By Charlie H. Cooksey
Last month, I was invited by Ferrari to visit their hometown and factory location – Maranello in Italy. Located 30 minutes from Bologna, Maranello is a smallish town with not much going on – other than Ferrari, of course.
This was my second visit to Maranello, and I really admire how proud the local people are to be from the home town of one of the most recognized and coveted car brands in the world. The town is littered with Ferrari flags, and there is no shortage of Ferraris on the roads.
When I was last in Maranello, in September 2019, it was to attend the launch of the F8 Spider and 812 GTS. This time it was for something very different; the international launch and reveal of the Ferrari Purosangue (meaning; thoroughbred/ full-blooded), the company’s first ever 4-door, and their first SUV – though Ferrari do not like to call it an SUV.
All us motor journalists had been kept in suspense before the launch. From the moment the company announced its plan to launch an SUV, how it would look had been a well-kept secret. I was lucky to be amongst the first in the world to see the Purosangue up close.
Entering the press conference, the soon to be launched Purosangue was hidden under a large black cover. I was trying to imagine how it would look judging by its size and curves.
Before the reveal we heard talks from some of Ferrari’s passionate senior executives including CEO Benedetto Vigna, Chief Product Development Officer Gianmaria Fulgenzi, Chief Marketing Officer Enrico Galleria, and Chief Design Officer Flavio Manzoni.
And then, to much fanfare and excitement, the car was revealed to us.
My first impression was that this is a very big Ferrari. After my entire life of only seeing 2-door Ferrari’s on the roads, in films… and on the posters on my bedroom wall, to then see a giant 4-door sporty SUV with the prancing horse logo seemed strange. I never even imagined the day when a Ferrari SUV would be a reality.
So, what can I say about it? Well, to start with – and as you would expect, it is beautifully designed. A work of art in fact.
It is powerful. A naturally-aspirated 6.5 litre V-12 engine capable of 715 horsepower, 528 pound-feet of torque, and able to propel its occupants from zero to 100 kph in just 3.3 seconds with a top speed of 309 kph, makes it one of the fastest SUVs ever made.
Ride-and-handling should benefit from its active suspension system that will ensure it drives as a Ferrari should. An adaptive suspension system with electric motors at each corner will apply force to the dampers when cornering so controlling body roll and making the need for anti-roll bars redundant.
The interior is filled with the most luxurious quality fittings and materials. Most controls are operated through the steering wheel. There’s a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster and a separate 10.2-inch screen for the front passenger. Optional extras include massaging front seats and an electrochromic glass roof.
As this is the only current Ferrari to offer room for four adults, rear-hinged “suicide” rear doors make it easier to access the back seats while preserving a sleek appearance. Both front and rear seats, covered in soft leathers, are individual buckets separated by a center console – so no bench in the back for a fifth passenger. The overall layout couldn’t look more exotic if it tried.
The Ferrari Purosangue will be internationally available from 2023.
I look forward to driving this exciting new car. If it drives as great as it looks, this latest Ferrari will be a major success for the company.
For more info call Euro Motors, Bahrain’s official Ferrari dealership, on +973 17734734 or visit https://euromotors.com.bh/.
