After three quarters of a century, Ferrari finally launched their first four-door model.
Dubbed the Purosangue, the vehicle is a new addition to a lineup that already includes the stylish Roma, the modern 296, the wild SF90, and the luxurious 812.
Depending on your perspective, this decision is overdue.
However, one interesting thing, Ferrari is distancing itself from the idea that their new model is actually an SUV.
"We don't call it an SUV," emphasized the CEO, Benedetto Vigna. "We're not even talking about SUVs." Okay, then.
The Purosangue's configuration makes it look more like a bloated four-door sports car than a sport utility vehicle.
For example, it can only be had with two bucket seats in the back, not a family-friendly bench or (heaven forbid) a third row.
Then, there's a lot of sacrifice in utility in favor of sportiness, confirming that the folks at Maranello have absolutely no interest in being a crowd-pleaser.
For starters, its modest 16.7 cubic feet of trunk volume seems like a nod to the coupe silhouette, favoring aerodynamics over absolute practicality.
Ferrari put a lot of effort into stacking the Purosangue deck for a balanced layout.
As such, its big V12 engine is wedged against the firewall and the 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox is the rear transaxle, which helps deliver a 49/51 front-to-rear weight balance.
A carbon fiber roof comes standard to ensure the lowest possible center of gravity.
Interestingly, Ferrari specified a rear-opening passenger door arrangement for the Purosangue, complete with powr-closing a la the Bentley Bentayga EWB and Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
The rear doors open with a 79-degree swing, essential for easy entry and exit - especially as the rear area isn't very large.
We're not saying it's not comfortable, but it's also not as roomy as other super-luxury SUVs.
Ferrari claims the Purosangue stands in a category of its own. However, let's compare its 118.8-inch wheelbase to some competitors.
That figure is similar to the Lamborghini Urus Performante (118.2) and Bentley Bentaya Speed (117.9), but 1.7 inches shorter than the Aston Martin DBX707 (120.5).
It sits between the Porsche Cayenne GT (114.0) and the more expansive BMW Alpina XB7 (122.2).
In terms of weight, Purosangue claims an estimated dry weight of 4,482 pounds (2,033 kg), possibly the lowest among its competitors.
The Purosangue doesn't use an eco-friendly drivetrain at all - at least not yet.
It uses a conventional setup, with the big 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 producing the highest output in the history of a Ferrari-built GT: 715 horsepower and 528 pound-feet of torque.
The engine produces 80 percent of the torque at just 2,100 rpm, peak power at 7,750 rpm, and a maximum rotational speed of 8,250 rpm.
It's all mated to a dual-clutch transmission that offers eight forward gears to choose from.
The engine packs a new valvetrain and revised intake geometry, intended to aid low-end power delivery.
The Purosangue is estimated to reach 62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.3 seconds, with a top speed of more than 192 mph (308 km/h).
Like the GTC4Lusso, the new model has an all-wheel-drive powertrain, and its front-drive unit disengages above fourth gear and/or around 125 mph (201 km/h).
Although the Purosangue engine sounds familiar, the suspension uses future technology to maximize ride quality and handling.
In collaboration with Multimatic, Ferrari developed an active suspension system that utilizes the Canadian company's True Active Spool Valve (TASV) technology.
They use four 48-volt actuators to control the damper stroke.
Considering this setup has no stabilizer bars, the actuators work together to manage pitch and roll.
This fast-acting adjustment is able to regulate wheel movement and ride height - which can drop by up to 10 millimeters when the vehicle is cornering.
We can talk about specs and dimensions all day, but sometimes it's the little things that provide the answer to a conundrum like the Ferrari Purosangue.
Is this a sporty crossover? An SUV? A sedan on steroids? Who knows.
Considering their focus on delivering a driver's experience for four passengers, Ferrari chose to sacrifice a bit of utility for performance.
The automaker didn't even install a tow hook to maintain the Purosangue's position as an on-road machine.
For better or worse, the majority of potential buyers will judge this car more on its styling than any other factor.
This is understandable, because the starting price of 390,000 euros (Rp. 5.80 billion) is intended for customers who already have many types of cars in their garage.
As for the color, while Titanium Silver may not be ideal for a Ferrari, in person the Purosangue still looks elegant - especially the swollen rear haunches that help give the vehicle a sense of movement (and emotion).
However, Ferrari has taken a long-awaited leap forward, and frankly the Purosangue looks more balanced, refined and attractive than a series of spy shots of the past.
Whether you call it a puffy sedan or an SUV, the fact that it was built with the driver in mind bodes well for the Prancing Horse's future.
