Ferrari has always been able to rewrite the paradigms that identify any type of car, rejecting labels and classifications for each of its creations. It was the same for Thoroughbred Ferrariprotagonist of our test drive in preview, the first car with high wheels of the Prancing Horse and the first 4-door produced in Maranello. Car with high wheels yes but not an SUV or at least not a traditional Sport Utility. So what is Thoroughbred? To find out, we got behind the wheel and drove it through the Brenta Dolomites.
Thoroughbred dimensions and exteriors
Before telling you about the driving impressions and our test on the roads of Trentino, let’s take a more detailed look at the dimensions and style of the first high-wheeled model of the Cavallino. 4,973 mm long, 2,028 mm wide and 1,589 mm high, Ferrari Purosangue has a dry weight of only 2,033 kgthanks to the new frame designed to obtain maximum torsional rigidity and made with aluminum alloys and light materials. Besides the weight contained, the SUV from Maranello guarantees good absorption of vibrations from road bumps, restoring a feeling of stability. The body also uses lightweight materials, such as aluminum and carbon fiber. The bonnet opens against the wind, with gooseneck hinges that offer resistance and solidity in all opening phases. The aerodynamic study to best convey the flows finds its consecration in the suspended rear spoiler and in the nolder at the end of the bonnet. To manage the turbulence coming from the wheels then, integrated solutions have been inserted in the floating tails of the wheel arches.
Purosangue creates a new segment according to Maranello, offering a versatile car that can perfectly combine comfort and performance. The Style Center headed by Flavio Manzoni has once again worked by playing with the subtraction of volumes, with the stylistic language that has given life to a car ideally divided into two levels: the more technical part below, while the sinuous lines stand out higher up , with the voluptuous wheel arches and that elegant and at the same time imposing front end, with the subtle and distinctive optical signature that embraces the sides of the nose projecting them towards the sides. The latter are carved by two taut lines that prolong the air vents and the sill merge into a tail that displays a luminous signature with a double semicircular element, in a similar way to what was seen on the Ferrari Roma, joined by a horizontal joint that integrates and connects them ideally. Below you can see two air intakes obtained by emptying with the overhang of the tailgate which accompanies up to the diffuser which houses the two pairs of tailpipes of the exhaust system. On the large rear wheel arches there is also a small rear window with a rear spoiler which represents the extension of the thin front pillars. Ferrari Purosangue gives the impression of being a real sculpture, born from aerodynamic research which for this reason makes it appear so light even though it is not a super sports car.
The aerodynamics of Ferrari Purosangue
Very important is the work of aerodynamic developmentwith the management of hidden flows that led the Maranello engineers to devise Air Curtains that work in synergy with the floating tailpieces of the wheel arches, thus reducing turbulence. The hidden wing on the hood on the other hand, which takes the name of Aerobridge, derives from a solution adopted on the F12 but in the case of the Ferrari Purosangue it was created to minimize resistance. The air intakes in the front instead serve to cool the powertrain, the braking system and ventilate the active suspension system. The frame is also new, a structure built without compromises which consists of a main element plus two subframes to support the engine and gearbox, thus completing the transaxle layout. Different aluminum space frame alloys have been used, thus reducing weight by 4% compared to other applications on similar cars of the past. The body also uses different types of aluminum, one of which is aerospace-derived.
The interior of Ferrari Purosangue
With such a sporty and elegant design, created so as not to distort the stylistic path of recent years, the Maranello creative team has worked with great care to design the interior spaces so that they could embrace a completely new concept, that of a four-door and four-seater, the first time ever in a Ferrari in its 75-year history. The first important choice concerned the opening of the folding doors which make it easy to enter even for the two rear seats and open the eye to a passenger compartment that offers plenty of space characterized by refinement and modernity, with a sophisticated luxury that marries the tradition of Granturismo of Maranello. There is symmetry between driver and passenger, with full digital instrumentation behind the wheel which finds its counterpart on the other side thanks to a 10.2” display through which it is possible to participate directly in the driving experience. The interface and setting of the digital dashboard are inspired by the SF90 Stradale.
For the first time, therefore, there are four independent and adjustable seats, with the rear seats which are heated and reclining and can be reclined to create a single plane with the rear compartment with the boot which normally boasts a load capacity of 473 litres. The choice of upholstery then shows the Cavallino’s attention to sustainability, with the materials used for the launch version which are 85% eco-friendly: from recycled polyester to carpets made from fishing nets, up to the newly generation made with recycled polyester. It is also possible to opt for a new ballistic material of military origin, light and highly resistant but above all bulletproof.
At the wheel of the first high-wheeled model of the Prancing Horse
Approaching Ferrari Purosangue means get behind the wheel of something absolutely innovative, a car developed to be one of a kind, not just in terms of performance. Yet in a car from Maranello these really count and so the choice fell on the V12, an iconic engine for the Cavallino that fully embodies the DNA of the Modena brand but which above all offers that fundamental contribution to making this model unique in the super sports panorama with high wheels. The technicians of the Modenese brand have redesigned the rotating masses, with targeted interventions and new solutions also derived from Formula 1 to improve efficiency and consumption while guaranteeing a full and ever-increasing torque curve. We also worked on the sound, a fundamental aspect for this engine, with exhaust manifolds of the same size that make this engine even more harmonious with a crescendo that accompanies the rider as he presses his foot on the accelerator.
The heart of Ferrari Purosangue: the V12 from Maranello
The twelve-cylinder from Maranello delivers in this case 725 CV at 7750 rpm and 716 Nm at 6250 rpm for one click from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds and a 0-200 in 10.6 seconds while the top speed is over 310 km/h. All combined with a new 8-speed DCT gearbox derived from F1 which maintains short ratios in the same way as on the SF90 Stradale and 296 GTB, ratios which are instead lengthened for motorway use. What surprises, however, are not so much the performance numbers as the perfect balance that has been found on this car, so docile when ready to express all its potential when needed.
As it goes, the driving dynamics of the Thoroughbred
Once again the manettino plays a fundamental role, with the available positions which in this case are Ice, Wet, Confort, Sport and Esc Off. The first three can be combined with two different suspension setups, Soft and Medium, while the last two also add hard configuration. The suspension scheme represents another of the absolute previews of the Ferrari Purosangue: in fact, the Ferrar Active Suspension system makes its debut on this model which, via a 48 V brushless motor, powers active shock absorbers which are thus able to better manage body roll, while enhancing stability and enhancing driving pleasure. An advanced technology also makes its debut on the Purosangue as regards the steering wheels at the rear, compared to what has already been seen on the GTC4 Lusso and on the 812 Competizione and the brake by wire braking system which increases control but above all reduces pedal travel for a even more direct braking feeling.
A dream already sold out
Like no other? Difficult to contradict Ferrari in the definition of Thoroughbreda car with high wheels that knows how to combine a markedly sporty DNA with technical solutions that have been able to best marry this configuration so different from the classic Prancing Horse supercars. The new car from Maranello in this sense it also offers a series of customizations that make the experience even more unique, such as the electrochromic glass ceiling that can replace the standard one in carbon fiber or the massaging seats. Confirming the goodness of the project there was a success beyond imagination, which has already exhausted the portfolio of orders for the immediate future, effectively closing bookings until at least 2024. The first deliveries of the Ferrari Purosangue will in any case begin after summer, with the list price for Italy set at 390,000 euros.
