Yes, he looks dominant, big & strong.

Actually the article says its controversial because they aren't able to purr the way a domestic cat would. Apparently they do "gurgle" though.

@MsAl

Perhaps the size of a lion's vocal cords makes it sound like a gurgle to humans.

The gurgle is a similar sound but it's a different physical action and not continuous like a purr (at least that's what the article says.)

Here is another one that talks about their lack of the ability to purr in more detail.
"In big cats—lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars—a length of tough cartilage runs up the hyoid bones to the skull. This feature prevents purring but also gives the larynx enough flexibility to produce a full- throated roar—114 decibels' worth in the case of one lion tested. The sound can be loud enough to be near a human's pain threshold. Purring ability, rather than size or behavior, is one of two chief distinctions between the two main genera of cat, Felis and Panthera."
[nwf.org].