MILAN — Ferrari’s first SUV, the Purosangue, will be powered by the brand’s powerful 12-cylinder engine when it is launched in coming months, CEO Benedetto Vigna said.
“We have tested several options, it was clear that the V12, for the performance and driving experience it could provide, was the right option for the market,” Vigna said on Wednesday.
He was speaking after the company presented first-quarter results which showed a 12 percent rise in core earnings as demand for sports cars remained strong despite global political turmoil.
“The Purosangue is son of our tradition,” Vigna said.
The choice to power the Purosangue with its most powerful engine marks a break from Ferrari’s recent strategy which had focused on less-polluting V-8 and V-6-hybrid models, such as in the case of the recently unveiled 296 GTS.
A tech industry veteran, Vigna took charge of Ferrari last September, with a task to take a brand synonymous with roaring combustion engines into the new era of silent and cleaner electric mobility. He will present his first comprehensive business plan for the company on June 16.
In the meanwhile the company has already presented four hybrid models and promised a full-electric car for 2025.
