Could we see a Ferrari SUV in our life time?

It’s funny how words find a way of haunting people. Take Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne, for example, who vowed to the world that we would never see a Ferrari SUV. Well, things sure do look greener at Bentley and Rolls-Royce with the Bentayga and Cullinan raking in some tidy numbers for each manufacturer, and Ferrari definitely isn’t one to pass up such an opportunity.

Bentley sales a motivating factor?

So how does someone announce something that they said they would never make? You call it something else, that’s how. Marchionne stated in a press conference yesterday: “I think that if we allow the Ferrari engineers to reinvent the concept of a vehicle that has some utilitarian features, I think the answer is, it will probably happen, but it will happen Ferrari style. And Ferrari has been known historically for being able to redefine and define automotive segments. But I don’t want it to be a UV – I want it to be what Ferrari thinks is appropriate. But no decision has been made yet.”

Adding fuel to the flame was this comment made by a Ferrari spokesman: “With reference to recent speculation in the international press, Ferrari will not be launching an SUV.”

Ferrari’s commercial boss Enrico Galliera told media: “We are not producing an SUV, because an SUV is not a sports car – it can be fast, but it’s not a sports car. We are not producing a four-door because, while a four-door can be fast, it’s not a sports car.”

He added that: “Ferrari has to remain consistent, doing what we know to do, which is delivering cars that are able to deliver emotion. Sports cars.”

Ferrari SUV rumours started to gain momentum in July, with the latest and most accepted rumour being that Ferrari will launch an FUV (Ferrari Utility Vehicle) that would not have visible rear doors.

While Ferrari maintains a reserved stance on the matter, a more practical model has massive potential for the Italian brand with regards to sales and growth. High-riding vehicles and ultra-luxury SUVs are edging closer and closer to the peak of their popularity, especially in the booming Chinese markets.

Competitors Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin are already far into the research and development phase of their respective SUVs, while Bentley’s Bentayga is already sinking its teeth deeper into the market.

The new Ferrari FUV, expected to launch in 2021, will cost about £250,000 in the UK, which is in the region of the upcoming Lamborghini Urus, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Aston Martin DBX, with analysts expecting 2000 to 3000 units to be sold globally each year