Ferrari cryptically teases its first SUV

Rumours have swirled incessantly for months alongside unofficial renders and spy shots of a test car in camouflage.

But now, the first official image of Ferrari's first-ever SUV is finally here. Enter the Italian supercar-maker's website and a single, dimly-lit image of the car in the firm's signature red will greet you with the cryptic tagline: 'It's happening'.

Ferrari is calling its first SUV the Purosangue - which means 'thoroughbred' in Italian - and has confirmed that it will be unveiled in full this year. The marque is also promising great things, with the assertion that the car's bloodline can be traced back to the firm's '75-year history of innovation, evolution and uncompromising performance'. 

Before the pitchforks against Ferrari come out again, it's important to remember that performance SUVs have proven themselves to be great volume sellers; valuable players, especially for supercar and ultra-luxury carmakers.

When it eventually hits tarmac, the Purosangue will be up against a crowded and ferocious slate of competitors, including the Lamborghini Urus and the Aston Martin DBX. The latter, in the DBX707 variant, currently holds the title as the most powerful SUV in the world. 

Ferrari has made an effort in recent times to widen the appeal of its brand, and the Purosangue will no doubt help it in continuing down this course. The Ferrari Roma, a gorgeous two-door GT, was released in 2020 as the Italian marque's interpretation of a supercar that could also slip effortlessly into everyday use.