Meet the Purosangue, Ferrari's first four-door, four-seater SUV

MANILA: “Purosangue” means “thoroughbred” in Italian, and that’s the name Ferrari’s first-ever SUV is going by. Even with its sporty intention and specs, the 2023 Ferrari Purosangue is a crossover SUV through and through.

Two-plus-two automobiles, which have two larger front seats and two smaller back seats, have been a key component of Ferrari's strategy since its inception. One of the foundations of the success of many Ferraris is the marriage of best-in-class comfort with benchmark performance.

Ferrari has now produced a one-of-a-kind vehicle that captures the essence of the Prancing Horse after 75 years of cutting-edge research, where performance, driving enjoyment, and comfort coexist in perfect harmony. Because of this, the new model was given the Italian name Purosangue, the first four-door, four-seater vehicle in Ferrari's history.

It took a completely different layout and cutting-edge proportions from modern GT archetypes and in so-called crossovers and SUVs to enable Ferrari to develop a car worthy of a place in its range and meet the high goals set for this project.

The typical modern GT's engine is mounted forward in the vehicle, nearly straddling the front axle, with the gearbox coupled directly to it. This causes a less-than-ideal weight distribution that falls short of the high standards of excellence and driving dynamics to which Prancing Horse customers and enthusiasts have grown accustomed.

On the other hand, the 2023 Ferrari Purosangue sports a dynamic transaxle configuration with the engine located mid-front and the gearbox in the back. To create a special 4x4 transmission, the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) is connected in front of the engine. The weight distribution is precisely 49:51%, which is what Maranello's engineers consider ideal for a mid-front-engined sports vehicle.

Engine design for the 2023 Ferrari Purosangue, code-named F140IA, keeps the 65-degree angle between cylinder banks, 6.5-liter displacement, dry sump, and high-pressure direct injection that made the Prancing Horse's most recent 12-cylinders so popular. However, it was created to deliver the most torque at low revs while retaining the linear, limitless power characteristic of Ferrari's naturally aspirated V12 engines.

At just 2,100 rpm, 80% of the maximum torque is available, and at 6,250 rpm, it reaches its peak of 716Nm. A true sports car's throttle responsiveness and a maximum power of 715hp are obtained at 7,750 rpm.

The improvement of mechanical and combustion efficiency received a great deal of focus while utilizing calibration techniques from Formula 1. As a result, the most potent engine Ferrari has ever created for a four-seater vehicle is also the most potent in its category and the only one able to produce that instantly unmistakable Ferrari V12 symphony.

The audio of the F140IA is an excellent illustration of how Ferrari was able to blend the wonderful symphony produced by the combustion process of the engine with the ability to regulate the cabin's acoustics. To ensure that the 12 cylinders are in perfect harmony, the equal-length exhaust manifolds are tuned. The body of the medium frequencies accompanies the high notes of the V12 in the new plenum with an improved intake duct.

For in-town and performance driving, there are two progressive silencers, the response of which is now incorporated into the Manettino settings.

When the driver accelerates hard, the distinctive V12 harmonics become audible and create a typical Ferrari soundtrack. Near the 8,250rpm redline, there is an exciting crescendo that reaches its peak at the kind of high revs only Ferrari's engines can produce.

The eight-speed, oil-bath dual-clutch transmission's layout was improved by using a dry sump and a noticeably smaller clutch component. This reduced the installed height of the 2023 Ferrari Purosangue by 15 millimeters, which in turn lowered the center of gravity by the same amount. With a 35% increase in performance, the new clutch can transfer up to 1,200Nm of dynamic torque during gear changes.

New-generation actuation hydraulics have made clutch fill times quicker, which has resulted in shorter overall gear change times as compared to the old seven-speed DCT.

The chassis of the 2023 Ferrari Purosangue is entirely new and was created from the ground up to create a framework with uncompromised stiffness. Due to Ferrari's extensive knowledge of the best ways to utilize these lightweight alloys, the lower chassis structure is entirely composed of high-strength aluminum alloy.

It forms part of a spaceframe chassis made up of closed-section extrusions connected by castings, into which load-bearing aluminum sheet metal elements are inserted, together with the structural components of the upper body.

The bodyshell is built of materials ranging from aluminum to carbon fiber, with the addition of high-strength steel in key locations and the use of structural adhesive on each side of the mechanical joins. Combining these various materials ensured maximum strength in the areas that needed it and lightweight in the areas that did not need too much weight.

The brand-new, single-shell carbon-fiber roof with integrated soundproofing achieves stiffness levels comparable to glass roofs while weighing 20% less than an aluminum roof with soundproofing.

Ferrari concentrated on providing the most entrance room while maintaining a short wheelbase from an ergonomic standpoint. To achieve this, Ferrari chose to combine a brand-new motorized, rear-hinged back door with a 79-degree opening with the typical opening for the front doors, which have a 63-degree opening. Suicide doors become the highlight of the 2023 Purosangue.

With two electric Stabilus tailgate lifters, the aluminum rear hatch can be opened to 73 degrees for effortless access to the boot and for loading and unloading even the heaviest of luggage. The back hatch is electrically operated. The upper spoiler area's unique look was made possible by the gooseneck hinge components.

The Ferrari Purosangue's very unusual volumes and restrictions presented a whole new problem for Ferrari's aerodynamic department, necessitating a fundamental rethink of both approaches and solutions. Numerous hours in the wind tunnel and countless CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations were required due to the extremely ambitious drag reduction target, the unique usability and accessibility requirements of this particular model, and the requirement to cool the massive V12 and ancillaries.

This is the type of research and development that Ferrari put into its line of fastest and most potent sports vehicles.

The midline section of the automobile was the main focus of the Purosangue's aero design since it was crucial to the creation of the airflow, the reduction of the drag coefficient (Cd), and the minimization of the frontal surface area. The maximum radius of the bonnet's curve and the header rail of the windscreen were intended to be as seamlessly continuous in profile as possible.

Contrarily, the rear portion of the roof, the rear screen, and the spoiler required the most attention because they are crucial to controlling flow separations and pressure fields.

To smoothen the front wheels and wishbones and reduce the quantity of air entering the wheel arch as much as possible, the body's surfaces were curved. A little flap installed on the lower suspension wishbone is crucial to this effect. Two zones of evacuation were created using the naturally occurring low-pressure areas behind the front wheels to increase the effectiveness of radiating masses by lowering overpressure in the engine compartment and lowering drag.

Instead of a rear windscreen wiper, air movement along the glass surfaces at the back of the Ferrari Purosangue cleans the rear screen. To ensure that the airflow is at the proper speed and to direct it toward the rear screen, the lower surface of the suspended spoiler is curved.

The headlights' unusual placement allowed for the development of two air intakes, one above and one below the DRL. The sophisticated blown system, which vents beneath the front aerobridge, is fed air through the upper one. On the other hand, the bottom one directs air to the brake cooling system.

Ferrari active suspension technology, made possible by Multimatic's True Active Spool Valve (TASV) System, is a feature of the Ferrari Purosangue and is a first for the automotive industry.

This revolutionary suspension architecture provides many benefits over competing products by integrating hydraulic damping via a high-precision spool valve with electric motor actuation into a single, seamlessly integrated system.

The electric motor makes it possible for the body and wheels to be actively controlled at higher frequencies and with greater force authority than traditional adaptive or semi-active systems.

The Side Slip Control (SSC) 8.0 and the 6w-CDS sensor are interfaced with the Active Suspension System's accelerometers and position sensors on each suspension corner. Every performance component of the completely active suspension system is electronically managed by Ferrari's unique control software and the TASV dampers provided by Multimatic.

Due to the variable and continuous distribution of roll stiffness and the actively lowered roll center (reduced by up to 10mm), this technology provides maximum cornering performance while also balancing oversteer and understeer. By controlling both body and wheel motion, the high-frequency control lowers roll and pitch while also absorbing disturbances in the road surface.

All the above technologies are incorporated in the 8.0 version of the Side Slip Angle Control which feeds a shared language to all the controllers to identify the best way to maximize performance.

The Purosangue offers an impressive array of driver assistance (ADAS) features as standard, many of which were developed in collaboration with Bosch®, including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Automatic Emergency Brake System (AEB), Auto High Beam (HBA/HBAM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Driver Drowsiness and Attention (DDA), and rear-view parking camera (NSW).

A function is made available for the first time on a Ferrari is HDC (Hill Descent Control), which helps the driver to maintain and control the car’s speed, shown on the dash, on steep descents. When HDC is activated, it controls the braking system to guarantee that the car’s speed does not exceed that set on the display. It can, however, be manually overridden by using the accelerator pedal.

To provide unprecedented occupant room and comfort for a Ferrari four-seater, the 2023 Ferrari Purosangue's cabin required the extremely precise design of both the space and furnishings as well as careful selection of the materials utilized.

The SF90 Stradale served as an inspiration for the driver's cockpit, which is nearly identical on the passenger side. The front passenger has an unmatched level of emotional engagement, as a result, helped along by a 10.2-inch display that gives them all the information they need to participate in the driving experience. The entire digital user interface used by the rest of the range is present on the Purosangue.

The occupants are embraced by the wraparound forms as they converge towards the center, which also emphasizes the dual cockpit concept at the front and rear through a conversation between the upholstered volumes and the functional technical regions. A concealed rotary interface in the center of the dashboard houses comfort-related controls, while a second rotary interface in the backseat provides access to the same features.

The Ferrari Purosangue features four separate, independently adjustable seats for the first time in Ferrari history.

The Purosangue offers unmatched occupant comfort and a layout that radiates the sportiness and elegance typical of Ferrari's design language thanks to the integration of comfort-focused components, the use of variable density foams, and the innovative suspension system. The heated rear seats have independent height and reclining controls. They greatly boost the Purosangue's cargo capacity when fully raked forward.

Ferrari’s pursuit of luxury did not distract it for a second from its environmental and sustainability responsibilities. Sustainable materials have been used extensively throughout the Purosangue.

Expected to be sold in the market in 2023, the Ferrari Purosangue could start at US $400,000 (P22 million).

Photos from Ferrari

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