Do not call the Ferrari Purosangue an SUV.
The company has opted not to use the name in its press releases and launch materials, calling it “the first four door, four seater Ferrari.”
Ferrari’s aura is built around racing and rarity. It would be counterproductive to Ferrari’s carefully crafted image of exclusivity and prestige to affix the prancing horses on another SUV. Ferrari has been late in entering the segment, and it wants to differentiate the Purosangue SUV from those of its rivals. Porsche introduced the Cayenne over 20 years ago. Lamborghini has been making the Urus for more than five years. Aston Martin launched the DBX 2020.
The Purosangue SUV is not an SUV when driving.
The Purosangue is an Italian term for “pure-blooded” or “thoroughbred.” It has a V-12 engine with a displacement of 7.5 liters. The base price of the vehicle is $400,000, but with options, many buyers end up spending more than $500,000.
It was unlike any driving experience I had ever had before. It is not an SUV, but it’s unquestionably a Ferrari.
Start with the exterior. In photos, the Purosangue appears bulbous, pedestrian, and even boring, especially when compared with the Urus’s space-age angles and winglets. In person, however, the Purosangue looks more like a crouching racehorse than a racehorse.
Vents, air buttresses, and spoilers are only visible up close. They were developed in a wind tunnel over hundreds of hours.
The Purosangue weighs over 2 tons and measures 16 feet in length and 6 1/2 inches wide.
These two rear passenger seats don’t just fit toddlers. They are individual, fully adjustable seats that can comfortably accommodate passengers up to 6 feet tall.
It is a joy to slide into any seat in the Purosangue. To climb into the Purosangue, you don’t need to crouch or do spinal origami. The “welcome door” rear doors are rear-hinged, similar to a Rolls-Royce. They glide open by pressing a button.
With the rear seats folded down, you can fit a bike or other large items in the cargo area.
The SUV sounds great, but wait until you turn the engine on and hit the accelerator.
Ferrari’s V-12 naturally aspirated engine was chosen to power the Purosangue to appease the critics who claimed the truck would be a denigration of the Ferrari brand. The engine is old-school and raw, generating 715 horsepower along with 528 pound-feet of torque.
The car is also mid-front mounted with the transmission at the back. This gives it a weight distribution of 49:51, which is more like a sports car than an SUV.
The Purosangue is a car that sounds and feels more agile when it’s cruising down the highway or on winding country roads.
It’s nothing like a Ferrari sportscar. The steering is light and sharp (almost too much until you get used to it), and the brakes firm.
You may not squeal and scream as you would in a Ferrari when you drive the Purosangue. You will smile when you see what Maranello’s engineers have created.
The suspension is Ferrari’s second big innovation in the Purosangue. The supercar manufacturer created a new active system, which includes a “True Active Spool Valve System” that combines an electrical motor with a hydro-damper to shift force when driving at high speeds.
This results in less body roll and more incredible cornering. The Ferrari feels balanced and effortless when you are able to make high-speed corners.
The Purosangue does not have to be perfect.
Some Ferrari owners have told me that they are disappointed by the interior. They said it looks “too simple” — even at a price of up to $500,000.
Ferrari is proud to have used recycled materials in the Alcantara upholstery. The interior of the Purosangue could be more luxurious, as it competes with SUVs that are marketed as luxury.
Some Ferrari dealers and owners complained about the engine noise, saying it was too quiet for them. One Ferrari collector said, “For the Ferrari V-12 engine, it just doesn’t seem right.”
It sounded great to me, with all the Ferrari rumbles and whines, but not too aggressive so as to annoy the neighbors.
The engine sound is important to Ferrari owners but may not be so critical for customers who are interested in four-door cars.
A dealer told me about a third or more of buyers of the Purosangue were new to Ferrari, meaning that Ferrari had succeeded in creating a car for its market to grow.
Is this a Ferrari “pure-blood”? Is it a SUV? Ferrari purists will debate the name. Sales are the best proof. The Purosangue has been sold out for over two years, and the only slots available are in 2026.
It is a great success.
Environmental and Health Challenges
Five months after the Rio Summit 2012 on sustainable development and green economy, an agreement was reached for the extension of the Kyoto Protocol. This Protocol, which was signed in 1997 with the intention of imposing binding restrictions on industrialized countries in order to reduce their emissions, was set to expire by 2012. The landmark agreement is subject to two deadlines: (a) 2015, for the development and implementation of an expanded Kyoto Protocol, and (b) 2020, for its implementation. Unfortunately, global emission levels could not be reduced in the lead-up to 2012. After a first decline in 2008-2009, emissions have increased again. In 2012, greenhouse gas emissions were 20 % higher than in 2000, which in absolute terms amounts to 50 gigatonnes more carbon equivalent [4]. Transport already consumes over 50% of global oil supplies, with road transport taking up 75% of that share. The fact is that fuel used for transportation (at least in the majority of industrialized economies) is taxed higher than fuels used for heating or electricity.
Global challenges include reducing energy demand and reducing emissions from vehicles. To meet these challenges, it is crucial to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The increase in vehicle emissions is evident, especially in big cities, where cars are the major contributors to air pollution. In developing countries, the problem is worsened by an inefficient public transport system, lax emissions norms, and a slow adoption of clean automotive technology. Beijing’s air pollution has been rated as one of the world’s worst megacities. Global Burden of Disease Study (2010) states that outdoor air pollution caused 1.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2010. This is about 40% of all premature deaths. The study found that ambient particulate (PM) from vehicle emissions was the fourth most important risk factor in China. According to the same research, air pollution was ranked seventh on the list of global risks. This alarm sounded, and efforts were renewed to implement stricter environmental standards, focus on cleaner transportation technologies, and revitalize efforts in China to jump-start the electric vehicle industry. India is another example of a developing country that suffered from similar levels of air pollution in 2010. This led to 620,000 premature deaths. The preference of Chinese consumers has shifted from fuel-efficient midsize, compact cars, sedans, and hatchbacks to large sport utility vehicles and hatchbacks. The result is that China’s import costs are increasing, and air pollution is worsening. This also forces regulators to tighten up regulations. Automobile companies have responded by opening new assembly plants and engine factories in order to satisfy the growing demand for automobiles in such a large market.
