Ferrari Luce Is Brand’s First EV—But Looks So DullFerrari (Ferrari)Next year’s Ferrari Luce has impressive performance, with a 0-62 mph of 2.5 seconds, 0-124 of 6.8, and a top speed of 193 mph.The problem might be its bland exterior, or its possible $640,000 price tag.Other exotics are reining in their EV plans, but Ferrari says, “Andiamo!”It used to be that when Ferrari sent the design of a car to an outside firm, that outside firm was Pininfarina. And the result was always bellisima.So why did Ferrari send the design of its first electric vehicle to a guy who spent 20 years designing iMacs and iPhones? Because it’s Maranello’s first electric vehicle, and it needed a new look.AdvertisementAdvertisement“Introducing a team from outside the Ferrari Design Studio… invited a new perspective and cross-fertilization, enabling a new design language to be introduced,” Ferrari said. “LoveFrom (the outside firm, headed by iPad designer Jony Ive) was given the creative freedom needed to define the design direction of the project from the outset, translating this design language into an authentic Ferrari experience.”Indeed, the firm had perhaps unprecedented elbow room when it came to what shape to make the first electric Ferrari.Even yellow doesn’t save it.Ferrari (Ferrari)“The electric power source, Ferrari-engineered engines and advanced drivetrain afford a radically new architecture that uniquely combines extraordinary Ferrari performance with the luxury of spaciousness,” Ferrari said.It was a blank sheet of paper (or maybe an empty iPad), and engineers and designers could scribble on it whatever they wanted.AdvertisementAdvertisementSo it rides on an all-new platform, one in which the battery tray is a structural member of the monocoque, keeping the car rigid while accommodating the craft’s 122-kWh battery. That battery powers four electric “engines,” as Ferrari calls the motors, one at each wheel, with each wheel controlled by an active suspension system Ferrari says is derived from the F80. There’s even an independently steering rear axle.The four electric motors operate independent of one another, allowing for torque vectoring as well as regenerative braking and even steering. The power distribution favors the rear wheels by quite a bit—of the Luce’s 1,035 hp, the fronts make only 282, while the rears crank out 831 prancing ponies.Total torque may be only 735 lb-ft, but after it goes through reduction gears, the total torque put to the ground is a whopping 5,716 lb-ft. That helps explain the 0-62 of 2.5 seconds and the 0-124 mph in just 6.8 seconds. Top speed is 193 mph.Paddle shifters make for a more engaging drive.Ferrari (Ferrari)And speaking of performance, Ferrari has programmed the paddle shifters to create a sense of control and driving enjoyment. Pull back on the left paddle going into a corner to increase regenerative braking, then pull back on the right paddle to increase torque upon exit.AdvertisementAdvertisementVarious sounds have been programmed in to make the sensation feel like you’re really doing something. The sounds are not fake V8 sounds like the all-electric Mercedes AMG GT 4-Door revealed last week, but amplification of the actual sounds an electric motor and its gears make. We look forward to hearing that.Rear seats three.Ferrari (Ferrari)But since this is a decidedly practical vehicle at its heart, we must consider range, and Ferrari lists that at just under 330 miles on the European WLTP cycle, so figure equal to or less than 300 miles for us.A previous LoveFrom design collab with Moncler.Moncler (Moncler)And since it is a practical car/SUV/hatchback/fastback that seats five adults—another first for Ferrari—we must consider the interior comforts. This is where the LoveFrom people have done well. The cabin is inviting to all five occupants, with seats that are “beautifully refined and simple forms that are functional, supportive, comfortable, and luxurious.” There are two choices of pattern, four fabric options, and multiple colorways. Ferrari says all five seats are independently power adjustable, but we’ll have to wait and see how they do that with the rears. Only the fronts are heated, and you have to order it to get the massage function.A control panel in the center of the dash can be adjusted by driver or passenger, while climate control, car settings, and media/audio get actual buttons and knobs. The touchscreen on the control panel is where you’ll find more involved controls accessible via menus.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut while the inside is done right, and the mechanical controls sure sound like they were done right, back on the outside we’re still sort of stuck. Even though the Luce is two inches longer and two inches lower than the Purosangue, its profile is considerably less inspiring. So is the front. And the rear. While the aerodynamic shape results in the lowest coefficient of drag of any road-going Ferrari ever, the automaker doesn’t list a figure saying exactly how low.With a curb weight of 4,982 pounds, and instant torque of electric motors, the Luce sure sounds like it will be thrilling to drive. And from the inside, you can’t see what it looks like.The problem may be finding buyers. Ferrari lists sticker price in Europe at €550,000, or about $640,000. We won’t know what US pricing will be until closer to the Luce’s launch in the second quarter of 2027.But consider that Lamborghini outright canceled its own electric car, McLaren won’t commit to one, and Aston Martin pushed its EV back to 2030, the question is, will there be a market for a more-than half-a-million-dollar EV, even one from Ferrari? We’ll know next year.Hearst Owned (Hearst Owned)