the highest of emotions

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The real Ferraristi now needs to be really strong. Because the latest model from Maranello (I) has four real doors, four seats, all-wheel drive and – a high-end sound system. It doesn’t even matter if it’s the best in the world, as Ferrari claims: it’s incredible that a V12 engine from Ferrari is now singing against Beethoven or the Beastie Boys. What would the company’s founder and V12 fan Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988) say?

Definitely some. In addition, the new Purosangue (Italian for thoroughbred like horse on the company crest) is also the tallest Ferrari of all time. It’s almost 1.60 meters high, just under five metres, and even offers 473 liters of luggage space. Group CEO Sergio Marchionne (1952-2018), while all other sports car manufacturers have long offered models in portrait format, once decided that his body would be replaced by just an SUV. In fact, the S word is banned in Ferrari – especially when compared to the XXL Ferrari Purosangue.

Sports car or SUV?

And you must admit: rightly so. Because the silhouette of the four-seater is more like the old GTC4 Lusso than a crossover. This nearly station wagon from 2016 offered four seats, huge doors, and is even said to be fully loaded in front of hardware stores. Bigger wheels, 22 inches at the front and 23 inches at the rear, and more ground clearance make the Purosangue look bulkier.

Rear seat test: All four doors open in opposite directions, the rear doors are electric. The rear seats are exactly the same as the front sports seats, but they are mounted a little higher – this should relieve the passenger’s stomach if the driver’s horse runs off on mountain roads. Even the rear seat backs can be folded, so there’s more than enough luggage in the trunk for a three-week vacation for two. Daily usability – a completely new requirement for Ferrari engineers.

sound from all sides

Up front is downright luxury: the seats and doors are covered in Alcantara fabric, made of 68 percent recycled polyester – Ferrari also thinks sustainable. The steering wheel with the drive program switch, called Manettino, is something similar on all Ferrari models. New, however, are the virtual instruments, the central air conditioning, the retractable button for seat position and massage, and the second right-most screen that the passenger can turn on and control. It’s not that easy, because navigating the menu isn’t always very logical and you can hardly find the icons on the bumpy roads of the Dolomites (I) when driving fast.

Yet a brand new Ferrari feel in the cockpit. And thanks to the sound system from Burmester (D) from Berlin, the premium hi-fi supplier. From the very first body panel, its engineers were involved in the development to eliminate annoying vibrations. With its 21 speakers and 1420 watts of power, the system now relentlessly exposes the weak points of every music recording against any driving noise. However, the V12 is always located under the massive front hood.

Crazy performance, active chassis

Anything else is unacceptable for a Ferrari. Known in part from the 6.5 liter, 800 hp Ferrari 812. On the Purosangue, despite the higher injection pressure, it looks a little more comfortable with 725 hp, but sounds great as a squeaky saw just before the next gear. to change. The engine at the front and the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission at the rear provide an excellent 49:51 weight distribution. Seventh and eighth gears have a particularly long gear ratio for low engine speeds at highway speeds. A 48-volt electric motor adjusts the air suspension travel for each wheel 20 times per second to keep the two-ton weight under control. And the rear wheels reverse direction by one to three degrees at low or low speeds – this provides driving stability and helps in tight bends.

The driven front axle was already on the GTC4 Lusso and its predecessor FF: it is engaged with a two-speed gearbox (plus reverse gear) only if necessary, and only up to a maximum of fourth gear – then the rear axle is engaged again alone. As a large part of the prepared test snow slope melted, it could only be tried as a passenger for a short time. All-wheel drive hardly provides more than a slight boost at low speeds, the rear still wobbles – but it certainly makes sense on more snow and ice. And another argument: The Purosangue is definitely not an SUV.

Bestsellers with waiting time

The four-seater sweeps corners even more impressively on the test lap – less dancing than other Ferraris, but just as irresistible. In narrow passages, the driver, rather than the car, is the limiting factor – you can hardly distinguish the front right corner of the vehicle and therefore prefer to slow down a bit to be on the safe side. Especially since you have to get used to it: The Purosangue is a pretty big car for a Ferrari. But in the end, the four of you can race around the corners.

So does the fan community: 2,000 copies of Purosangue will be produced annually – and despite a price of at least 409,000 francs, the first two years are already sold out. Sorry Enzo Ferrari: It looks like the followers have been waiting for this exact car.

Source: Blick