Ferrari has revealed its long-awaited first SUV: the Purosangue.
Fitted with the Ferrari fundamentals, including a front-mid-mounted V12, the Italian firm says this "FUV" (Ferrari utility vehicle) is still "a true sports car”.
But where does this 715bhp, £390,000 four-door, four-seat sit in the automotive spectrum?
Our testers discuss:
STEVE CROPLEY
The thing that has always struck me about Ferrari is how extremely successful it has been at making its new models feel different from rivals: special steering feel, special sounds, special responses from the foot controls, even special seats.
When we first saw the FF, a very different car from the others in the range at the time, it was readily apparent just how much it still felt like a Ferrari.
So I would back Ferrari to keep its family character feel, even in a vehicle of a brand new format.
Chuck in the good parts of crossoverdom – space, comfort, convenience and easy access – and I’m pretty confident that we’re looking at an extremely good car. Especially since latecomer Ferrari will have learned much from the experiences and the mistakes of others.
RICHARD LANE
As much as I hesitate to admit it, the concept of a GTC4 Lusso on stilts, only with far better rear-seat access and luggage space, isn’t exactly lacking in appeal, especially for those who will actually tour in the thing.
After all, riding high is intrinsically comforting, and if Aston Martin can make the DBX 707 so dynamically well sorted, you have to imagine that Ferrari can at least hit the same heights.
In relation to the competition, I'd expect the Purosangue to feel unusually light on its toes, agile and balanced. It might even be genuinely playful, in the way shown possible by Alfa's Stelvio Quadrifoglio and, to some extent, the Aston. How well the atmospheric V12 will suit it, though, I’m not so sure. Torque will be key.
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