The internet may be filled with car buffs trying to convince you the Ferrari Luce is terrible, but the marque now has $40 million that says otherwise.That's how much the first example of the Italian automaker's debut EV went for at RM Sotheby's Monterey auction on Saturday. The final gavel price far exceeded the pre-sale estimate and will go to help a good cause.More from Robb ReportMcLaren Just Previewed Its First Production Car With a Manual Since the F1The New Czinger 21C Spyder Is the Marque's First Open-Top ModelOne of the Most Coveted Chevrolet Corvette Race Cars Could Sell for $13 MillionAdvertisementAdvertisementThis side of the Tesla Cybertruck, it's hard to think of a vehicle reveal that has been as polarizing as that of the Luce. There were always going to be complaints about the first Prancing Horse without a combustion engine, but the complaints, of which there were many, didn't stop there. The vehicle's bold look, which came from the pen of former Apple design head Jony Ive, has come in for considerable flak (and has even been compared to that of a Nissan EV). It was so bad in the days after its debut, former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo argued that the vehicle should be stripped of the marque's iconic badge so that it didn't "risk destroying a legend."2026 Ferrari Luce "Tailor Made" Chassis 0The winner of Saturday's auction clearly doesn't feel the same. Their bid came in at exactly $40 million, which is significantly more than the $1.1 million-plus price RM Sotheby's expected the EV to command before this year's event. The gavel price also makes the vehicle one of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction. The cars in front of it are two Ferrari race cars from the 1960s, the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen, and the legendary 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut Coupe."The final number may come as a shock, but the first Luce did always seem destined to command a steep price, especially since first-production Ferraris are viewed as highly collectible (charity auctions have also been known to open collectors' wallets). Chassis 0, which was configured by the automaker's Tailor Made program, is finished in a special, light-inspired Madreperla Semi-Gloss livery. Inside, the four-door is covered in Le Mans metallic leather in Perla with Grigio Corvara trim and features a plaque identifying the car as Ferrari's first production EV. The quad-motor powertrain is the same one found in the "standard" Luce and makes 1,035 hp.Inside the Luce "Tailor Made"The winning bidder can also know that the $40 million they paid for their Luce, which will be delivered next year, got them more than just a car. RM Sotheby's waived the standard buyer's premium for the sale, according to Road & Track, which means that all proceeds from the sale will go to the Ferrari Foundation and benefit future educational initiatives.AdvertisementAdvertisementClick here to see more photos of the first Ferrari Luce.Best of Robb ReportThe 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine BeastThe World's Best Superyacht ShipyardsThe ABCs of Chartering a YachtSign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Click here to read the full article.
