The four-door body, boasting the most spacious cabin in Ferrari history, measures 4,973mm in length, 2,028mm in width, and has a wheelbase of 3,018mm. It is one size larger than the GTC4Lusso, which was popular as Ferrari's first four-seater, four-wheel-drive model.

Its overall height is a remarkably low 1,589mm for an SUV-type model, yet it is still 200mm taller than the GTC4Lusso.

For these reasons, even though Ferrari itself doesn't state it, I too felt that the Purosangue was indeed "Ferrari's first SUV."

However, after getting behind the wheel for the first time, my perception changed. It was undeniably a sports car, clearly following in the footsteps of the "812 Superfast," another Ferrari model with a mid-front V12 engine.

At the entrance of the hotel serving as our test drive base, Purosangues painted in vibrant metallic red and blue were lined up, adding a touch of glamour to the chic winter resort with its impressive glass facade.

Although its ride height is clearly higher and its length is greater than previous Ferraris, its sleek coupe-like form and balanced proportions make it appear considerably more compact than its actual dimensions.

“We aimed to style this model like a berlinetta (sports coupe). A streamlined, dynamic berlinetta sculpted like a work of art with a rear mid-engine layout.”

Flavio Manzoni, head of Ferrari's Styling Centre, said this at the press briefing prior to the test drive.

Indeed, the proportions created by the long nose and set-back compact cabin, along with the fenders that bulge like an athlete's muscles, contribute to a beautiful and emotional styling that clearly identifies it as a member of the Maranello berlinetta family.

Meanwhile, the front fascia incorporates a new design treatment. Above the line-shaped daytime running lights extending horizontally, a black, recessed area that integrates with the voluptuous fenders appears, at first glance, to be the headlights. In reality, however, they are air intakes.

Incidentally, the actual headlights are discreetly embedded below the daytime running lights, almost like fog lamps.

The front of the Purosangue features this novel design where air intakes, rather than headlights, dominate the styling, perhaps symbolizing the Purosangue's concept as a four-door, full four-seater, a departure from previous Ferraris.

The airflow entering through the headlight-like air intakes is expelled through louvers located behind the front fenders. This airflow reduces excess pressure within the wheel arches, thereby lowering drag, or air resistance.

“The body designed to ensure a spacious cabin, along with the increased ground clearance, presented entirely new challenges for the aerodynamics department with the Purosangue project.”

These were the words of Rubens Carota, the Purosangue's Aerodynamics Project Manager. In fact, to overcome the unique challenges of the Purosangue, such as drag reduction, usability, and ease of entry and exit, they refined the aerodynamics through thousands of computer simulations and hundreds of hours of wind tunnel testing.

One of the results of these efforts is the absence of a rear window wiper. By creating airflow over the glass surface through the design of the spoiler above the rear window and the window itself, water droplets can be blown away.

Needless to say, the absence of a wiper as an added element allows the sculpted contours of the rear bodywork to stand out more prominently and elegantly.