Ferrari Purosangue: How Do You Pronounce the Name of This SUV?
The first Ferrari SUV has finally rolled off the production line in Maranello. Meet the Purosangue, an Italian name for an iconic Italian company. Though the moniker sounds cool, how do you pronounce “Purosangue”? And what does it mean?
What’s behind the Ferrari Purosangue name?
“Purosangue” is Italian for “pure blood,” but it can also be translated to “purebred” or “thoroughbred.” That’s fitting for a brand whose logo is a prancing horse. Plus, Ferrari vehicles are known for their incredible horsepower. But the question on many people’s minds is how do you pronounce “Purosangue”?
The pronunciation isn’t that difficult even for non-Italian speakers. You pronounce it in four syllables. Begin with “purr,” and add the long “o” sound. Next is “sahn” (the “ah” part sounds the way you’d pronounce it when the dentist tells you to open and say, “ah”). Then end with “gway.” Put all the syllables together (“PURR-o-SAHN-gway”), with accents on “purr” and “sahn,” and you’ve pronounced it correctly.
The only issue you might have is avoiding calling this Ferrari model an SUV. CEO Louis Camilleri is adamant that the first Ferrari SUV isn’t actually an SUV, Motor1 reports. Camilleri explicitly states it should never be called an SUV but rather a sports car.
However, the Purosangue looks nothing like a sports car.
Introducing the Ferrari Purosangue
Now that you can pronounce the name, learn more about Ferrari’s latest model. The automaker officially unveiled the Purosangue on September 13.
It’s Ferrari’s first production model with four doors. But this is no typical family hauler. Its rear-hinged passenger doors, aka suicide doors, will thrill riders who like to make a dramatic exit.
In addition, the car will growl like a typical Ferrari, thanks to its naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine harnessing 715 hp. Ferrari says the engine sits behind the front axle instead of over it as in most crossovers and SUVs. The engine’s position distributes the weight evenly, allowing for better handling, the automaker claims. Though it remains unconfirmed, we might see an optional V8.
Staring at $389,000, the Purosangue is the carmaker’s second-most expensive production model after the SF90. The new model will compete with the Porsche Cayenne and Lamborghini Urus.
Ferrari doesn’t plan to build many examples of its new four-seater. The carmaker says Purosangue production will account for only 20% of yearly shipments for the model’s lifecycle. However, Maranello plans to develop 15 new vehicles in the next three years.
U.S. Purosangue deliveries will begin in the third quarter of 2023, CNBC reports.
What would Enzo Ferrari think of a 4-door crossover?
Enzo Ferrari died in the 1980s, long before SUVs and crossovers became Americans’ vehicle of choice. Would he have been on board with the Purosangue if he were still around today? It’s only speculation, of course, but he probably would have scoffed at it.
The main reason is that it’s a four-door vehicle. Enzo Ferrari was against four-doors. He considered them uninspiring and “vulgar”. The only vehicle the brand produced as a sedan style was the Pinin, which Enzo showed interest in when the concept came about but changed his mind, and the car was dropped.
Even Sergio Marchionne, a former Ferrari chairman, claimed on a 2016 conference call that you’d have to shoot him before the brand would ever develop an SUV. He died in 2018, and Ferrari announced plans to release the Purosangue.
In recent years, though, many luxury SUVs have entered the market and become huge hits. So would Enzo Ferrari or Sergio Marchionne have been on board with the Purosangue? It’s hard to say.
