Ferrari Luce: Maranello's first electric car – a bolt from the blue
- Johannes Haas
- May 27
- 5 min read
Unveiled on May 25, 2026 in Rome. 48 hours old. Already the most discussed electric car of the year.
The Ferrari Luce is here – and it does exactly what you'd expect from Ferrari: it polarizes, it provokes, it leaves no one indifferent. With the Luce (Italian for 'light'), Maranello is taking perhaps the boldest step in its 78-year history: the brand's first fully electric production car. This isn't what we expected. And we mean that as a genuine compliment.
The design: Shooting Brake meets Apple Store
This is where it gets really interesting. The exterior design was created in close collaboration between the Ferrari Design Studio under Flavio Manzoni and the creative studio LoveFrom – founded by former Apple chief designer Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson. Newson, by the way, is no stranger to the automotive world: he already designed the Ford 021C Concept for the Tokyo Motor Show in 1999.
The result is radically different. The Luce has a cab-forward profile, a fastback-like rear end, subtle lighting graphics, and smooth surfaces that are more reminiscent of a high-end concept car than a classic Ferrari. Some say it's futuristic. Others say it looks like an overpriced computer mouse. Both are understandable.
The Luce is over five meters long, almost two meters wide, and only 1.54 meters high – by Ferrari standards, it's a real ship. The weight of 2,260 kilograms is understandable for an electric five-seater of this class. Anyone strolling past it without the Prancing Horse logo on the rear would probably need a few seconds to recognize it – which is precisely the point the world is currently debating.
The interior: iPhone feeling in the cockpit
The interior bears Jony Ive's signature at first glance: clean lines, premium materials, a restrained minimalism that nonetheless feels warm. Many observers praise the cabin as refreshingly different from the usual minimalist EV interiors – and indeed, Ferrari has opted for physical controls instead of a giant touchscreen. The Ferrari driver is meant to drive, not swipe.
Furthermore, the driver sits further forward and closer to the front axle than expected in comparable vehicles. This is intended to provide an enhanced sense of control, despite the car's impressive size. A simulated gearbox and the aforementioned authentic sound system are designed to further bring the emotional Ferrari experience into the electric age.
The technology: 1,050 hp at 880-volt level
Four permanent magnet electric motors each drive one wheel. The system output is 772 kW (approx. 1,050 hp), and the maximum torque is 990 Nm. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds. This doesn't make the Luce the fastest Ferrari model – but a five-seater family Ferrari that can keep up with sports cars isn't exactly a hypercar.
What's truly impressive is the platform underneath: Ferrari developed a dedicated 880-volt architecture for the Luce – even exceeding today's standard 800 volts. The 122 kWh battery (NMC chemistry, supplied by SK On from South Korea) enables a range of approximately 531 km according to WLTP and can be charged with up to 350 kW DC. The front motors rev up to 30,000 rpm and reach full power in under a second.
Particularly noteworthy for mobility enthusiasts: the body and frame are made from 75 percent recycled aluminum, significantly reducing the production's carbon footprint. In addition, a separately and elastically mounted subframe – a first for Ferrari – dampens road noise and vibrations. And the sound? Ferrari wouldn't be Ferrari without emotion. A specially developed sound system amplifies the actual vibrations of the engines into a distinctive electric Ferrari sound – entirely without artificial engine noise. It's designed to feel like an electric guitar.
Technical specifications at a glance
• Drive: 4 permanent magnet synchronous motors (one per wheel), all-wheel drive
• System output: 772 kW (approx. 1,050 hp according to Ferrari)
• Max. torque: 990 Nm
• 0–100 km/h: 2.5 seconds
• Top speed: 310 km/h
• Battery: 122 kWh NMC (SK On, Korea)
• Range: approx. 531 km (WLTP)
• DC charging power: up to 350 kW
• Platform: 880-volt architecture (Ferrari's own development)
• Body style: 5-door, 5-seater (shooting brake / sedan)
• Length: over 5,000 mm | Width: approx. 2,000 mm | Height: 1,540 mm
• Wheelbase: 2,959 mm
• Empty weight: approx. 2,260 kg
• Price: from €550,000 incl. VAT
• Limitation: 1,500 vehicles
Price & Availability
The starting price is €550,000 including VAT – and that's before any customization through Ferrari's Tailor Made program, which, based on experience, can significantly increase the price. Deliveries in the DACH region are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026; orders have been accepted since May 25th.
Production is limited to 1,500 vehicles. Unlike many other exclusive Ferrari models, which often sold out even before their official unveiling, the Luce is still available to order at the time of this publication. This perhaps says more about the design debate than any opinion poll.
What the internet says about it – and why Ferrari shares have lost 6%
Online reactions ranged from genuine enthusiasm to outright hostility. Many users compared the design to a computer mouse, while others explicitly praised Ferrari for its courage in not building a generic crossover. On Twitter (formerly X), dozens of memes comparing the Luce to cheaper, mass-market electric cars—both visually and technically—circulated within hours.
The collaboration with LoveFrom became a topic of discussion in its own right: Some in the community see it as a fresh, bold approach. Others see the Apple-inspired design as the reason a car simply doesn't look like a Ferrari. A widely quoted tweet summed up the harshest criticism: "Hard to believe Ferrari would unveil such a failure. They have done irreparable damage to the brand." Others countered: "This is exactly what an electric Ferrari should look like."
Ferrari shares fell 6.27 percent to €290.55 in Milan the day after the unveiling, wiping out roughly €3 billion in market capitalization. The real problem, according to industry observers, is that all global media coverage is focused on whether the car "looks like a Ferrari"—instead of discussing its impressive technical specifications. This is a PR own goal for Ferrari—one that the brand may be able to quickly rectify with the imminent start of deliveries and the release of real-world driving reports.
Strengths & weaknesses at a glance
This speaks in favor of the Ferrari Luce:
• Unique 880-volt platform, entirely developed in Maranello
• 1,050 hp with true all-wheel torque vectoring
• 530 km WLTP range and 350 kW charging – top values in the class
• Authentic sound without artificial simulation
• Physical controls – no generic touchscreens
• 75% recycled aluminum in the bodywork – a sustainable approach
• Simulated manual transmission for an emotional driving experience
This speaks against the Ferrari Luce:
• 2,260 kg curb weight – for many, not a classic Ferrari driving experience
• The design is highly polarizing, the community radical – but a real eye-catcher.
• Starting price of €550,000 – very ambitious even by Ferrari standards
• Not yet sold out – unusual for a limited-edition Ferrari model
• Design responsibility lies with an external agency – polarizing even internally.
Our conclusion
The Ferrari Luce isn't a car for traditional Ferrari fans. It's a car for people who want to redefine Ferrari. Whether it succeeds remains to be seen – and above all, by the 1,500 buyers who actually choose it. Technically, Maranello delivers a compelling argument: the 880-volt platform, the torque vectoring via wheel motors, and the 530 km range aren't just marketing figures, but genuine engineering advancements.
What remains is the question Ferrari itself posed: What is a Ferrari – a body or a driving experience? If the latter is true, the Luce could be the boldest Ferrari in decades. One thing is certain: Electric mobility with Maranello will never be boring.
What do you think? Is the Luce the boldest electric car of the year – or a design flaw on four wheels? Let us know in the comments!
Images: Ferrari
