Italian luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari has officially revealed its first fully electric vehicle. Named the Luce, which translates to «light» in Italian, the groundbreaking model comes with a hefty £474,320 ($640,000) price tag and marks a significant departure from the brand’s traditional aesthetic.
Notably, it is also the first five-seater ever produced by the historic Maranello marque.
A bold design collaboration
The Luce’s unconventional design is the result of a collaboration with LoveFrom, the creative agency founded by former Apple design chief Sir Jony Ive. The drastic visual shift has sparked intense debate online. While some social media users have dismissed the vehicle as «straight to the junkyard trash», others have hailed the bold new direction as an «absolute masterclass in design».
This level of controversy is something Ferrari anticipated. Chief design officer Flavio Manzoni acknowledged that the new look is undeniably «polarising» but expressed confidence that critics will come to appreciate the aesthetic over time as part of the natural innovation process.
Bucking the industry trend
The launch arrives at a turbulent time for the electric vehicle industry. While Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna noted that the Luce took five years to develop, the broader automotive market has seen major players retreat from their EV ambitions.
Rivals such as Lamborghini and Porsche have recently scaled back their electric plans in favour of hybrid models, citing weak consumer demand, shifting global tariffs and fierce competition from aggressively priced Chinese manufacturers.
Similarly, giants like Ford and Volkswagen are refocusing on petrol cars, particularly in the US where President Donald Trump has reduced EV buyer incentives. The Luce has also inevitably drawn comparisons to Jaguar’s recent electric concept launch, which faced severe backlash for abandoning the British marque’s classic styling heritage.
In-house engineering and exclusivity
Despite the electric pivot, Ferrari’s engineering remains formidable. The Luce features an independent electric motor on each wheel, propelling the car to 60mph (96km/h) in a blistering 2.5 seconds. To alleviate concerns about battery lifespan and protect the vehicle’s resale value, Ferrari has manufactured all core components in-house. This ensures the company can easily service and repair the cars decades into the future.
The firm has also reassured traditionalists that it will continue to produce its beloved petrol and hybrid engines alongside its new electric offerings.
As Europe’s most valuable carmaker, Ferrari relies heavily on an aura of extreme exclusivity. This strategy usually insulates the brand from wider market pressures. However, it has not been entirely immune to recent economic headwinds.
Over the past year, Ferrari’s share price has tumbled by more than 25%, reflecting a broader slump in the global luxury goods sector as inflation dampens the appetite of high-end consumers.
