14 AUGUST 2019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 9
F
errari is stepping up
development of its
eagerly anticipated SUV,
which will push the brand
in an entirely new direction for
comfort, interior design, space
and powertrain technology.
Due in 2022 and being
developed under the
codename Purosangue, which
translates as ‘thoroughbred’,
the Ferrari SUV promises to
be like no other performance
or ultra-luxury SUV on the
market thanks to positioning
unique from the likes of the
Aston Martin DBX, Bentley
Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus
and Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
The SUV, also known
internally as ‘175’, is one of
15 new Ferraris announced
last year and set to launch by
2023. They will be built off two
bespoke architectures giving
two distinct model lines, one
for mid-engined supercars,
such as the imminent F
Tributo, and the other for
front-mid-engined GT-style
cars, including the new SUV.
“I’m convinced on this car
and the technical concept,”
Ferrari’s chief technical officer
Michael Leiters revealed in an
exclusive interview. “I think
we’ve found a concept and a
package which is on one side a
real SUV and will convince SUV
customers to buy it, but on
the other side there’s a huge
differentiation of concept to
existing SUVs.”
That concept is based
around Ferrari’s ability to mix
a bespoke architecture – as
opposed to one shared across
a wider group, such as the
Volkswagen Touareg and Audi
Q7-derived MLB platform
used by the Bentayga and
Urus – that not only endows
the car with Ferrari levels of
performance and dynamic
ability but also the space,
comfort and user-friendly
cabin required of an SUV.
“The challenge is to open a
new segment for Ferrari,” said
Leiters. “We always have very,
very sharp positioning. It helps
to develop cars in a certain,
focused manner and easily
decide certain trade-offs.
“The trade-off decision is
totally different for us here.
We will have totally new
engineering challenges.”
Ferrari remains tight-lipped
on the Purosangue’s specifics
but is happy to discuss the
theory and challenges behind
pushing the brand in its most
radical direction yet in its
illustrious 72-year history. ◊
`
The challenge is to open a new
segment for Ferrari. We always
have very tight positioning
a