FERRARI PRESENTS THE FIRST FOUR-DOOR IN ITS 76-YEAR HISTORY, A RAPACIOUS, RULE-BREAKING RACER WORTHY OF THE PRANCING HORSE
BY AMANDA MCCOY
The new suspension isn’t the only Ferrari first. The Purosangue boasts a new air quality sensor that monitors the outside air and improves cabin quality through filters that can prevent tiny, unclean particles from entering the car. It’s also the first to feature standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
On September 13, the otherwise halcyon commune of Lajatico in Pisa began to rumble as Ferrari took the stage of the Teatro del Silenzio (ironically translating to the Theater of Silence) to rev the predatory V-12 of the just-revealed Purosangue. The growl ricocheted off the travertine walls as autodom struggled to catch its breath. This was history in the making, the first-ever four-door, four seater that’s ever been christened in Maranello, Italy…just don’t call it an SUV.
Donning the Italian word for thoroughbred, the Purosangue was designed for purists. Drawing vehicle dynamics from many of the super-marque’s hallowed track stars (cylinder heads, for instance, were borrowed from the formidable 812 Competizione), the super-ute doesn’t forsake thrills for extra space. It’s the only Ferrari currently available with the maker’s naturally aspirated 6.5L V-12, a 715-hp rocket that simply devours asphalt. The engine’s architecture was reconfigured to ensure a throttle response characteristic of an Italian supercar. Eighty percent of the 528 lb.-ft. of torque is available at low revs for swift off-the- line acceleration and peaks at 6,250 rpm. The purebred blasts from 0-60 in 3.3 seconds, reaching 125 mph in just over 10 with a top speed of 193 mph. Though Ferrari eschews the term SUV, the maker did recognize the ‘Sangue will out power any other machine in the crossover segment. To meld supercar handling with superior comfort, the Purosangue debuts Ferrari’s new active suspen- sion technology with Multimatic’s True Active Spool Valve (TASV) System, which pairs a high-precision hydraulic damper with electric motors at each corner to proactively exert force in anticipation of changing road surfaces and drive inputs.
Pilots can personalize their ride through Ferrari’s generous bespoke catalog, including a vast array of interior and exterior colors and materials. Buyers can also choose between two roof options: a standard carbon fiber roof panel or a full-length elec- trochromic glass roof that can switch from transparent to opaque with the touch of a button.
The purosangue proves that sustainability isn’t the demise of luxury, as its interior is swathed in ethically produced materials, from a recycled fabric roof lining to lush polyamide carpeting made from recycled fishing nets salvaged from the oceans. The hot- back also debuts a newly formulated Alcantara upholstery that’s derived from certified recycled polyester.
Audiophiles will revel in the standard Burmester 3D High-End Surround Sound System offering an immersive, high-quality listening experience through 21 speakers, a ribbon tweeter (the first in a production car), and subwoofer housed in its own closed cabinet for maximum bass clarity.
A suite of driver-assistance features is standard, including automated emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlamps, and adaptive cruise control. This isn’t the first Prancing Horse to boast a backseat, as the Maranello-based maker has long produced 2+2 cars (i.e. two front and two smaller backseats), kicking off with the lauded 250 GTE at the Paris Motor Show in 1960. The Purosangue, however, is the first Ferrari that can comfortably fit adults in the second row, though the engineers maintained the appearance of a coupe through rear-hinged, coach-style doors for the backseat passengers. The “welcome doors” also maximize the interior space without the need to increase vehicle size, and the separated, adjustable heated backseats ensure passengers don’t need to call shotgun for a comfortable – albeit exhilarating – ride.
The Purosangue starts at $398,350. First deliveries are expected later this year.