Luxury carmaker Ferrari has unveiled its first fully electric vehicle, the Ferrari Luce, marking a major shift for the iconic Italian brand.
The Luce, which means “light” in Italian, is priced at about $640,000 (£474,320) and took five years to develop, according to Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna.
Unlike traditional Ferraris, the Luce features a five-seat layout and a futuristic design developed with LoveFrom, the design agency founded by former Apple executive Jony Ive.
Ferrari says the car uses four in-house electric motors — one for each wheel — allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 60mph in roughly 2.5 seconds. The company also stressed that all key components are produced internally to support long-term maintenance and preserve resale value.
The unveiling has sparked intense debate online. Some critics compared Ferrari’s move to the controversial redesign by Jaguar, accusing the brand of abandoning its heritage.
One social media user wrote: “Ferrari just killed their brand just like Jaguar did. This is straight to the junkyard trash.”
Others praised the design, with one commenter calling it “an absolute masterclass in design” and “a total game changer.”
Ferrari’s chief design officer Flavio Manzoni defended the project, saying criticism is part of innovation. Speaking with YouTuber Cleo Abram, he acknowledged the car’s “polarising” appearance but said public opinion could shift over time.
The launch comes at a difficult moment for the global EV market. Carmakers such as Lamborghini and Porsche have recently scaled back electric vehicle ambitions due to weak luxury EV demand and growing competition from Chinese automakers.
Ferrari, however, says it will continue producing petrol and hybrid vehicles alongside the Luce. Despite remaining Europe’s most valuable carmaker, Ferrari’s shares have fallen more than 25% over the past year amid a broader slowdown in global luxury spending.
