Ferrari just launched its first-ever electric car, and it's not what anybody expected. For a while now, Ferrari has been trickling out details about its plunge into the EV world. Last year, we got a glimpse into the battery and powertrain technology under the hood. In February, the sports-car maker showcased the building blocks of a switch-heavy cabin designed by iPhone-design legend Jony Ive. But until now, nobody knew how exactly all of that would come together, or even what general form factor the vehicle would take. Pretty much all we knew for sure is it would have four doors, ruling out the notion of a classic Ferrari supercar.
Ferrari Luce is a liftback sedan unlike any Ferrari before it and, as far as I can tell, unlike anything else on the road today. And Ferrari is well aware that it's going to be divisive. "The reaction we're going to have among our customer base is going to be very much mixed," Emanuele Carando, the automaker's global head of product marketing, told me. "People will love it, and people will hate it."
Launching an electric car is a massive gamble for a company so deeply intertwined with screaming gas engines. On top of that, the Luce arrives at a time when other ultra-luxury carmakers have pulled back their previously ambitious EV plans.
View Price on AmazonIt may not be for everybody. But between the Luce's distinctive design, its powertrain packed with party tricks and over 1,000 horsepower, and its refreshingly analog cockpit, one thing is clear: Ferrari doesn't just want to make an EV—it wants to make a splash. To my eye, the Luce's crisp lines and straightforward design give it the tech-product vibe you get from a Tesla or a Rivian. Up front, there's a giant vent in the nose that smooths the air going over the car. Ditto for the windshield wipers, which lie vertically instead of cross-wise to improve the car's aerodynamics. A turbine-style wheel option that's largely a flat disc completes the bold look.
The Luce is only the second model out of Maranello to feature four doors, and like the Purosangue before it, this car has coach doors. Pull the rear door handle for a moment, and it'll swing out electronically. This is also Ferrari's first vehicle with five seats, something it attributes to the unique packaging advantages of an EV. According to the sports-car maker, only with EV technology could it make a five-seater that meets the performance requirements of a Ferrari. Ferrari says that, plus its largest cargo area ever (21 cubic feet) makes the Luce its most every-day-drivable vehicle yet.
I think the real triumph here is the interior, which reads as a total rejection of the screen-ificiation of cars. Sure, there is a touchscreen front and center, with a slick user interface. But the Luce also packs in a wide array of satisfying switches and clicky toggles for the drive modes, windshield wipers, climate controls, and more. It comes across clean, modern, and, yes, distinctly Apple-like. Especially when you consider the sheer amount of anodized aluminum—available in silver, gray, and gold finishes—and the soft curves framing the gauge cluster and central screen.
Source: insideevs.com
