The Jony Ive Ferrari Luce: an electric car that doesn't look like a Ferrari

Ferrari has finally entered the world of electric vehicles with the Luce, a model that is generating controversy among its most ardent fans. The car, presented in an impressive architectural complex on the outskirts of Rome, marks a turning point for the Italian brand.

The most striking thing is that the Luce looks nothing like a traditional Ferrari. Instead of the aggressive and angular lines that characterized the brand for nearly 80 years, this electric vehicle appears smooth, rounded, and minimalist, with clear influences from Apple product design.

This makes sense because the project was developed in collaboration with LoveFrom, the studio led by Jony Ive, the famous designer behind Apple's most iconic products, along with his partner Marc Newson. This is as close as we will get to seeing an “Apple car” in reality.

Ferrari fans are already expressing their discontent on social media. However, beyond appearances, the Luce brings several important technical innovations for the brand.

Apple-Touched Interior

While the exterior is completely different from the norm, the interior surprises with a combination of minimalism and functionality. There is an abundance of buttons, knobs, and screens with rounded edges typical of Apple devices. The central screen moves on a ball-and-socket mechanism, allowing it to be oriented towards the driver or the passenger.

Additionally, it includes a palm rest to operate the controls without needing to look and a mechanical display with three independent motors that can function as a clock, chronograph, compass, or launch control indicator. The attention to detail is extreme, something typical of Jony Ive's style.

The car features an aerodynamic “glass house,” large wings, and integrated lights that achieve the lowest drag coefficient in Ferrari's history.

Power and Performance

Under its body, the Luce hides four electric motors that deliver a combined 1,035 horsepower. The two front motors contribute 282 hp, while the rear ones deliver 835 hp. This allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h in 6.8 seconds.

The 122 kWh battery provides a range of around 500 kilometers according to the WLTP cycle, although in real conditions something close to 500 km is expected. It uses an 800-volt architecture that allows for fast charging of up to 350 kW.

This is the first electric Ferrari, the first four-door sedan from the brand, and also the heaviest in its history, weighing almost 2,260 kilos. Ironically, its name “Luce” means “light” in Italian.

Ferrari made a bold decision by entrusting the design to Ive and Newson. Instead of adapting an existing model, they created one from scratch specifically designed to be electric. This allowed for optimization of aerodynamics and battery integration into the chassis.

Is a Change Necessary?

Maintaining Ferrari's traditional design in an electric vehicle would have been a technical mistake. The Luce represents what the brand had to do to create a truly competitive electric supercar.

The price starts at $640,000, making it an exclusive vehicle. While purists debate whether this is the right path, the Luce positions itself as a unique piece in Ferrari's history and as the most concrete expression of an Apple car dream.