The Ferrari Purosangue is now in Malaysia to fulfil V12 dreams for four; from RM 5 million
Sanjay · Nov 22, 2023 02:00 PM
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Whisper the words SUV carefully around it – the boys and girls at Maranello insist it's anything but, despite our inclinations to call a spade when we see one. The Ferrari Purosangue is branded as the company's 'first-ever four-door, four-seater car', and it's now open to Malaysian customers who have upwards of RM 5 million; inclusive duties, taxes and minimal options.
Rather confidently they've called it the Purosangue, Italian for pureblood; thoroughbred, alluding to how development of the model is just as focused as they do with their coupes and soft-tops, thus different from competitors' SUVs.
A major step in that is the performance focus, and centrestage in here is the mid-front-mounted engine and the gearbox at the rear layout; making for a near-perfect 49%-51% weight distribution.
The engine in question is fashionably old fashioned, not to mention unique in today's age: a naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre V12, 725 PS, 716 Nm, and the "most enthralling Ferrari engine soundtrack". Paired to that is the corporate 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
80% of the maximum torque is available down low at 2,100 rpm, but the engine will take much more abuse, redlining at 8,250 rpm. Remember, this is something that measures nearly 5 metres long and weighs 2 tonnes.
To make that sort of power and response, Maranello's boffins have redesigned the intake, timing, and exhaust systems, and ported over the cylinder heads from the 812 Competizione. That's not nearly everything – the seemingly never-ending list names resurfaced crankshafts, reworked bearings, redesigned coolant and oil pump assembly, revised geometry of the intakes, specific pistons...
Just know that all of the above comes together to create speedy numbers; 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 10.6 seconds, and a top end of 310 km/h.
Note how its devoid of a rear windscreen wiper - it's not an optional extra. The glass is cleaned by wind sloping on it
The Purosangue's chassis is bespoke and built from the ground up, and is injected with high-strength steel in critical areas. Its body parts are made out of both aluminium and carbon fibre; the latter being the roof, for example.
Keeping the Purosangue on the road are Muiltimatic active suspension, Slide Slip Control system, and an evolution of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and stability control (ESC) logic.
Swing open the automatic suicide doors and seating strictly for four beckons; just like the rest of the range, the inside is a tech fest. Two – even three, if you so specify – screens headline the digital instrument and infotainment duties, while the cabin is bathed in sustainably-sourced leather and Alcantara.
All four seats are individually adjustable (yes, even the rears), and kit count extends to digital air-conditioning controls that pop in and out, Burmester 3D surround sound system (for the first time in a Ferrari!), and a heap of interior material choices.
Naturally like the rest of the range, personalisation options are far-reaching with the Purosangue, which includes things like an electrochromic glass roof and massage seats.
Ferrari backs the Purosangue with a 7-year maintenance package. Alongside the launches of the Purosangue and Roma Spider, today also marks the opening of Ferrari Malaysia's new flagship showroom in KL.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
