Ferrari Purosangue

A wolf in wolf’s clothing.

I’ve often said that “Ferrari” may be the most-perfect hypercar name — it even sounds fast and is fun to say, in whatever ersatz-Italian accent you can muster up. The same goes for the new Ferrari Purosangue, in which they built on the sonorous accolades from the brand’s illustrious heritage to name a vehicle that is so far from the normal vision of an “SUV” (much less a “minivan”) — with good reason.

And to dispel any rumor that, as a four-door higher-profile vehicle, it’s not a “real” Ferrari, they used the Italian word for “thoroughbred” that literally translates to “pure blood.” Heck, they even came up with a new three-letter moniker: it’s not an SUV, it’s an FUV (don’t jump to any conclusions here as it stands for “Ferrari Utility Vehicle”).

Purists may say that to be a Ferrari, the vehicle has to be a sports car as anything else is pure heresy. Then again, purists used to say that a Betamax was the way to go before VHS obliterated the competition. Purists also used to say that a McIntosh stereo amplifier, at a hair under $2,000, was the only way to listen to music at home, even though only the family dog could appreciate the sound. But enough about background and allusions. What’s it like, and is it true to its heritage?  In two words: “bravissimo” and “abso-ferrari-lutely.”

Let’s start with the looks, as that’s what hits you first. Svelte with sinuous, wind-sculpted lines, clearly a performance look, accentuated by the lack of rear-door hardware (the rear-hinged doors, which open toward the back, are operated by a small switch at the top of the front beltline), which gives the Purosangue the look of a tall GT car. Ferrari has long offered two-plus-two vehicles, so the idea of a Ferrari for four is not new.

The most recent iterations of the FF and then the GTC4Lusso showed that the Maranello Masters were very adept at melding form, performance, and comfort for a vehicle suitable for a small group of people. The Purosangue just took that heredity further, providing a vehicle that does not compromise on sufficient headroom nor on the front and rear seat space, but still looks terrific.

Of course, being a Ferrari, the car is a performer. A mid-front-engine layout for the impressive V12 motor (naturally aspirated, which means no turbo- or super-charger) portends great handling and superb acceleration, both of which this car has in gobs. Who but Ferrari would create an all-wheel-drive utility vehicle with 49:51 percent weight distribution? And lest we forget, the massively powerful motor can rocket the car to 60 miles per hour in just over three seconds (be careful not to test that when the boot is chockablock with groceries).

Handling? Yes, please. Again, the Purosangue delivers. This is a vehicle into which Ferrari clearly poured every trick in their book. High-end aero development focused on bodywork, underbody, and even the rear diffuser to handle airflow economically. Four-wheel steering for more alacrity around town and in the twisties, active suspension to better handle the vagaries of the road and allow for more dynamic cornering (the body remains almost flat in the turns and the tire contact patch is kept at the maximum) and a newly developed chassis and a carbon fiber roof make for a lower center of gravity. It will come as no surprise that technology designed for the 812 Competizione pays an active role (no pun intended) in the Purosangue.

Sound? Again, a decidedly strong “yes.” The notes from the professional “Burmester 3D High-End Surround Sound System” are purely recreated by ribbon tweeters (the first time they have been fitted to any production car) and the subwoofer in its own cabinet will get your body thumping. But, as this is V-12 Ferrari, I expect that the drivers will not use the entertainment sound system anywhere near as much as the right-pedal on/off switch for the real symphony coming from the orchestra under the hood.

Look, I love electric cars as much as the next guy (well, probably more than some, less than others) but as Jay Leno likes to say, “There’s no replacement for displacement,” and never were truer words said than when referring to a motor that has 12 raging cylinders, with some 6,500 ccs of displacement and 725 cv (about 715 hp) of power. The exhaust note on this car is nothing short of symphonic.

I loved every minute I had with this car. The looks, the sound, the comfort, the performance — and did I mention sound and performance? — make for a terrific package. “Mine” was very well equipped, with a base price of $393,350 and a price as tested of $576,544. Ferrari clearly didn’t hold back when it came to the parts bin on this one. Such options as carbon fiber here, there, and everywhere, matt black/diamond-cut forged wheels, front suspension lifter (de rigueur if you don’t want a carbon fiber rhinoplasty courtesy of your driveway), special paint (Rosso Portofino on my test car and Grigio Titanio Metall on the model featured here), and more gave reason for the $183,000+ options total.

Driving the Purosangue is quite like driving a taller high-performance Ferrari sports car with terrific visibility and superior ergonomics. I found much to love about this vehicle and expect that it will do well in all markets. It’s the perfect blend of performance, looks, comfort, handling, and all around fun.