Italian automaker Ferrari has unveiled its first all-electric supercar, the Luce. The novelty not only features a departure from traditional internal combustion engines, but also a design developed in collaboration with legendary former Apple designer Jony Ive and his studio LoveFrom.
Italian automaker Ferrari has unveiled its first all-electric supercar, the Luce. The novelty not only features a departure from traditional internal combustion engines, but also a design developed in collaboration with legendary former Apple designer Jony Ive and his studio LoveFrom.
Engadget, which was one of the first to get acquainted with the pre-production Luce model in Rome, shared its impressions of the extraordinary design and technological solutions of the first electric car from Maranello.
It is noted that the appearance of the car has already caused controversy among car enthusiasts, as the novelty is significantly different from the classic style of the brand. The five-seater electric car received four engines with a total capacity of 1035 horsepower and a starting price tag of 550,000 euros.
Luce is Ferrari’s first five-seater. Its dimensions and silhouette resemble a crossover or a three-door sportsback with a low seat. Access to the second row of seats is provided by «suicide doors» that open against the direction of travel.
The interior of the new model has a minimalist design with an emphasis on tactility. Instead of the usual dominance of touch screens for modern electric cars, LoveFrom has developed physical switches and levers, machined from solid metal. The buttons and glass elements of the interior are made of ultra-strong Corning Gorilla Glass.
Ferrari marketing director Enrico Galliera said the car was designed to broaden the brand’s fan base with a new audience, but he bluntly advised conservative fans of classic petrol engines to avoid the Luce, emphasizing the model’s revolutionary nature.
On the technical side, the electric car is equipped with four motors — one for each wheel. This made it possible to implement an intelligent all-wheel drive system with independent torque distribution. The on-board computer (VCU) reads the condition of the road surface every 5 milliseconds and adjusts the operation of the motors and active suspension.
Luce is powered by a 122 kWh battery pack, which provides a range of around 530 km according to the European WLTP cycle. The supercar has a top speed of 310 km/h and a fast charging capacity of 350 kW.
The engineers paid special attention to the sound, as the roar of the engine has always been a Ferrari hallmark. Instead of an artificially synthesized sound, Luce uses an acoustic sensor on the rear axle that reads the real vibrations of the engines. This signal passes through a special amplifier. The developers compare this technology to the operation of an amplifier for an electric guitar, which allows you to preserve an authentic and at the same time futuristic sound.
