Why Ferrari Luce Wasn't Designed as a SupercarFerrari (Ferrari)Ferrari’s first crack at an electric vehicle arrived this week to a visceral reaction. Not only does the Luce not pack one of the brand’s legendary combustion engines, it also happens to be the largest (and most controversial-looking) vehicle that Ferrari has ever developed. The bold four-door/five-seat layout wasn’t exclusively prescribed by the top brass to turn units, but rather came to be as a result of Ferrari’s general approach to new technology development.The Luce—which was designed in partnership with Silicon Valley-based firm LoveFrom—is a significant departure from Ferrari models of yesteryear on both the styling and layout fronts, but thematically it isn’t entirely unique. The brand has long offered machines that blend sporting intent with a more comfort-oriented experience, whether that be the 400, 412, 612 Scaglietti, FF, or GTC4 Lusso. This isn’t Maranello's first take on the SUV segment either, with the Purosangue striking a similar balance to the Luce. That said, whereas the Purosangue was always intended to be a crossover, the Luce’s development didn’t begin with that same mission.Ferrari (Ferrari)“We didn't start from the point that we need to have a bigger car,” Ferrari product manager Pietro Virgolin told R&T at the Luce debut event. “We started to say we would like to have an electric car because we can manage all the technology. We have the naturally aspirated engine, we have a turbo engine, and we have the hybrid engine, so we are able to manage the electric engine. And then we say, ‘Which are the key performance of the electric platforms?’ Great, strong acceleration, a lot of torque, and so on. And then we say there are still other good things that came from this kind of technology?”AdvertisementAdvertisementVirgolin specifically noted the precise amount of control that a four-motor powertrain provides the engineering team, as well as the undeniable noise, vibration, and harshness improvements that accompany electric motors.Ferrari (Ferrari)"For example, you can have no noise for a long trip... You can have space," Virgolin said. "Every time that we approach a new technology, we ask, 'What can we bring from this area of technology from any point of view?' Our focus is the performance. Every time, we need to increase the performance, but then, if there is a technology that can permit us to achieve other targets, we will use it."The brand naturally began to lean into those principles as Luce development continued. The nature of an electric “skateboard” platform allowed the brand to really play with packaging requirements, particularly when it came to the interior. All of the brand’s combustion cars feature an engine mounted between the axles, which necessitates a transaxle for ideal weight balance. These gearboxes eat up space in the cabin, which Ferrari says is why it has never offered a genuine five-seater. Ferrari execs also argue that the shapes we view as “sporty” today are only viewed that way as a result of traditional packaging requirements.Ferrari (Ferrari)“The design of the sports car we have in mind, the petrol car, has this kind of design because of the engine,” said Virgolin. “So historically, when you place the engine, then you will put on top the design. As we say in Ferrari, the design follows the function. Here we do not have this kind of element, so we do not need to follow exactly the same rules that we adopt in the petrol car.”AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile some might have preferred a low-slung coupe as Ferrari’s first EV, the brand wasn’t willing to compromise performance for the sake of styling. Batteries are a difficult thing to design around, particularly when outright speed and range have to be considered.Ferrari (Ferrari)“In terms of performance and technology, this kind of car that is bigger compared to a very compact car, you can shift much more from the electric technology compared to if I adopt this kind of technology, electric technology, to a [smaller] car like this,” Virgolin told R&T. “I will achieve a lot of features because I can increase the performance, while at the same time, I can increase the space... There is a balance between the weight of the batteries and the performance I can achieve in a very compact [super] car.”If Ferrari's claims hold up, the Luce will be a serious performance machine. That said, this car's behavior as a “normal” runabout will likely be of more interest to most prospective buyers. Given just how ludicrously good the Ferrari team has proven to be when it comes to software development in a performance setting, there shouldn't be too much to worry about. Other than the $640,000 starting price, that is.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State
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