The Ferrari Purosangue Is Pure Luxury
First things first: If you call the all-new 2024 Ferrari Purosangue an “SUV,” you’re probably reducing your chances of ever owning one to zero. The brain trust at the Italian firm certainly does not call the Purosangue an SUV. And they’re probably right to steer clear of the term, because this Ferrari is not so easy to classify.
It’s not your standard coupe-shaped SUV, like the Aston Martin DBX or Lamborghini Urus. It’s not your typical “tall-wagon” style of SUV, in the vein of the Bentley Bentayga or Rolls-Royce Cullinan. In fact, the Purosangue is not regular at all—it’s unlike anything else on the road today.
There are two distinct elements to the vehicle’s shape. The lower portion, all in black, incorporates sections of the front fascia, side sills, wheel arches, and rear diffuser. It’s described as being the “technical underbody.” The upper body is where the shape of the Purosangue gains more prominence, its flowing design appearing more GT than SUV.
In person, the Purosangue appears to float above the black, the result of countless hours of aerodynamic handiwork. There are air ducts above and below the daytime running lights, along the wheel arches, in the lower front fascia, under the tail lights, in the rear fascia, and around the rear hatch. Airflow is so well managed, the rear hatch doesn’t require a wiper.
This is the first four-door, four-seat Ferrari in history. The Italian firm has made other four-seaters, but they were 2+2 vehicles—meaning the back seats were not spacious. But the back seats in the Purosangue are legitimate seats, and adult passengers can actually sit in them.
The back seats are accessed by a pair of hinged back doors that open toward the front of the vehicle. Also known as coach doors or suicide doors, this is a solution that only a manufacturer at a very high level would attempt. The doors make it easier for passengers to access the back seat. Ferrari also allowed the designers to keep the Purosangue as compact as possible, thereby ensuring its driving dynamics would be a strength.
Complementing its relatively compact footprint, the Ferrari also features an all-wheel-drive system, an active suspension system, and fully independent four-wheel steering. These systems are so advanced, they give the Purosangue near telepathic handling characteristics.
Under the long hood, there’s a mighty 6.5-litre V12 that generates 715 horsepower and 528 lb-ft of torque. To make this engine work in a different kind of Ferrari, one with different proportions and higher ground clearance, it’s placed toward the middle of the vehicle. This and other decisions give the Purosangue a weight distribution of 49:51, front to back—completely unheard of in a traditional SUV. (But again, this is not a traditional SUV.)
The V12 is linked to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that’s calibrated for maximum performance. The Purosangue can sprint to 100 kilometres per hour in just 3.3 seconds and reach 100 kilometres per hour in just 10.6 seconds. Top speed is an ungodly 310 kilometres per hour.
Behind the wheel, the Purosangue drives just like a modern Ferrari GT car, except it rides higher. During a drive in the northern Italian Alps, as we’re confronted with a mix of weather, the vehicle shows its true colours. For the most part, the roads are bone dry. But when light snow hits the pavement, making it slick, the Purosangue responds like a champion—so much grip, so much control.
All things considered, the all-new 2024 Ferrari Purosangue is an utterly compelling combination of attributes. A completely unique exterior design. A passenger cabin that can legitimately hold four adults comfortably. An “SUV” that drives like a purebred GT car. To cap it all off, it’s a Ferrari, so it represents the pinnacle of desirability.
