Three sublime days driving the vehicle from Montreal to Brooklyn
Andrew Maness • AUGUST 2024
Since the Purosangue was unveiled in 2022, Ferrari has insisted that their first factory four-door is not an SUV. After spending three sublime days driving various specifications of the 2024 model from Montreal to Brooklyn, we’re inclined to wholeheartedly agree. Given ample time to contemplate what the Purosangue is (and what it isn’t) we arrived at the conclusion that it is a harmonious blend of art, technology and entertainment that culminates in a singular mode of transportation, exactly what a Ferrari should be in this era.
Had it been saddled with anything other than the 6.5L naturally aspirated V-12 under the beautifully sculpted hood we’re not sure the Purosangue would deliver the same enticing experience. Thankfully the powers-that-be at Ferrari knew better than to join the twin-turbo V8/twin-turbo V6/hybrid crowd with their four door. Even better, the soul stirring engine isn’t the defining element here, but merely one of the pillars that elevates the status of the Purosangue. As we’ve become intimately acquainted with the more recent models in Ferrari’s lineup our appreciation for their take on steering and suspension calibration, as well as chassis tuning, has led to a real affinity for the overall road feel that’s present in each model, including their “four door, four seat vehicle” as they call it.
Of course we expected the Purosangue to handle very well, as we would any current Ferrari. What we didn’t anticipate was how seamlessly the vehicle can transition from angry apex hunter to docile country lane cruiser. Perhaps it is the mere presence of rear seats and doors or the 7.2 inches of ground clearance, but one doesn’t feel a constant urge to mash the accelerator in order to enjoy the drive. Unusual for a Ferrari, but having a 72 hour period full of many types of roads and various qualities of road surface really put a fine point on just how easy the Purosangue is to live with. It is happy to do as many miles as you are and actually encourages you to do more, thanks largely to a view from the driver’s seat that just doesn’t get old, but the brand’s first available seat massage function doesn’t hurt either.
Happily while one may forget they’re driving a vehicle with 17 cubic ft of cargo space (before the rear seats are even folded flat) there’s no forgetting they’re driving a Ferrari. Again, the engineers and designers found harmony inside as well as out. Beyond the ease of ingress and egress to both front as well as rear seats, the cabin is a masterclass in promoting spacial awareness. Far too often we encounter vehicle cabins that veer into the uncomfortable territory of sensory overload and incoherence, making comfort difficult to find, if not nonexistent. This is especially unwanted in the cockpit as the driver has the rather important task of—well—driving. It’s true of every vehicle on the road, but especially so in the ultra-luxury segment where the stakes are always higher from the moment one opens the door.
With the Purosangue, it is a matter of show, don’t tell. What that means for the driver is an unencumbered environment from which to operate the exotic activity vehicle with as little added stress as possible. Viewed through this lens we can understand the thinking that led to haptic steering wheel controls that temporarily illuminate upon use for a number of functions that are helpful, but ultimately non-essential to driving. We wouldn’t go so far as to say the interior design is reductive or UI is minimal, but there is a prevailing sense that Ferrari was careful not to overdo it with features, lest people forget the primary function of the Purosangue: one hell of a driving experience. For passengers, particularly rear seat occupants, this means decent size windows to view scenery through, ample leg and headroom for most adults, as well as fore, aft and recline seat adjustments. No matter which seat you’re in, the cabin of the Purosangue is a pleasant place to be for an extended period of time. The same cannot be said of many dyed-in-the-wool SUV and crossovers, let alone some of the would be direct competitors for the Purosangue.
The thing is, it has no true competition. This is a segment with a sole occupant based off the asking price alone—though order books are full through 2026. If you want a Purosangue in the next two years, you’ll have to try your luck on the secondary market or call in some favors of epic proportions to Maranello. However, if you happen to be among those already in the queue for a 2025 model year unit and are wondering whether you ought to follow through, we’ll remind you that ghere has not been a Ferrari like it to date and if the abbreviated production runs of the FF and GTC4 Lusso are any indication, there might not be many more like it in the future.
Resource: https://coolhunting.com/design/test-drive-ferraris-2024-purosangue-is-singular-by-design/
