Ferrari Unveils First Electric Vehicle, the ‘Luce,’ Designed With Jony Ive Ferrari’s first all-electric car, the Luce, marks a historic technical leap for the brand while igniting a fierce debate over what a Ferrari should look and feel like.

Early development and design direction

After years of sitting out the EV boom, Ferrari moved to develop a battery-electric model to satisfy emissions rules and key markets like China and Silicon Valley. From the outset, it partnered with Jony Ive and Marc Newson’s studio LoveFrom, granting the team freedom to “define the design direction of the project from the outset,” inside and out.

Reveal of the Luce and first impressions

The Luce was formally unveiled in late May at the Vela di Calatrava complex outside Rome, positioned as Ferrari’s first EV, its first four-door sedan, and its first five-seat model — a triple break with tradition. Reviewers noted that the car’s stance and driving position make it “feel more like an SUV than a traditional sports car,” even as its four electric motors deliver 1,035 horsepower on an 800-volt platform and a range of about 330 miles (WLTP).

Inside, early testers praised what one outlet called an “amazing interior,” describing it as the best Ferrari cabin yet, blending Italian craftsmanship with LoveFrom’s minimalist sensibility. The sound, derived from amplified rear-motor vibrations rather than fully synthetic audio, was also highlighted as a distinctive touch.

Backlash and evolving perceptions

Visually, the Luce sparked the fiercest reactions. One reviewer concluded that “Jony Ive’s Ferrari looks nothing like a Ferrari,” comparing its smooth, rounded form to Apple hardware and even a “Magic Mouse.” Another dubbed it “the most controversial Ferrari ever,” noting that many observers could imagine it wearing Apple’s logo instead of the prancing horse.

Ferrari traditionalists flooded social feeds with denunciations, but some critics reported that the car “looks a little better in the metal than it does in photos,” and that the more “unhinged reactions” online were gradually polarizing them toward appreciating the design.

With a starting price around €550,000 in Italy, making it Ferrari’s most expensive model, the Luce now stands as a high-stakes experiment: a radical, Apple-inflected EV that tests how far Ferrari can stretch its identity in the electric era.

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