A THOROUGHBRED PRANCING HORSE

Hadag recently journeyed to the Northern Alps to experience Ferrari’s first ever SUV.

inzolo is a small town in Val Rendena, Trentino, nestled in the northern Italian Alps. This beautiful part of the world was the setting for Ferrari’s first international test drive of their all-new Purosangue. Invited by Ferrari Bahrain to be among the select group of media to experience the brand’s very first SUV, Hadag was delighted to play a small part in this new chapter in Ferrari’s motor vehicle history. We’d like to thank the team at Ferrari Bahrain for including us in this momentous occasion.

Our Arrival

Treated like royalty from the moment we disembarked at Malpensa Airport in Milan, we were whisked away to the LeFay Resort & Spa Dolomiti in Pinzolo.

On the first evening of our stay, we received a briefing on some of the most innovative features of the Purosangue, an Italian name that translates to ‘thoroughbred’ in English. Ferrari designers and engineers, who had worked on building the car, were also present to educate us on the vehicle and succeeded in whetting our appetites for the following day. The next morning, we were up early and ready to go. Before being handed the keys, we were briefed on the SUV and received our first opportunity to properly inspect the vehicle.

Exterior Design

The skilful designers at Ferrari have constructed nothing less than a visual masterpiece in the Purosangue. As soon as the SUV came into view, we found our eyes darting over the bodywork, battling to focus on a single point before being distracted by the beauty of another.

The uniquely sculptured bodywork consists of two separate and distinct levels: the technical underbody and the sinuous upper body. This division is highlighted by the upper section seemingly floating on the wheel arches. The bodyshell comprises materials ranging from aluminium to carbon fibre and includes highstrength steel in crucial areas.

Every component has been crafted with aerodynamics and performance in mind. The more we took in the exterior design, the more we realised that every single aero element endows this one-of-a-kind SUV with an innate elegance. The Purosangue does not feature a front grille. It has been replaced by a dihedral suspended on the lower section. Two shells create a suspended disc form, complete with a slot that houses the camera and parking sensors. Daytime running lights have been perfectly set between two pairs of air intakes, that meld into the upper parts of the flanks. Another striking visual element is the long-sculptured bonnet, with its gently rounded muscles, that flows into wing-profile surfaces. These aerobridges create a sense of continuity between the front and the flanks.

Perpetuating the smooth flow of the exterior

همجرت نكمي ،نيرضاح ةرايسلا هذه عنص ىلع اولمع يذلا يراريف وسدنهمو ،ةرايسلا هذه لوح تامولعملا نم ديزملاب انديوزت لجأ design is the dihedral shape formed by the aerobridge theme at the sides. This design element seamlessly combines the SUV’s shapely flanks with its muscular rear end. The wheel arch trim treatment reveals the Purosangue’s second skin beneath the bodywork and helps to create the impression of a floating coupé. The 22-inch front and 23-inch rear wheels were specifically designed for this model and flaunt an elegant diamond-cut finish.

The athletic makeup of the rear end smoothly integrates with the tail, where a horizontal line incorporates the taillights at its tips. Further contributing to the visual sense of wonder are the imposing diffuser and the large rear wings. These elements combine to provide a sense of width and add to the car’s already sporty persona.

Interior Design

The Purosangue is only Ferrari’s second fourdoor creation, one that features automatic rearhinged back doors, ensuring a novel experience before even entering the vehicle.

Slipping inside the cockpit, we appreciated the supportive front sports seats offering every adjustment option imaginable. We were struck by the top-of-the-line materials used throughout the cabin and the sense of abundant space and overall comfort.

The ergonomically designed cockpit felt like a first-class lounge with its elegant and sporty layout. The luxurious nature of the contemporary interior exudes a sense of timeless elegance, along with a setup that would be as comfortable and effective on the highway as it would on a racetrack. The driver seating arrangement has been mirrored on the passenger side.

The Purosangue offers four seats, all of which are separate and independently adjustable. It also features Ferrari’s first rear dual passenger compartment, which assists in creating four distinct cabin areas in terms of materials, colours, volumes and functionality.

The front and rear occupants have access to comfort-related controls located on a hideaway rotary interface in the central section of the dash and a second rotary interface in the rear. Additional high-end features are located throughout the interior, including wireless charging points in both the front and back. When folded flat, the rear seating combines with the luggage compartment to form one large, flat surface, thereby greatly increasing the loading capacity and providing everyday practicality.

INFOTAINMENT & TECH

Ferrari has opted to divide the climate and infotainment interfaces in the Purosangue. The

روعشلا ىلإ ةفاضلإاب اهنأكو ساسحلإا كيطعت ايسدنه ةممصملا ةدايقلا ةروصقم

ةعيبطلاف .يضايرلاو قينلأا اهميمصتب

بناج ىلإ ،ةدلاخلا

دعقملا امأ .قابسلا رامضم يف لاحلا وه امك عيرسلا قيرطلا .لولأل ساكعنا وهف ،قئاسلا راوج ىلإ بكارلاب climate interface has a dedicated centre-dash area operated via a physical rotary control. This central display regulates temperature, ventilation and seat settings. The driver and passenger can be involved in the driving experience, as they both have a dedicated display on which they can view driving stats and control the infotainment system. The driver's cluster has been fitted with a simplified interface and graphics, meaning the amount of information within it can be reduced at will, simplifying its use. Another great feature for the driver is the array of sports steering wheel-mounted controls. Despite there being a considerable number of them, these controls are quick and easy to identify when driving. This is thanks to indents and bumps on the buttons’ surfaces that remind the driver of their purpose with a stroke of a finger. All controls must be double-tapped; a feature created to prevent troublesome mistouches. One of our favourite features was the Burmester 3D high-end surround sound system, fitted as standard in the Purosangue. This audio system is hands down the highest quality option we have ever experienced in a car, and we loved the immersive sound experience it provided for us en route.

POWER & PERFORMANCE

The best moment of our day was when we set off on our journey through the awe-inspiring landscape of the Brenta Dolomites, the location of Trento-Bondone’s legendary uphill time trials. The sports car sound of the Purosangue’s naturally aspired, 6.5-litre V12 engine provided ear-to-ear smiles as we were pressed into our seats as the accelerator was engaged. The agility of this SUV truly surprised us, as did its deft handling of steep inclines, tricky bends and various surface conditions.

The Purosangue’s potent powertrain provides a maximum power output of 715hp at 7,750rpm, and 716Nm of torque at 6,250rpm. This translates to a 0-100km/h time of just 3.3 seconds, a 0-200km/h time of 10.6 seconds, and an impressive top speed of 310km/h! Not bad for an SUV weighing in at 2.1 tonnes. The seemingly unending power on offer combines with the newly designed chassis, the seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission and the 48-volt electric motors, to deliver nothing less than an exceptional driving experience. No matter the terrain, we travelled in absolute comfort and sat in awe as the SUV effortlessly ate up the mountain roads.

Whilst we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at Chalet Rocco Rosse, our cars were refuelled and cleaned by Ferrari mechanics, ensuring we were ready for our next Purosangue experience. This was a snowy route, running along Lake Toblino, back to our accommodation. Due to the tricky nature of the conditions, a professional Ferrari driver tackled the trail for us.

The Purosangue proved exceptional on slippery surfaces thanks to its Manatino Switch, which offers a selection of driving modes. These include Ice, Wet, Comfort, Sport and ESC off. We were honestly surprised at how easily the car and driver negotiated the challenging route, and at times we felt as though we were driving on the highway; it was that smooth and comfortable.

SAFETY & ASSISTANCE

Even though the Purosangue is one of the fastest road cars on the market, we knew we were travelling in one of the safest vehicles ever manufactured.

Besides the strength and quality of the materials used in its construction, the master designers at Ferrari have included an array of safety and driver assistance features to ensure the well-being of all occupants.

Along with airbags fitted throughout the vehicle, is an impressive array of standard driver assistance features. These include adaptive cruise control, an automatic emergency brake system, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, hill decent control, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness detection, a rearview parking camera and much more.

Our Verdict

In this review, we have hardly begun to sing the praises of both Ferrari and the Purosangue. In fact, we could have dedicated this month’s entire issue to highlighting its impressive range of design and performance features. A truly sublime automotive experience. www.ferrari.com our models come entirely in steel, while the other two combine a black ceramic case middle with a steel bezel, lugs and case back. In addition to this new material, these timepieces feature a new aesthetic that emphasises both ergonomics and legibility as well as introducing new dials with a pattern that has been specifically created for the collection.

The six new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet references come in three timeless shades that reinforce the collection’s elegant and intricate aesthetic. The Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 colour is an iconic feature of the Royal Oak collection and makes its appearance on two new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet references. Two references are dressed in a mysterious green, leaning towards a khaki colour, with an inner bezel in the same tone. Finally, two models have a luminous aesthetic in tones of beige. Each dial tone is paired with a matching rubber strap decorated with a textile pattern and lined with calf leather.

This new evolution in the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection continues to stand at the crossroads between technical modernity and ancestral craftsmanship.

A Contemporary Collection

Since its launch in 2019, the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection has been available primarily in 18-carat white or pink gold. In 2021 and 2022, the manufacture integrated a black or blue ceramic case middle on certain gold models, giving them a highly contemporary design.

This year, stainless steel makes its debut in the collection. Already present in other collections, steel is far less malleable than gold. The manufacture was able to draw upon its machining and finishing expertise to design and produce the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet cases in this new material. Featuring a complex architecture composed of stylised tumbled lugs, an ultra-thin bezel and an octagonal case middle, the case of the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet is one of the most complicated ever made by the manufacturer.

Combining cutting-edge technology and ancestral traditions, the industrialisation of the case and the hand-finishing of its components require arduous programming, dedicated tools and highly specialised human skills.

The designers, engineers and artisans have therefore pushed the limits of their know-how even further to create these steel elements. In keeping with Audemars Piguet tradition, the stainless-steel components alternate between polished and satin-finished surfaces, playing with the light and providing captivating visual contrasts.

Dial Design

These six new 41mm references inaugurate a brand-new stamped dial with a pattern specially developed for the occasion. Made up of concentric circles that create a unique structure, this ripple pattern has a texture that has never been seen before on a Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet dial and enhances legibility. Developed by Audemars Piguet in collaboration with Swiss guilloché craftsman Yann von Kaenel, this motif provides a new signature design to the collection.

Aesthetic and Ergonomic Evolution

These new Code 11.59 models introduce a new design evolution into the collection and put an emphasis on comfort and readability. Firstly, new elongated hour-markers replace the Arabic numerals that have been present in the collection since its launch. Designed in 18-carat white gold, the hour-markers and hands are flattened, faceted and polished, creating a visual contrast with the new dial pattern with its intense dark tones. To enhance the legibility, the hour-markers and hands have been coated with Super LumiNova so they can be seen in the dark.

Encircled by an ultra-thin bezel, the inner bezel has also evolved. Audemars Piguet’s designers have reduced the steepness of its angle to reduce the difference in height with the dial. It has also been widened and given a smoother bevel for added visual impact. The new designs include a more detailed seconds scale, reinforcing the precision and modern style of the timepieces. The typography of the numerals has also been adapted.

The final changes to the collection concern the crown and the buckle. The crown is now more rounded with shallower, yet more pronounced indentations than on previous models. It is made of stainless steel and the two beige models have black ceramic caps. The bracelet’s buckle, whether pin or folding, swaps the long engraved Audemars Piguet signature for the AP monogram.

www.audemarspiguet.com