2023 Ferrari Purosangue SUV revealed

This is the first 4-door SUV Ferrari ever build.   The Purosangue comes standard with a naturally aspirated V-12 engine that produces 715 horsepower.

Canoo is a recently formed car manufacturer that produces affordable electric commercial vehicles. The Canoo MPDV (Multi-Purpose Delivery Vehicle) is intended for professionals seeking to expand their business with a workhorse electric van to fulfill various commercial duties. Typically, a delivery van is not the type of vehicle that you would expect to catch your eye, as they tend to blend in quite well with ordinary traffic. The MPDV begs to differ, breaking the attention barrier with its strikingly futuristic and geometric design that brings to mind the Tesla Cybertruck. In addition to its novel look, it also boasts one-of-a-kind utility in the form of a modular body that can be customized exactly to one’s business needs.

Canoo MPDV

Utility

Utilitarian and modular, the MPDV seeks to provide for the needs of business owners of all types. It has a plethora of adjustable and optional features that make it notably serviceable. This separates it from other delivery vans, with it being applicable to a wide variety of business types, in addition to delivery. From food truck, to mobile cafe, mobile retail store, mobile locker, and even a mobile marketplace that sells fresh produce, the possibilities are endless. When configuring your MPDV, you can choose from features such as: adjustable shelving, hanging storage, built-in dolly and loading ramp, temperature-controlled cabin, built-in canopy, retractable exterior tables and chairs, locker system, sliding or hinged rear door, on-board 125V/240V charging station, and more. You can even handpick to have the steering wheel placed in an exact position to your liking, unrestricted by a physical steering column, since it is all connected through the onboard computer. The body comes in various sizes, but the chassis is the same for all versions of the MPDV, with the overhangs being adjustable in size and length at the factory. The payload capacity ranges from 1300 to 1900 lb, depending on the power of the fitted batteries. 

Examples of various business use-cases

MPDV size options

Design

The MPDV’s most prominent exterior features are its large flat surfaces resembling sheet metal, sharp connecting lines and angles, rugged boxiness, and futuristic line lighting elements. The interior features a sleek and minimalist driver’s cabin that consists only of the essential elements necessary for driving. Instead of a typically large and rectangular infotainment screen, an app shows all relevant information regarding car-user preferences and road data that is accessible through a phone, which can be propped up in the side armrest like a mini infotainment display. 

MPDV interior, with visible front storage shelf and openable lower glass pane

Interior front shelf view

Interior top view

Steering wheel close-up

Canoo smartphone infotainment app, interface design

Branding Space

The flat exterior panels make for an excellent space to advertise your brand. Large and bold brand designs will benefit from the real estate that the outer surfaces provide.

Exterior branding visualizations

Affordability

According to a press release, Canoo estimates that the MPDV will provide class-leading cost of ownership improvements over current best selling delivery vehicles of between “$50,000 to $80,000 on return on capital over six to seven years, depending on the use case.” This projection is based on expected low maintenance costs as a result of it being electric, overall durability, and its use of a flat chassis that allows for increased cargo volume on a smaller platform, which aids in electric range efficiency. Considering these estimates, vehicle characteristics, and the reasonable starting price of $33,000, the MPDV will likely make for an overall highly cost-effective vehicle that will be cheap and easy to maintain.

Final Thoughts

2009: P540 Superfast Aperta

Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, one of the earliest outings for the Special Projects program was based on the Ferrari designed by Carrozzeria Fantuzi for the 1968 film Toby Dammit. It was commissioned by Edward Walson, the son of the man who invented cable TV. “I had always dreamed of designing sports cars,” he explains. “When I saw Toby Dammit the decision came of its own accord: one day I would have ‘my’ Ferrari.” Taken from sketchbooks to the road in just months, 20kg was added to the donor car (a coupé, as it happens) to stiffen the chassis. “This is the most special Christmas present of my life,” said Walson at the time. We’ll say. But how Santa got it down the chimney still remains a mystery.

2011: Superamerica 45

While the Superfast Aperta was conceived by Pininfarina, the Superamerica 45 was designed in-house by Ferrari for New York collector Peter Kalikow. Featuring a carbon fiber drop-top and reshaped bodywork to reduce drag, the car was built so Mr. Kalikow could celebrate his 45th anniversary since first becoming a Ferrari client. It made its public debut at Villa d’Este in 2011, and at the time contained what Ferrari described as “a latest-generation touch-screen infotainment system.” Five years on, we suspect the electronics may need updating even if the exterior does not. Such is the modern world.

2012: SP12 EC

Another effort from Pininfarina, although this time the buyer was slightly more well-known. It was of course none other than guitarist Eric Clapton, who lends his initials to the name of this unique set of wheels. The car is said to be a vehicular tribute to Clapton’s career (we’re not sure how something about “applying the right notes in the right places” when it was built), and was born out of the musician’s desire to drive something inspired by the 512 BB but encompassed within a 458 Italia. Clapton later called it “one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done.” High praise indeed.

2014: F12 TRS

Ferrari revealed the TRS as a one-off in 2014, although given that a silver one was spotted in July last year, there are those on the internet who believe there could be as many as three in existence. Who knows? Based on the F12 Berlinetta but taking several leaves out of the 250 Testa Rossa’s book, the TRS benefits from a reprofiled front wing and cheekily flashes the goods with a transparent cover revealing the V12’s cylinders underneath. The question isn’t ‘Would you pay £3 million for one?’ but rather ‘How quickly would you pay £3 million for one?’

2016: 458 MM Speciale

As proportions go, those angles are pretty much perfect. Money well spent, whatever the price. Aero touches aside, the car has other aspects that make it unique: those wheels for a start, which are exclusive to this machine and this machine only, while the light clusters at the front and rear have been modified from the original 458 Speciale base car as well. And the Italian Tricolore stripe? Mamma mia!

2016: Ferrari J50

This doesn’t have a Special Projects designation, but it is a) special, and b) most definitely a project. In fact, we’d proffer this is near the very top of the ‘how quickly you’d want to throw money at a car’ scale. Underneath is the 488 Spider, which is quite nice indeed. It’s covered by a car that references Ferrari’s road cars from the 70s and 80s. Stuff like the GTO, F40, and F50. Only ten were built.

2016: Ferrari SP 275 RW Competizione

Any self-respecting Special Projects Ferrari has to reference one of The Greats. This one doffs its yellow hat to the 275 GTB, itself a front-engined V12. Hence, this rebodied F12 gets the engine and gearbox from the F12tdf and a slighter wider rear track. And engine bay vents. And a fair bit of yellow.

2018: Ferrari Monza SP1

A more suitable car to (quite literally) fix a permanent grin on your face, you won’t meet. This Monza SP1 is an open-topped homage to Ferrari’s championship-winning 50s racers – stuff like the 166MM – and it’s wild. Underneath sits the base of the 812 Superfast, replete with that 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 pumping out 789bhp. Consider the Monza SP1 weighs just 1,500kg and you get some idea of what 0-62mph in 2.9secs and 0-124mph in 7.9secs feels like. Top speed is 186mph. Yeah, best get a helmet.

2018: Ferrari Monza SP2

Exactly like the Monza SP1, only with two seats instead of one, so your passenger can feel the same amount of fear you do. And inhale the same number of flies.

2018: Ferrari SP38

We’re going back to what must be the very essence of Ferrari, at least for an entire swathe of devoted fans: the F40. Yep, this 488 GTB-based SP38 references the holiest of all Ferraris. Heck, there are even slats across the rear glass peeking into that V8, along with a rear spoiler that pays homage to the F40’s tea tray. Quite lovely indeed.

2019: Ferrari P80/C