Ferrari Purosangue – Surprisingly Useful and Brilliant

The Ferrari Purosangue has caused quite a stir since its launch in September 2022, and for good reason. This is the first four-door vehicle from Ferrari, and it’s a game-changer. It’s higher off the ground, more spacious, and suitable for long trips, making it the most practical Ferrari ever made.

The engine is special, too. It’s a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 with 715 horsepower and 528 pound-feet of torque, and it can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.3 seconds. The top speed is just over 192 mph. The Purosangue was tested in the mountains of Italy, and the rear end of the car was found to be playful and thrilling. The sound of the engine and the beautiful scenery of Italy added to the overall excitement.

One of the main questions surrounding the Purosangue is whether it is on par with other Ferraris despite being higher off the ground. Ferrari engineers answered this question by ensuring that drivers feel the same sensations they would experience in any other Ferrari, regardless of the car’s height, weight, or overall dimensions.

The Purosangue is 62.6 inches tall at roof level, which is less than the Lamborghini Urus, Aston Martin DBX, Porsche Cayenne, and even the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Maserati Levante. Its ground clearance is only slightly higher than that of a typical sports sedan, at 7.3 inches, which is 2.3 inches more than a BMW M5 CS.

The Purosangue weighs 4,481 pounds dry (4,806 pounds with fluids), which is 258 pounds less than the slightly larger Urus Performante. The weight is distributed almost perfectly, with 49 percent on the front axle and 51 percent on the back.

The Purosangue is the first Ferrari ever to have rear doors that open rearward and up at a 79-degree angle using electric motors. This is dramatic for passers-by and convenient for passengers getting in and out of the two electrically adjustable, heated, ventilated bucket seats. The seatbacks can be folded down to increase cargo capacity, which starts at 16.7 cubic feet. The Purosangue has the largest trunk in Ferrari’s history.

In the front, the Purosangue stands out because of the lack of a central infotainment screen. All information goes to the twin 10.2-inch displays, one in front of the driver and the other in front of the passenger. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work via touch-capacitive buttons on the steering wheel, which aren’t always user-friendly.

The increased ground clearance of the Purosangue relative to other Ferraris required Maranello engineers to work hard to manage the car’s roll. The result is an innovative new suspension setup using Multimatic’s True Active Spool Valve system. This system uses 48-volt motors at each corner to control and change the height of the suspension 30 times per second, with a working range of around eight-tenths of an inch. The system governs body roll when cornering, pitching when accelerating and braking, and shock absorption on road irregularities.

This active suspension arrangement makes the Purosangue as predictable as possible, with excellent grip and a neutral balance while cornering. The system works great, giving excellent support to the front end on corner entry, keeping the car “flat” when going into corners, and then letting the rear end “sweep” on the way out. This chassis balance gave testers a beastly confidence, which allowed the engine’s goose-bump emotions to flow freely.