Ferrari Purosangue 6.5 V12 (A) First Drive Review

This is the Ferrari Purosangue. Yes, I know. The name sounds like a handful. Trust me, even saying it out loud is a handful.

Pronounced as pu-ro-sarng-gui, which translates to 'thoroughbred' in Italian, the Ferrari Purosangue is arguably the most un-Ferrari model Ferrari has ever created. This is the sports carmaker's first production four-door, four-seater model. At over two tonnes, it's also the heaviest car in the brand's lineup. Most surprising part? The new Ferrari is also the quietest model to ever see daylight.

Looks like a breath of fresh air

Sounds like the run-of-the-mill marketing hype that's a tad exaggerated? Yeah, it could be. But credit where it's due, the Purosangue looks superb, at least to this pint-sized writer's eyes. It may have an unconventional fascia for a Ferrari, but it works well to blend aggression with fascination. Perhaps this has to do with the fact that it doesn't have a front grille. Instead, this has been replaced by a dihedral that's suspended on the lower section, which helps to deliver a more technical aesthetic.

Some may argue that the car looks a tad complex, with folds and creases surrounding the daytime running lights, but I reckon it's exactly the blown aero ducts and daytime running lights that are the captivating and inevitable responses to accentuating the Purosangue's sporty appearance.

Unlike the front, the rear gets a tad undistinctive. Still, there's no denying the brawny and muscular intentions here, with its swelled up angles and quad tailpipes that help a fair bit in giving the car ample road presence when you're chasing it from behind.

Blindingly quick despite its newfound size

Of course, whether you're pursuing or being pursued by one, the Ferrari Purosangue does an easy job in keeping up. There isn't any turbocharged or supercharged nonsense here, just the iconic old but gold naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12. Hence, the powerplant shoots out a mountain-moving 715bhp and a neck-snapping 716Nm of twisting force via a quick-shifting eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox from the word go, with no lag or any hint of hesitation whatsoever.

And as with most modern models with obscene output, torque will be sent to all wheels whenever necessary to ensure you don't end up wrapped around a tree. Which is why regardless of weather and ground condition, it is so easy for the car to go fast with ample grip and confidence.

Squeeze the throttle and the Purosangue kicks down a couple of cogs and guns straight for the next hairpin turn. The standard carbon ceramic brakes do an excellent job in shedding speed, while lateral movements are well-controlled.

Admittedly, the Purosangue is no low-slung two-seater sports car, but sound engineering for the benefit of better aerodynamics allows the big Ferrari to feel grounded, intuitive and agile. The communicative and direct steering does feel a tad light, but that helps in hiding the heft of the car as you manoeuvre through narrow and curvy paths with confidence and aplomb.

Find yourself a long stretch of empty road, pedal to the metal, and you'll find yourself hitting the 100km/h mark from nought in just 3.3 seconds. While performance claims by manufacturers should often be taken with a pinch of salt, it is absolutely believable here.

Take a deep breath, hold on to the accelerator and everything around you becomes a swirling blur as the revs and speedo needles climb steadily to the 8,250rpm redline before hitting the car's top speed of 310km/h. I never managed this number - not even close - but there isn't a seed of doubt in my mind that the Purosangue can achieve it without breaking a sweat, considering just how it can deliver a seemingly inexhaustible amount of thrust that's dramatic and formidable all at once.

Driving in style and opulence

Less dramatic is the cabin. Everything in here conveys a sense of modernity, comfort and opulence, which is new for me in a Ferrari. You do not even get a physical start/stop button. Instead, the car only comes alive via a haptic touch button located on the new steering wheel. Even controlling the four separate and independently adjustable seats is now done through a rotary dial that nicely pops up when activated via the dashboard.

These modern and comfort-biased components, together with the new suspension system that makes its world debut in the Purosangue, translate to the fact that occupants can expect absolute opulence without compromising on the sportiness that's often associated with the prancing horse.

This said comfort also extends to the cabin's space. Thanks to a wheelbase of 3,018mm, both rear occupants have enough legroom for an interstate road trip with the family and friends. And if a trip up North for a golf game is necessary, the Ferrari offers a massive 473-litre hauling capacity, which is more than adequate for your luggage and Callaway bags to fit in.

Getting one is still possible

Thankfully, the Purosangue isn't a limited model, so you could still get one if your pocket allows. It may be the most un-Ferrari model Ferrari has ever created, but it's nevertheless still desirable.

You could argue that the Italian carmaker created this only for the sake of a business case and that it's losing its tradition of being a deeply-rooted supercar company, but that'll be like saying Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Porsche lost their footing with their sports cars due to models like the DBX, Urus and Cayenne.

The average waiting time for the car is about 18 months, but there's a good chance you'll start seeing the Ferrari Purosangue on our roads when delivery of the car to buyers start some time at the end of year in Singapore.

Catch us as we roar through the roads of Italy in this Ferrari Purosangue SUV here!