Ferrari has unveiled its first-ever fully electric vehicle (EV) in Rome today, called the Ferrari Luce. As a landmark model for the marque, it pushes the boundaries of what defines a Ferrari. After all, it’s not only the company’s first EV, but also its biggest (figuratively and in terms of length) and arguably most radical model yet.
As some of you may have known by now, full responsibility for the car’s design was given to creative collective LoveFrom, which saw its design collectively led by Sir Jony Ive — best known for designing the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and MacBook, alongside Marc Newson.
The creative collective was given full authority to dictate how the car looks, only with mere guidelines from Ferrari, which were described as “simplification, with styling cues that recall closed forms and smooth, pure shapes”
While the front end may appear tall and upright at first glance, it actually incorporates a floating front wing design. Besides its aerodynamic function, it also gives the Luce the black bar-style face that has become a recurring design cue on Ferrari’s latest models, such as the Ferrari F80 and Ferrari 12Cilindri. The assembly also houses the main LED headlights, which are neatly tucked beneath the flanks of the dual-layer front element.
Down the sides, the Luce features a smooth and continuous surfacing, paired with a blacked-out roof that creates a dual-tone appearance — giving it an almost jellybean-like silhouette. Interestingly, it also adopts suicide doors similar to the Ferrari Purosangue, while also recalling similarities to Marc Newson’s Ford 021c concept car from 1999. At the rear, the taillights are integrated into a long black light bar stretching across the width of the car, said to draw inspiration from the Ferrari 360 Modena and Ferrari 458 Italia.
It’s also worth noting that the Luce is Ferrari’s longest vehicle yet, measuring 5,026 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, and 1,544 mm tall, with a 2,961 mm wheelbase. Compared to the Ferrari Purosangue, it is 53 mm longer, 29 mm narrower, and 45 mm lower, while also featuring a wheelbase that is 57 mm shorter.
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Despite those dimensions, the Luce doesn’t actually look all that large in person, perhaps because of its enormous wheels, which measure 23 inches at the front and 24 inches at the rear — the largest wheels ever fitted to a Ferrari.
While it is the brand’s longest model, it’s somehow also the most aerodynamic. Ferrari claims it has the lowest drag coefficient of any road-going Ferrari, generating 25% less drag than the Ferrari Amalfi while maintaining similar levels of downforce.
The Luce can also be equipped with optional aerodynamic wheels inspired by jet engine turbines. According to Ferrari, these reduce drag by a further 5% by minimising turbulence around the wheels without compromising brake cooling. In developing the Luce, Ferrari also reportedly carried out two-and-a-half times more CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations than it did for the Ferrari Purosangue.
Inside, it may not be as radical as its February unveiling may have numbed public reactions slightly. The interior carries an overall simplistic and modern vibe with a tasteful inspiration from Ferraris of the 1970s. The highlight of it all certainly boils down to the high-grade materials and physical buttons and dials.
Jony Ive and his creative collective LoveFrom placed a large emphasis on physical buttons as they thought having too many screens and touch-sensitive surfaces could pose as a distraction instead of a feature, as expected from the former Apple design chief.
Accompanying the new array of buttons is a three-panel dashboard layout comprising the central infotainment display, digital instrument cluster, and a dedicated passenger-side screen. In total, the Ferrari Luce packs four Samsung-developed OLED displays throughout the cabin, measuring 12.9 inches, 12 inches, 10.1 inches, and 6.3 inches.
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Other features include a self-contained articulating centre screen panel, shift pedals that adjust the regenerative braking of the car, and an overhead control panel with various vehicular controls, including launch control… We’ll get into that in a bit.
The Ferrari Luce also features a 21-speaker sound system with its processing handled by a new proprietary Ferrari Audio Director software platform, which oversees all the vehicle’s audio streams, managing content, presets, functions, and equalisation. Power is handled by a 3000W system with 24 channels, alongside a dedicated high-power-density Class-D amplifier.
Ferrari is also introducing the exclusive Ferrari Audio Signature – a unique acoustic identity resulting from years of research and development: five presets (“Studio”, “Concerto”, “Immersive”, “Opera”, and “Electronic”) and a “Solo” mode to optimise the listening experience from every seat.
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The Ferrari Luce features four individual motors on each wheel, featuring a Halbach array configuration like a Formula 1 car. A piece of tech that Ferrari has brought into a road-going car for the first time ever.
Before going fully pedal to the metal, the Ferrari Luce offers three main drive modes. Range mode primarily drives the rear wheels and limits output to 425 hp for maximum efficiency. Tour mode introduces permanent all-wheel drive (AWD) and increases power to 625 hp, while Performance mode unlocks up to 985 hp.
Lastly, there is Launch mode, activated via a physical overhead switch mounted on the roof console. Once engaged, the power display transitions into an orange graphic that expands to visualise the increased power delivery. In this mode, the full 1,050 hp is sent to all four wheels, allowing the Luce to sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 6.8 seconds, before topping out at 310 km/h. Those are seriously impressive figures for a car weighing 2,260 kg.
Powering the Luce is a 122 kWh battery pack. Thanks to its 800V electrical architecture, the car supports DC fast charging at up to 350 kW, allowing up to 70 kWh of charge to be replenished in just 20 minutes. Altogether, the Luce boasts a WLTP-rated driving range of 530 km.
Ferrari wants the car’s pumped-in audio to feel genuine and not just a fake V12 engine sound from its past models. The powertrain sounds are captured via a sensor that transforms vibrational sounds from solid materials of the axles, to be amplified and reach the cabin. Something like how an electric guitar’s pickups work. — Let’s hope it doesnt feedback. Of course, the car will produce different sounds in different modes to match the driver and passenger’s respective moods.
Alongside this, Ferrari claims the Luce will be “the most comfortable Ferrari ever, while at the same time preserving the brand’s extraordinary handling characteristics.” Since EVs lack the engine noise and vibrations that usually help mask road and drivetrain sounds, Ferrari developed a new motor mounting system designed to better isolate vibrations. Additional measures were also implemented to suppress electromagnetic noise generated by the motors without compromising performance or efficiency.
To ensure it still handles like a Ferrari, the Luce features an electronically controlled active suspension system derived from the Ferrari F80, alongside independently steering rear wheels and an evolved version of the 48V Multimatic TrueActive spool valve dampers used on the Ferrari Purosangue, eliminating the need for conventional anti-roll bars. Combined with active rear-wheel steering, torque vectoring, and a lower centre of gravity, Ferrari says the Luce delivers steering responses that are 15% quicker than the Purosangue, despite using the same steering rack.
No official pricing has been announced so far, but Autocar reports that the Luce will start from around EUR550,000 (approximately RM2.5 million), with deliveries expected to begin sometime in 2027. Less than 24 hours after its unveiling, the Luce had already sparked quite a stir online. Yet for those who truly connect with the car, its appeal goes beyond image or perception. Choosing something as unconventional as the Luce perhaps reflects a different kind of wealth — one where personal taste matters more than fitting traditional expectations.
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