AssetID: 55727663
Headline: Ferrari unveils its first ever fully electric car - the Jony Ive-designed Luce
Caption: BY MARK WORGAN Ferrari has unveiled its Jony Ive-designed first fully electric car, the Ferrari Luce, marking a “new chapter” in its history. The five-door Luce, revealed in Rome at the Vela di Calatrava – Città dello Sport, is the second five-door Ferrari after the Purosangue and the first production Ferrari to offer seating for five passengers. Powered by four electric motors - one for each wheel - the Luce produces a combined 1,036bhp. Ferrari said the car will accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds and from 0-124mph in 6.8 seconds before reaching a top speed of 192mph. A 122kWh battery provides an estimated range of 329 miles, subject to homologation testing. At more than five metres long, the Luce is the largest Ferrari ever built. Measuring 5,026mm in length, it is slightly longer than the Purosangue, while also sitting lower than its V12-powered stablemate. UK deliveries are expected to begin in spring 2027, with prices starting at about £440,000. The manufacturer said much of the technology had been developed in-house at its Maranello headquarters, including the electric motors and battery pack, with more than 60 patents associated with the project. Ferrari also confirmed that the Luce had been designed in collaboration with LoveFrom, the design collective led by former Apple chief designer Sir Jony Ive and industrial designer Marc Newson. The partnership marked the first time Ferrari had invited an outside design team to help shape a new production model. The car’s design features a distinctive “glass house” canopy stretching low into the bodywork, while transparent light panels and oversized alloy wheels - 23 inches at the front and 24 inches at the rear - further differentiate it from existing Ferrari models. Inside, Ferrari said the cabin was intended to combine luxury with a driver-focused layout. Mechanical switches and dials sit alongside digital displays developed with Samsung Display, while the sound system includes 21 speakers and 3,000W amplification. Ferrari has also attempted to address one of the key challenges facing electric performance cars: sound. Engineers developed a patented system that captures vibrations from the powertrain and amplifies them both inside and outside the vehicle to create what the company described as an “authentic and functional” driving soundtrack. The Luce also introduces several technical firsts for Ferrari, including electric all-wheel drive, independently steering rear wheels and an advanced Vehicle Control Unit capable of updating handling and efficiency systems 200 times per second. Ferrari said extensive aerodynamic development had resulted in the lowest drag coefficient of any road car in the company’s history, while active suspension and noise reduction technology were intended to make it “the most comfortable Ferrari ever”. Despite the shift to electric power, Ferrari insisted the Luce remained true to the marque’s identity. “The Ferrari Luce marks a new chapter,” the company said, “yet one that continues its long history of uncompromising innovation, driving performance, and an engineering culture that seeks to redefine the limits of what is possible.”
Keywords: feature,photo,ferrari,cars,motoring,jony ive,apple
PersonInImage: