The Electric Ferrari Luce Is Finally Here, and It's Unlike Anything Before It

The anticipation for the Ferrari Luce has stretched over eight years.

In January 2018, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, former Ferrari chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne hinted at a forthcoming electric vehicle (EV) that would embody the "prancing horse" to challenge Tesla's dominance in the sector.

"If there is an electric supercar to be built, then Ferrari will be the first," Marchionne stated, emphasizing confidence in the company's capability to produce a competitive EV. "People are amazed at what Tesla did with a supercar: I'm not trying to minimize what Elon did, but I think it's doable by all of us."

While Ferrari may not have been the first to enter the electric supercar market, it has undoubtedly created significant anticipation surrounding this launch, employing a gradual approach that included an initial model nickname "Elettrica," followed by last October's powertrain reveal and the recent unveiling of the LoveFrom-designed interior by Jony Ive and Marc Newson.

Today’s unveiling of the exterior design in Rome marks a pivotal moment, revealing the Luce (Italian for "light"), which represents a monumental achievement for Ferrari in decades.

Performance and Specifications

The Luce boasts impressive performance metrics. It features four electric motors, one dedicated to each wheel, delivering a combined output exceeding 1,000 horsepower in Boost mode. The rear axle produces 832 horsepower and 7,750 Nm of torque, while the front axle contributes 282 horsepower and 3,400 Nm. The vehicle can access full power in less than a second, achieving zero to 62 mph in just 2.5 seconds, with a remarkable top speed of 192 mph. This positions the Luce as a hypercar enveloped in a GT format, complete with five seats—a first for the Ferrari brand.

Equipped with a 122 kWh battery, one of the largest in production EVs, the Luce can charge at a rate of up to 350 kW using an 800-volt system. Ferrari claims this battery will provide a range of over 329 miles per charge. The all-wheel-drive and steering systems draw inspiration from the Purosangue SUV. The confirmed curb weight stands at 4,982 pounds (or 2,260 kg), only about 200 pounds heavier than the Purosangue despite housing the substantial battery.

For enhanced handling, each wheel features independent control for power, braking, suspension, and steering, with the rear wheels able to steer up to 2.15 degrees. Rather than synthesizing a false engine note, Ferrari has incorporated an accelerometer to the rear axle that functions similarly to a guitar pickup. This mechanism detects vibrations from the motors, filtering out undesirable noise while delivering sound into the cabin—a system referred to by Ferrari's sound quality manager, Antonio Palermo, as "an instrument."

Design and Interior

A noteworthy aspect of the Luce is Ferrari's decision to collaborate with external design expertise rather than relying solely on its internal resources. The company enlisted LoveFrom, the agency co-founded by Jony Ive upon his departure from Apple in 2019, to conceptualize the aesthetics of this first EV. Ive's team worked closely with Ferrari’s engineers throughout the design process.

Professionals responsible for hallmark Apple products such as the iPhone, iMac, and Apple Watch shaped an interior that resembles the vision behind Apple’s discontinued vehicle project. The cabin incorporates brushed aluminum, glass, and leather with rounded edges, featuring an exceptionally designed steering wheel, traditional switchgear, circular OLED displays, and a center screen mounted on a flexible joint for passenger accessibility. Additionally, a Corning glass gear-shift knob embellished with 13,000 laser-etched holes and a key fob resembling a miniature iPhone further reflect the attention to detail.

While it has been established that LoveFrom managed the cabin design, confirmation has recently been received that Ive, Newson, and their team also contributed to the Luce's exterior, clarifying why this model differs dramatically from its Ferrari predecessors.

Exterior Design Language

Ferrari articulates that the Luce's exterior aesthetic is characterized by "the glass house, an uncompromised, shell-like form" that extends beneath the belt line to the vehicle's furthest extremities. The windscreen stretches down toward the front of the Luce, enhancing aerodynamics and creating a sweeping contour unprecedented in Ferrari's history. According to Ferrari, the Luce achieves "the lowest drag coefficient ever recorded in Maranello's road cars."

To facilitate this seamless glass surface at the front, LoveFrom strategically placed the sizeable windscreen wipers at the vehicle's A-pillars rather than the base of the windscreen. To project a more aggressive aesthetic, the Luce features the largest staggered wheel diameters ever on a series-production Ferrari, measuring 23 inches in the front and 24 inches in the rear.

The front and rear light panels are transparent and integrated into the primary surfaces, while the halo tail lights pay homage to Ferrari models like the 360 Modena and 458 Italia. The inclusion of suicide rear doors rounds out a striking exterior that visually blends Tesla, Alfa Romeo, and traditional Ferrari attributes.

In a statement, Ferrari indicated that the engagement of LoveFrom brought a fresh perspective to their design ethos, granting them "the creative freedom needed to define the design direction of the project from the outset, translating this design language into an authentic Ferrari experience."

The reception of the Luce’s distinctive look by traditional Ferrari enthusiasts remains to be seen. Ive remarked that despite its transformation, the Luce is "still clearly a Ferrari," yet represents "a different manifestation based on some of the beliefs around simplicity."

Market Position and Timeline

The launch of Ferrari's Luce comes at a time when competitors are facing their own challenges. Lamborghini has postponed the debut of its initial EV to 2029, Bentley has pushed its all-electric timeline from 2030 to 2035, and Porsche has significantly altered its immediate trajectory back to combustion engines. Ferrari remains committed to advancing with the Luce, likely due to the inability to retract its plans. In June 2025, the company announced the postponement of its second EV project until 2028, attributing the decision to weak demand for electric luxury vehicles.

Maintaining a careful approach to ensure it does not alienate its core clientele, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna has emphasized that the Luce, with production slated to start in late 2026 and deliveries in early 2027, is an expansion of their lineup rather than a strategic pivot. The company’s projections for 2030 indicate that only 20 percent of its sales will be fully electric, with hybrids and combustion engines each representing 40 percent of sales. Nonetheless, in October of the previous year, Ferrari’s shares declined over 16 percent in reaction to investors' discontent regarding the brand's long-term financial outlook.

As Vigna, Ive, and the entire Ferrari team prepare for the Luce's market debut, they hope that buyer reception aligns with the excitement generated pre-reveal. Behind the grandeur of the Luce launch, a sense of apprehension looms among automotive executives.