► Maranello confirms its SUV's existence
► It'll be powered by an 800bhp V12 engine…
► … and will spawn electric crossover spin-offs
Ferrari is poised to wade into the luxury SUV market with the Purosangue and has, for the very first time, confirmed its existence. A brief post on Ferrari's magazine site says 'it's coming' with a tall, high-riding car with Ferrari badges on it – something that can only be the brand's upcoming SUV.
The brand tells us to 'stand by for a genuine game changer', adding that the new SUV will make its official debut later in 2022. We'll have to while, but Ferrari's already started bigging it up, saying the new model has 'a bloodline that can be traced back through our 75-year history.'
But it seems the internet took the wind out of the company’s sails earlier in 2022. This leaked image (below) reveals the car’s styling in full on a production line. Until that point, we’d only seen disguised prototype versions of the Ferrari SUV. Early test cars were wrapped in a chopped-up Maserati Levante body shell, while our most recently spied development vehicle wore heavy camouflage over the top of production-ready panelling.
This is the first time we’ve seen the Purosangue undisguised – and these images show that it’ll be lower and more aggressive than all of its competitors, with a design that more closely mimics that of a lifted estate car than a conventional high-riding SUV. Key rivals will include the Bentley Bentayga, Aston Martin DBX and Lamborghini Urus.
Naturally, the project has left Ferrari purists outraged – especially because, just six short years ago, Ferrari promised the world that it would never build an SUV at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The brand also said it wouldn’t build an electric car, either, but it seems that guarantee is about to expire, too.
Will the Purosangue be electric?
Technically not at first. Die-hard members of the Ferrari fan club would surely have hung up their branded shirts and caps in shame if Maranello hit them with that double-whammy. The SUV will stick with hybrid drive, although the chassis that props it up will be capable of supporting a pure-electric powertrain. More on that later though – let’s cover the petrol engines first.
So far, we know about two engines. The more exciting one is an 800bhp V12 – but there’s talk of a hybridised V8, too. We expect the latter unit will be a modified version of the Roma’s 3.9-litre V8 engine, which means the Purosangue should have an output of at least 611bhp.
As well as forming the basis for the company’s first SUV, the Purosangue’s platform will also usher in the era of electrification at Ferrari. The Italian brand is already working on two related projects built on the same chassis, codenamed F244 and F245.
They’re set to arrive in 2024 and 2026 – and both of them will be fully electric. That flat skateboard floor also means the prospect of a five-seater Ferrari is now tantalisingly close, with fresh rivals for the likes of the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT possible.
Electric versions of Ferrari’s new platform will have space for four electric motors, which will provide an initial output of 610bhp. The motors will be powered by a scalable, fast-charging lithium-ion battery pack with a base capacity of 80kWh – and that should be enough for a maximum range of more than 260 miles.
Those leaked images are a bit low-res. Got anything better?
We’ve got a render from our resident artist, Andrei Avarvarii (below) which depicts how the SUV will look once the covers are pulled off – and, for the time being at least, it seems to be relatively accurate. So, rather than pulling from the Range Rover’s styling book, Ferrari will give the Purosangue a raised-up shooting brake aesthetic.
Late in 2021, Ferrari also confirmed ‘Purosangue’ as the working nameplate for its SUV. It translates as ‘thoroughbred’ from Italian – and there’s a high chance that this will appear on the rear of the production car. Ferrari has been embroiled in legal discussions over the badge, though, so the company may be forced to change the moniker before the launch.
What else do you know?
The Purosangue has the internal codename of F175, and it’ll have an aluminium platform and all-wheel drive – Ferrari has been quietly developing its four-wheel drive system since it launched the FF in 2011. It’ll be related to the next-generation version of the GTC, and CAR understands that it'll have suicide back doors and no B-pillars, allowing for a huge entryway for unimpeded access to the rear seats.
Back in 2018, CAR Magazine cornered Louis Camilleri for an interview. The then-new-but- now-departed boss of Ferrari told us: ‘I abhor hearing the word SUV in the same sentence as the Ferrari. It does not sit well with our brand. This vehicle will be unique in so many ways, and it will redefine expectations.’
His comments certainly explain why executives prefer to call the Purosangue an FUV (that’s Ferrari Utility Vehicle, stop sniggering in the back) – and it shows an overwhelming amount of confidence from a brand which doesn’t have any experience in building profitable SUVs.
Confidence has been in short supply at Maranello in recent years. Ferrari’s share price has been gradually declining over the past 12 months and the company’s Formula One team hasn’t exactly enjoyed its historical runaway success over the past decade.
So, how do you build confidence in an iconic 75-year-old supercar manufacturer? Launch an SUV that contradicts the company’s principles? Camillieri seemed to think it would work – and the company’s investors were obviously right behind him, heartened by the popularity of comparable vehicles from Lamborghini and Bentley.
Ferrari is in the game to win, too. Speaking at the Detroit motor show in January 2018, the brand’s late boss Sergio Marchionne hinted that the new Purosangue would be the fastest SUV on the market. Lamborghini’s SUV has a top speed of 189 mph, which means the new Ferrari will need to be seriously quick.
Why Ferrari can’t ignore the SUV trend
Marchionne told analysts in 2017 that a Ferrari SUV ‘will probably happen, but it will happen in Ferrari’s style.’ He used the same meeting to announce a 24% jump in Q2 profits.
Like its competitors, Ferrari’s SUV will simply meet customer demand. Marchionne said: ‘That space is too big and too inviting – and we have a lot of customers who will be more than willing to drive a Ferrari-branded vehicle that has that king of utilitarian objective.’
It’ll probably be quite a good moneymaker for the brand, too. Our insiders tell us to expect a starting price of more than €300,000 (£265,000). We know, that’s an awful lot for an SUV that will need to be flawed to match the Ferrari brand image – but it’s just good business.
The addition of an SUV to Ferrari’s range could also help double the company’s sales to around 16,000 units per year by the middle of the decade – which explains why nearly every premium brand going has jumped on the SUV bandwagon.
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