspension doesn’t respond fast enough) at all four corners to precisely control each wheel’s movement and isolate it from body movement. This tech reduces roll and pitch during heavy cornering and braking, while optimising each damper’s compression and rebound response.

The rear-mounted eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox essentially the same unit as in the 296 GTB) is dry-sumped to keep its centre of gravity low, and the 6,5-litre V12 motor is set well back in the chassis, making for ideal 49:51 weight distribution over frontand rear axles.