Ferrari's electric Luce reimagines design legacy with Jony Ive's LoveFrom

At a glance:

• Ferrari unveiled the all-electric Luce, designed with Jony Ive’s LoveFrom, marking its first EV and four-door model
• The Luce features four electric motors (1,035hp combined), 330-mile WLTP range, and a $640,000 price tag
• Design draws heavily from Apple aesthetics and Marc Newson’s 1999 Ford 021C concept, sparking fan backlash

What happened

Ferrari unveiled its long-awaited electric vehicle, the Luce, at the Vela di Calatrava complex near Rome, signaling a dramatic shift in the Italian automaker’s 80-year design philosophy. The car’s exterior abandons Ferrari’s signature sharp lines and aggressive styling for smooth, rounded surfaces that evoke Apple’s minimalist aesthetic, a direct result of collaboration with LoveFrom, the design firm co-founded by former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive and Marc Newson. The Luce’s unveiling arrives amid a broader industry retreat from EV ambitions, with competitors scaling back or canceling models, yet Ferrari has chosen to double down with a vehicle that challenges its own legacy.

The Luce’s interior further underscores Ive’s influence, featuring a central display mounted on a ball-and-socket joint that rotates toward driver or passenger, rounded-edge screens reminiscent of iPhones, and a mechanical multigraph display with three independent motors. However, the cabin also includes a surprising array of physical buttons, knobs, and switches—a departure from Ive’s typically streamlined approach. Ferrari fans have reacted with skepticism, with social media flooded by critiques of the car’s unconventional design, though the company insists the radical overhaul was necessary to optimize performance and aerodynamics for an electric powertrain.

Design philosophy

The Luce’s exterior design draws clear parallels to Apple’s product language, with its seamless curves and metallic finishes resembling a Magic Mouse or iPad. This aesthetic shift aligns with Marc Newson’s earlier work, particularly the 1999 Ford 021C concept car, which featured a similar “three-box” silhouette with rounded edges and a floating white roof. Both vehicles incorporate front-hinged coach doors and unconventional storage solutions, such as a drawer-style trunk, suggesting Newson’s influence may outweigh Ive’s in the Luce’s final form.

Ferrari’s decision to abandon its traditional design DNA reflects the fundamental challenges of electric vehicle engineering. Integrating a 122kWh battery pack into the chassis floor required a reimagined structure, resulting in a 4,982-pound curb weight—the heaviest in Ferrari history. The Luce’s wheelbase is slightly shorter than the Purosangue SUV, and its aerodynamic profile includes large wings and flush lighting to achieve the lowest drag coefficient ever for a Ferrari model. These changes highlight the automaker’s prioritization of EV functionality over nostalgic styling cues.

Technical specifications

Under the hood, the Luce delivers 1,035 horsepower through four electric motors, with the rear pair generating 835hp and the front two contributing 282hp. This configuration enables 0–60mph acceleration in 2.5 seconds and 0–124mph in 6.8 seconds, though it trails rivals like the Lucid Sapphire and Mercedes-AMG GT in outright speed. The 800-volt electrical architecture supports 350kW DC fast charging, while the gross 122kWh battery promises 330 miles of WLTP-rated range—likely translating to around 310 miles under EPA testing.

The Luce’s performance metrics reflect Ferrari’s attempt to balance its heritage of speed with EV-specific demands. The mechanical multigraph display serves multiple functions, including chronograph, compass, and launch control indicator, while the central touchscreen’s palm rest allows driver interaction without visual distraction. Despite its weight, the car’s low drag coefficient and aerodynamic wings aim to preserve the brand’s racing DNA in an electric format.

Historical context

Ferrari’s delayed entry into the EV market contrasts with its 2018 Detroit Auto Show promise from former CEO Sergio Marchionne, who declared, “If there is an electric supercar to be built, then Ferrari will be the first.” While the automaker missed that mark, the Luce represents a calculated pivot toward electrification. The car’s development coincides with Ferrari’s board including Apple executive Eddy Cue, hinting at strategic alignment between the two companies.

The Luce’s design also indirectly revives Apple’s canceled self-driving car project, which languished in development for years before Tim Cook terminated it. Though Apple never produced a physical vehicle, LoveFrom’s involvement in the Luce suggests Ive’s vision for automotive design lives on through this collaboration. The car’s unveiling in Rome—a city steeped in design history—adds symbolic weight to its role as a bridge between tech and automotive innovation.

Market reaction and pricing

Ferrari’s $640,000 (€550,000) starting price positions the Luce as an ultra-premium offering, targeting affluent collectors and early adopters. The automaker’s board, including Cue, likely views the model as a strategic move to maintain relevance in an evolving market. However, fan backlash underscores the risks of alienating traditionalists, with critics arguing the Luce’s design dilutes Ferrari’s iconic identity.

The Luce’s success will hinge on whether its blend of Apple-inspired aesthetics and EV performance resonates with buyers. While the car’s specifications are impressive, its unconventional design may limit appeal to Ferrari’s core demographic. The automaker’s decision to prioritize functionality over form reflects broader industry trends, but the Luce’s reception will signal whether Ferrari can successfully navigate the transition to electric mobility without losing its soul.

What's next

The Luce’s integration of Apple’s CarPlay Ultra remains uncertain, as Ferrari has not confirmed whether the expanded infotainment system will control core functions like HVAC or the speedometer. This ambiguity highlights the ongoing tension between Ferrari’s legacy and its embrace of modern tech partnerships. Meanwhile, the car’s design choices—particularly its weight and aerodynamics—will inform future EV models from the brand.

As the automotive industry grapples with electrification, the Luce serves as both a bold experiment and a cautionary tale. Its polarizing design and hefty price tag may confine it to niche status, but the vehicle’s technical achievements could pave the way for more refined electric Ferraris. Whether the Luce becomes a cult classic or a footnote in automotive history remains to be seen, but its impact on design discourse is already undeniable.