Ferrari says that it’s not a new model, merely a configuration, despite the fact that it comes with a number of visual signifiers including unique carbon fibre side shields, diamond-turned alloys and, at the rear, matt black tailpipes and prancing horse badge. More of the V12’s sound gets through the cockpit, too, but the key part of the pack is the retune of the dampers to enhance agility. 

In the regular car, the handling gets sportier the further you turn up the manettino – the drive mode selector – with the options being Wet, Comfort, Sport, Race and ESC off. To scale the increase in sportiness, Comfort in the Purosangue HS is the same as Sport in the regular model, and body movements are reduced by 10 per cent. 

Swing open the door, step over the Handling Speciale sill plate and you’re in a luxurious cockpit with four identical-looking bucket seats – the rear transaxle precludes a middle rear seat. You sit high but not as high as you do in, say, an Aston Martin DBX, and there’s a compact, but not cramped, feel. Press the start button and the 6.5-litre, naturally aspirated V12 starts with a rich, purposeful growl. Mechanically, the Purosangue HS is identical to the original, so the engine revs to 8,250rpm and makes a monster 715bhp, delivered to a four-wheel-drive system that favours the rear wheels. There’s independent rear steering, too, and huge tyres; 255/35 R22 up front and 315/30 R23 at the back.