Hadag recently journeyed to the Northern Alps to experience Ferrari’s first ever SUV.
Pinzolo is a small town in Val Rendena, Trentino, nestled in the northern Italian Alps. This beautiful part of the world was the setting for Ferrari’s first international test drive of their all-new Purosangue.
Invited by Ferrari Bahrain to be among the select group of media to experience the brand’s very first SUV, Hadag was delighted to play a small part in this new chapter in Ferrari’s motor vehicle history. We’d like to thank the team at Ferrari Bahrain for including us in this momentous occasion.
OUR ARRIVAL
Treated like royalty from the moment we disembarked at Malpensa Airport in Milan, we were whisked away to the LeFay Resort & Spa Dolomiti in Pinzolo.
On the first evening of our stay, we received a briefing on some of the most innovative features of the Purosangue, an Italian name that translates to ‘thoroughbred’ in English.
Ferrari designers and engineers, who had worked on building the car, were also present to educate us on the vehicle and succeeded in whetting our appetites for the following day.
The next morning, we were up early and ready to go. Before being handed the keys, we were briefed on the SUV and received our first opportunity to properly inspect the vehicle.
EXTERIOR DESIGN
The skilful designers at Ferrari have constructed nothing less than a visual masterpiece in the Purosangue. As soon as the SUV came into view, we found our eyes darting over the bodywork, battling to focus on a single point before being distracted by the beauty of another.
The uniquely sculptured bodywork consists of two separate and distinct levels: the technical underbody and the sinuous upper body. This division is highlighted by the upper section seemingly floating on the wheel arches. The bodyshell comprises materials ranging from aluminium to carbon fibre and includes highstrength steel in crucial areas. Every component has been crafted with aerodynamics and performance in mind. The more we took in the exterior design, the more we realised that every single aero element endows this one-of-a-kind SUV with an innate elegance.
The Purosangue does not feature a front grille. It has been replaced by a dihedral suspended on the lower section. Two shells create a suspended disc form, complete with a slot that houses the camera and parking sensors. Daytime running lights have been perfectly set between two pairs of air intakes, that meld into the upper parts of the flanks. Another striking visual element is the long-sculptured bonnet, with its gently rounded muscles, that flows into wing-profile surfaces. These aerobridges create a sense of continuity between the front and the flanks.
Perpetuating the smooth flow of the exterior design is the dihedral shape formed by the aerobridge theme at the sides. This design element seamlessly combines the SUV’s shapely flanks with its muscular rear end. The wheel arch trim treatment reveals the Purosangue’s second skin beneath the bodywork and helps to create the impression of a floating coupé. The 22-inch front and 23-inch rear wheels were specifically designed for this model and flaunt an elegant diamond-cut finish.
“As soon as the SUV came into view, we found our eyes darting over the bodywork, battling to focus on a single point before being distracted by the beauty of another.”
The athletic makeup of the rear end smoothly integrates with the tail, where a horizontal line incorporates the taillights at its tips. Further contributing to the visual sense of wonder are the imposing diffuser and the large rear wings. These elements combine to provide a sense of width and add to the car’s already sporty persona.
INTERIOR DESIGN
The Purosangue is only Ferrari’s second fourdoor creation, one that features automatic rearhinged back doors, ensuring a novel experience before even entering the vehicle.
Slipping inside the cockpit, we appreciated the supportive front sports seats offering every adjustment option imaginable. We were struck by the top-of-the-line materials used throughout the cabin and the sense of abundant space and overall comfort.
The ergonomically designed cockpit felt like a first-class lounge with its elegant and sporty layout. The luxurious nature of the contemporary interior exudes a sense of timeless elegance, along with a setup that would be as comfortable and effective on the highway as it would on a racetrack. The driver seating arrangement has been mirrored on the passenger side.
The Purosangue offers four seats, all of which are separate and independently adjustable. It also features Ferrari’s first rear dual passenger compartment, which assists in creating four distinct cabin areas in terms of materials, colours, volumes and functionality.
The front and rear occupants have access to comfort-related controls located on a hideaway rotary interface in the central section of the dash and a second rotary interface in the rear. Additional high-end features are located throughout the interior, including wireless charging points in both the front and back.
When folded flat, the rear seating combines with the luggage compartment to form one large, flat surface, thereby greatly increasing the loading capacity and providing everyday practicality.
INFOTAINMENT & TECH
Ferrari has opted to divide the climate and infotainment interfaces in the Purosangue. The climate interface has a dedicated centre-dash area operated via a physical rotary control. This central display regulates temperature, ventilation and seat settings. The driver and passenger can be involved in the driving experience, as they both have a dedicated display on which they can view driving stats and control the infotainment system.
The driver’s cluster has been fitted with a simplified interface and graphics, meaning the amount of information within it can be reduced at will, simplifying its use. Another great feature for the driver is the array of sports steering wheel-mounted controls. Despite there being a considerable number of them, these controls are quick and easy to identify when driving. This is thanks to indents and bumps on the buttons’ surfaces that remind the driver of their purpose with a stroke of a finger. All controls must be double-tapped; a feature created to prevent troublesome mistouches.
One of our favourite features was the Burmester 3D high-end surround sound system, fitted as standard in the Purosangue. This audio system is hands down the highest quality option we have ever experienced in a car, and we loved the immersive sound experience it provided for us en route.
POWER & PERFORMANCE
The best moment of our day was when we set off on our journey through the awe-inspiring landscape of the Brenta Dolomites, the location of Trento-Bondone’s legendary uphill time trials.
The sports car sound of the Purosangue’s naturally aspired, 6.5-litre V12 engine provided ear-to-ear smiles as we were pressed into our seats as the accelerator was engaged. The agility of this SUV truly surprised us, as did its deft handling of steep inclines, tricky bends and various surface conditions.
The Purosangue’s potent powertrain provides a maximum power output of 715hp at 7,750rpm, and 716Nm of torque at 6,250rpm. This translates to a 0-100km/h time of just 3.3 seconds, a 0-200km/h time of 10.6 seconds, and an impressive top speed of 310km/h! Not bad for an SUV weighing in at 2.1 tonnes.
The seemingly unending power on offer combines with the newly designed chassis, the seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission and the 48-volt electric motors, to deliver nothing less than an exceptional driving experience. No matter the terrain, we travelled in absolute comfort and sat in awe as the SUV effortlessly ate up the mountain roads.
Whilst we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at Chalet Rocco Rosse, our cars were refuelled and cleaned by Ferrari mechanics, ensuring we were ready for our next Purosangue experience. This was a snowy route, running along Lake Toblino, back to our accommodation. Due to the tricky nature of the conditions, a professional Ferrari driver tackled the trail for us.
The Purosangue proved exceptional on slippery surfaces thanks to its Manatino Switch, which offers a selection of driving modes. These include Ice, Wet, Comfort, Sport and ESC off. We were honestly surprised at how easily the car and driver negotiated the challenging route, and at times we felt as though we were driving on the highway; it was that smooth and comfortable.
SAFETY & ASSISTANCE
Even though the Purosangue is one of the fastest road cars on the market, we knew we were travelling in one of the safest vehicles ever manufactured.
Besides the strength and quality of the materials used in its construction, the master designers at Ferrari have included an array of safety and driver assistance features to ensure the well-being of all occupants.
Along with airbags fitted throughout the vehicle, is an impressive array of standard driver assistance features. These include adaptive cruise control, an automatic emergency brake system, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, hill decent control, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness detection, a rearview parking camera and much more.
OUR VERDICT
In this review, we have hardly begun to sing the praises of both Ferrari and the Purosangue. In fact, we could have dedicated this month’s entire issue to highlighting its impressive range of design and performance features. A truly sublime automotive experience.