Ferrari has announced that its first-ever SUV – the Purosangue – will make its global debut later this year.
The high-end Italian carmaker revealed the engine specs for its upcoming vehicle, confirming that the SUV will have a V12.
This is what we know about Ferrari’s foray into uncharted waters.
Supercar SUV
Ferrari confirmed that its upcoming car will be a “pure V12 model” – suggesting there is no possibility of a hybrid powertrain, at least for now.
Commenting on the engine choice, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said the company had experimented with several drivetrains, but that the V12 felt like the right choice for the market.
“From my and our test drives in the hills around Maranello I can tell you that it’s a true sportscar, and unlike any other,” he said.
“[The Purosange] will be 100% Ferrari.”
Ferrari had previously confirmed it had been developing a new V12-powered car, fueling speculation as to whether this would be for the at-the-time unconfirmed SUV, or for the still-unnamed sequel to the Ferrari 812 Superfast.
The V12 found in the Purosangue should be similar to the naturally aspirated 6.5-litre engine found in the Superfast, but this remains to be seen.
The engine should be mid-front mounted, in line with the prancing horse’s current architecture for its GT-styled cars.
The interior, meanwhile, will receive a new steering wheel design, infotainment unit, heads-up display, cabin controls, and rear-seat entertainment.
The competition
The Purosangue, Italian for thoroughbred, represents Ferrari’s entry into the increasingly popular luxury SUV segment.
This means the SUV will be competing with the likes of the Aston Martin DBX, the Bentley Bentayga, the Lamborghini Urus, and the Porsche Cayenne.
The Urus, in particular, has been a smash hit for Ferrari’s chief competitor, broadening the manufacturer’s appeal with more than 70% of initial orders coming from first-time Lamborghini buyers.
However, the V12 engine will help the Ferrari to stand out from its peers which all use smaller powertrains, such as the Urus and Bentagya which both run on a V8.
Ferrari said that it plans to keep future SUV models to a minimum in order to stay true to the brand’s identity, and sales for the Purosangue are expected to make up roughly 20% of the manufacturer’s revenue.
Sergio Marchionne, the former chairman of Ferrari, had even once stated “you’d have to shoot me first” before the automaker would ever produce an SUV.
The Purosangue is scheduled to debut in September this year.
Several images of the SUV have appeared online, however, these are all speculative artist renderings made by third parties.
The car has been spotted in public decked out in camouflage, but Ferrari itself has only revealed teaser images, and there are currently no official photos of the finished product.
Ferrari Purosangue renders
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