Why Ferrari will never build an SUV

They're the fastest growing -- and most profitable -- segment of the new-car market. So why is Ferrari steering clear?

Italian sports-car maker Ferrari has ruled out joining the SUV boom, even though they are the most profitable vehicles on the planet -- and arch rival Lamborghini is poised to build one.

Ferrari design boss Flavio Manzoni said company founder "Enzo Ferrari would turn in his grave" if the iconic brand were to ever build an SUV.

When asked by News Corp Australia if Ferrari has even sketched what a potential Ferrari SUV might look like, the design boss said: "Never".

"It's not within our DNA and it's not something we are ever going to look at," said Mr Manzoni, who helped style the Fiat 500 and Volkswagen Golf before he joined Ferrari as design director five years ago.

Mr Manzoni said Ferrari cars are always "two door sports-cars"

"Ferrari is not a follower," he said. "We cannot make something just because this is the normal trend. It wouldn't be a Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari would turn in his grave." Mr Manzoni said Ferrari cars are always "two door sports-cars".

Sales of SUVs globally continue to stun car industry observers, with the head of Mercedes-Benz research and development last week claiming the boom will "never end".

In Australia SUV sales have more than doubled in the past 10 years and represent more than one in three of all new passenger vehicles sold.

The temptation to cash-in is so great that even British brands Bentley and Rolls-Royce -- who had previously ruled out SUVs -- are both preparing to introduce super-luxury soft-roaders in the next couple of years.

In 2018, sports-car maker Lamborghini is plans to introduce a showroom version of its Urus concept SUV that was first shown as a motor show tease in Beijing in 2012.

The closest Ferrari has come to building an SUV is the Ferrari FF, an all-wheel-drive V12-powered four-seater than has the spaciousness of a wagon and is aimed at wealthy snow-goers. It costs close to $625,000.