Luxury Motoring Roundup: Ferrari Purosangue, the new AC Cobra Roadster, and more

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Luxury vehicles play an important part in the overall automotive ecosystem, often debuting new features, designs, and technologies before they’re rolled out to more economical models. 

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Here are the biggest and most recent luxury-vehicle stories, debuts, and reviews from the past month.

Behind the wheel of the Ferrari Purosangue

It’s better late than never, and in the case of Ferrari’s first SUV, much much better. Because the 2024 Ferrari Purosangue was a good deal behind its competition, but it’s here now and it’s got our attention. The Purosangue shares much of its DNA, including platform, with the 812 Superfast, but has four doors (including suicides) and a SUV-ish shape. Ferrari’s naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 making 714 hp and 528 lb-ft of torque is under the hood, making this the most powerful production SUV out there. It’s also the fastest…to 200 km/h, and tied with Lambo’s Urus for the 3.3 second sprint to 100 miles per hour. But what about looks? Is the Italian SUV worthy of the Prancing Horse? 

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See for yourself here, or take First Drive reviewer David Booth’s word for it.

The ‘thoroughbred’ Fezza’s sales will be capped at 20 per cent of Ferrari’s total, keeping it exclusive. The price, CDN$486,385, should do that as well.

The fall of Roma: Ferrari tumbles down Florida dealer elevator shaft

Sometimes the most dramatic car crashes happen indoors. In a Ferrari dealership in Florida earlier this year, for example, a new CDN$225,000-plus Roma coupe fell multiple floors down an elevator shaft, resulting in some pretty unique photographs. Employees at Ferrari of Palm Beach were quite concerned when they saw fuel leaking out of the vehicle, but authorities were able to contain the damage and nobody was injured. Once the fuel leak was dealt with, a tow operation with a 45-foot boom and and 50,000-lb winch was used to extricate the Roma. 

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The car, sadly, did not fare so well. Its front end looks largely unscathed, but the rear is a mess. Clearly, this Roma will not be rebuilt in a day. 

AC reveals 2024 Cobra GT Roadster exterior

AC Cars pulled the sheets off the exterior of the upcoming Roadster this month, revealing a tech-laden modern vehicle with a real throwback vibe. Yes, the 2024 Cobra GT Roadster looks a lot like the 1960s’ model from which it gets its name, and that’s intentional. But it’s not a carbon copy. The new version features flush door handles, body-coloured side mirror, a brushed-aluminum-look windscreen frame, LED daylights, and a carbon-fibre diffuser above a large twin exhaust.  

Previously released details on the car’s inner workings include that it will run with an up-to-654-hp supercharged Ford 5.0L V8 paired to either a 10-speed auto or six-speed manual transmission. With a curb weight around 3,300 lbs, the Cobra aims to get up to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. 

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Canadian pricing hasn’t been released, but the AC Cobra GT Roadster fetches £285,000 in the U.K. which is about CDN$466,000.  

A first look at the Buick Encore GX

Buick brought a refreshed 2024 Buick Encore GX to the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto last month. In this encore appearance, the smallest crossover from Buick boasts an updated dash including the brand’s new 19-inch Virtual Cockpit, an 11-inch infotainment system, and a configurable eight-inch diagonal driver cluster screen. 

With all that tech, the crossover is meant to appeal to younger audiences — a segment of the population Buick isn’t exactly known for being in touch with. The new GX also bears a new tri-shield logo, updated facial features, LED headlamps, and new 18- or 19-inch wheels. But not all is new here as the GX’s incoming powertrain is the same as the outgoing, a turbocharged 1.3-litre three-cylinder engine that produces 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque.

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Buick dealerships should have 2024 Encore GX models available this spring. Pricing to follow. 

Dutch Porsche Centres dress Buzz as historic Renndienst racing vans

Some Porsche Centres in the Netherlands have customized a number of Volkswagen ID. Buzz vans to look like the famous Porsche Renndienst racing support vehicles. Renndienst vans were built on the VW vans of old and were used to transport tools, parts, and people to Porsche races as far back as 1954. These Buzz-worthy Renndiensts aren’t likely full of tools and tech like the traditional models were, but they do wear the requisite burgundy finish and a bunch of lettering, so it looks the part. And that’s really the point here — to use the popular new EV to promote the Porsche name and help celebrate the vehicle’s 75th anniversary.

Check out the new-school Renndienst here.