Ferrari Purosangue is arguably the brand's most versatile car ever. Ferrari goes to great lengths to keep the Purosangue within the genre of an SUV, and there is ample evidence to support that claim, with a big naturally aspirated V12 engine being the powertrain of choice, along with the sleek styling. Also, the Purosangue is indeed the most spacious Ferrari with a combustion engine. You can stuff your golf bags in the boot along with four proper seats nestled within the rear hinged doors. It seems the Purosangue, which is Italian for thoroughbred, plays by its own rules and surely excels in many areas.
The styling immediately draws attention. It is massive in size; the details scream Ferrari, with the same aggressive stance juxtaposed by the generous haunches. The shape is governed by aerodynamics but also comes with an elegant demeanour, notably led by the suicide doors along with the curved roofline. The Purosangue is pretty tall but refuses to bow down to the traditional SUV design rule books, while having a more handsome design than the more controversial FF that was its predecessor.
The interiors are a far cry from the supercars Ferrari used to make. With this version, you get fragrant leather and cutting-edge materials along with a cockpit-like environment. The driver gets a dedicated screen with all of the necessary controls around the steering wheel, and the passenger gets a separate display. The rear seat, though, is the surprising bit, with its comfortable seating position and ample headroom along with the thrilling prospect of being chauffeured at blistering speeds.
The heart of the matter is a 6.5-litre V12 pumping out 715 rampant Italian horses and paired with a slick eight-speed gearbox along with an intelligent All Wheel Drive system. The powertrain steals the show with its flamboyant performance along with its layered soundtrack, which emits a deep bellow every time you visit the redline. Nothing beats a charismatic twelve-cylinder engine, and the Purosangue shrinks corners with complete ease while you forget its gargantuan size. The handling and dynamic abilities far outweigh its physical footprint while being much more immersive in its driving enjoyment than an SUV. You sit low and cocooned within the cabin, and you increasingly get the confidence to explore this mighty powertrain even more. The bigger difference is that when the road ends, the Purosangue can still amaze you with its ground clearance and grip.
At Robb Report India, the Purosangue is our kind of Ferrari, where it combines the fiery Italian DNA with traditional luxury while keeping the soul of a true Ferrari alive thanks to its 12-cylinder engine. Ferrari could have taken the easier route and plonked a hybrid V8, but they chose to keep this powertrain despite the challenges and work around it while staying true to its ethos. After all, Enzo Ferrari famously chose the 12-cylinder engine as the signature heartbeat of his cars.