The Ferrari Purosangue SUV is Coming
Here’s what we know
Written by Thom Williams
Imagery Courtesy of Ferrari
MarCh 26, 2022
It’s been a long wait, but Ferrari’s Purosangue SUV is one step closer to reality. First announced back in 2018, Ferrari’s entry into the SUV space has trailed long behind the likes of Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley. That said, we can’t be surprised—the mighty Italian prancing horse is not one to follow trends, nor is it one to try and reach for mass-market appeal. That said, a Ferrari SUV is inevitable, considering the segment has one of the best profit margins in the entirety of the automotive world.
This past week, Ferrari finally unveiled official teaser imagery of its new Purosangue, which is destined for market in 2023. The expectation is that a more formal announcement is in the pipeline for somewhere in Q2 or Q3 of this year, but for now we’re facing little more than extensive speculation. Ferrari has been incredibly tight-lipped about what will power the new model, whether we should expect a roaring naturally aspirated motor, or some sort of hybrid powertrain is entirely up in the air. That said, there have been a few sources with videos of the SUV in testing on the track, and to our ear, we’re more confident that we’ll be seeing a V8 than anything bigger.
The supercar sect remains rather reticent to go down the pure EV path, and though Ferrari has officially stated that their first EV supercar will come to market in 2025, it’s clear that there’s no intent for the SUV to be laden with a battery-based powertrain. With the likes of Mercedes, Koenigsegg, and others pushing further in the space than ever, it will be interesting so see how electrification unfolds with Ferrari. That said, if there’s any performance focused brand on the market that can justify holding onto internal combustion, it’s most certainly Ferrari.
Looking past its underpinnings for a moment, Ferrari’s latest teaser imagery at least paints a clearer picture of what to expect from the new Purosangue from a design perspective. Based on the body lines that are visible, it’s safe to say that the Purosangue will be well aligned with the Roma GT—one of the brand’s nominally more practical offerings at present. A long nose, a rounded posterior, and relatively understated lines seem to be the name of the game here, almost to the extent of seeming too timid or understated. Not to slight Ferrari, but it seems they’re leaning more towards the “safe” approach seen in the Aston Martin DBX rather than the no holds barred design of the Lamborghini Urus.
The bigger question at hand is whether or not the world at large really needs an SUV from Ferrari. The brand is quick to claim that the car will be tightly aligned to its history and vision, stating that it will be “A car whose bloodline can be traced back through our 75-year history of innovation, evolution and uncompromising performance.”
It’s not like this hasn’t been done before. Whether we look at BMW’s X5M, the Porsche Macan Turbo, or the Lamborghini Urus, it is possible to distill performance car DNA down into a form that translates into the SUV space. Also, the “purist” Ferrari buyer these days really only makes up a small percentage of sales, and a more “practical” Ferrari is in turn a much more mass-market offering. Love it or hate it, the Purosangue is a smart move for the brand, and we can’t wait to get behind the wheel.
