Order books open for Ferrari’s first SUV

FERRARI has announced pricing for the V12-powered Purosangue SUV in Italy this week, the brand’s first four-door SUV available from €390,000 ($A577,000).

Orders are now open on the high-riding model, Ferrari saying orders have been solid since it announced the model would be available with a naturally aspirated V12 petrol engine.

The motor masters from Maranello resisted making an SUV until they saw what other premium makers were achieving in sales terms with their SUV offerings… and of course, buying trends.

Range Rover aside, the concept started gaining momentum 25 years ago when first Mercedes-Benz and BMW commenced cranking out ‘premium’ SUVs. Porsche then rolled over and started making the Cayenne which quickly became their number-one seller and saved the company’s bacon in to the bargain.

There followed a succession of SUV ‘capitulators’ including Aston Martin, Bentley, Lamborghini, Maserati all of whom have achieved a boost in sales off the back of their “fourbies”.

Purosangue means ‘thoroughbred’ and there’s no disputing the four door Fazza is one despite its higher stance and all-wheel drive.

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said: “The Purosangue is a sports car, something unique and distinctive, which is uncompromised on design and engineering”.

According to a report in Automotive News Europe, the Purosangue will be priced in Italy at €390,000, and will be the second-most expensive regular production Ferrari, well below the SF90 range which starts at €440,000 ($A650.290).

Various limited production Ferrari's cost from €1 million ($A1.47 m) up to the Daytona SP3 at €2 million ($A2.95m).

Though ‘launched’ this week in Italy, Purosangue deliveries will not start in Europe until Q2 of 2023 in Europe, Q3 of 2023 in the U.S. and by the end of 2023 for the rest of the planet.

Output of the model will be capped at no more than 20 per cent of annual production, Ferrari said “to protect the exclusivity of the brand as well as sales of its core range of coupes, roadsters and convertibles”.

The company has a production capacity of about 15,000 units, meaning annual Purosangue numbers of about 3000 units.

Though Ferrari has been mulling a four-door, four-seat model for more than 40 years they never found a valid product proposition until four years ago when torque vectoring and active suspension design developed to what Ferrari describes as a suitable performance level.

Weight considerations in a longer wheelbase four door also had an influence over the company’s considerations.

Still, resistance was ingrained even as recently as 2016 when then CEO, Sergio Marchionne said of the possibility Ferrari might make an SUV: “You’ll have to shoot me first.”

Times change and by early 2018 Ferrari realised an SUV was inevitable give n changing buyer opinions and needs. They, “buyers” wanted to share the Ferrari driving experience with their family….. enter the Purosangue.

According to Ferrari Chief Product Development Officer Gianmaria Fulgenzi:”Engineering worked 48 months to make the Purosangue happen”.

The muscular looking four-door has a carbon-fibre roof as standard to lower the centre of gravity and to keep dry weight just above 2000kg. The Purosangue’s body shell was designed from scratch which permitted Ferrari to utilise rear-hinged back doors to facilitate access and make it compact.

“The chassis, engine and gearbox were brand new and most of other components had been specifically designed for this model to make it a proper thoroughbred,” said Mr Fulgenzi.

He said the 6.5-litre V12 engine produces 525kW at 7750 rpm, while 80 per cent of the 716Nm of torque is available from 2100 rpm.

The Purosangue uses a further development of the mechanical AWD system used in FF.

The engine is mounted behind the front axle and the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is mounted as a transaxle, behind the rear axle for a 49 per cent front and 51 per cent rear weight distribution.

A second, two-speed power transfer unit (gearbox) is mounted in front of the engine to provide front-wheel drive at speeds up to 200km/h.

In addition to the Mulitmatic active suspension, Purosangue has four-wheel-steering to enhanced dynamics.

It has a V-max of 310km/h and clocks a 0 to 100km/h 3.3 seconds.

Purosangue is 4973mm long, 2028mm wide, 1589mm tall and sits on a 3018mm wheelbase. Cargo capacity is 473 litres, the most for any Ferrari, and the rear seats fold to increase luggage space.

Of course, Ferrari says the Purosangue has no direct rivals. They would no doubt scoff at the likes of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan V12, Aston Martin’s DBX V8 707 twin-turbo, the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus. Though the latter two deliver substantially less power than the Purosangue.

“Other SUVs have high performances, but do not drive like sports cars,” said Mr Fulgenzi.

In something of a shock, the Purosangue eschews embedded sat-nav instead uses smartphone apps. On-board Wi-Fi and emergency calling is provided but connectivity is limited to the infotainment system. It is not available with over-the-air updates owing to what Ferrari says are cybersecurity issues.