When Ferrari chooses Rome – site of its very first racing victory – to launch a new model, you know they’re marking something significant. The Ferrari Luce is that car: the Maranello marque’s first fully electric production model and a genuine four-door, five-seater grand tourer (GT) that feels both radical and reassuringly Ferrari. In Europe the Luce is priced at the equivalent of R10.5 million.
CEO Benedetto Vigna puts it plainly: leadership today demands the courage to embrace new technologies while remaining true to the brand’s core. The Luce delivers Ferrari’s first proper electric vision, sitting alongside hybrids and ICE cars in a display of genuine technological neutrality. It introduces more than 60 new patents and draws on collaborations with partners such as LoveFrom for design and various specialist suppliers for glass, displays and battery tech.
Visually, the Luce marks a clear departure for the brand. Ferrari handed the project to the creative collective LoveFrom rather than keeping it entirely in-house under Flavio Manzoni. LoveFrom is an American company based in San Francisco. It was founded by former Chief Designer at Apple, Jony Ive and Marc Newson. The result is a clean, almost minimalist form defined by an extraordinary glasshouse that flows uninterrupted from nose to tail. Front and rear aerodynamic wings appear to float around this glassy shell, giving the car a remarkably pure silhouette for something so practical. It is only the second four-door Ferrari, but the first with five proper seat, a layout made possible by the electric powertrain’s flexible packaging.
The cabin is apparently airy and spacious. Materials are rich yet restrained, with plenty of premium leather and Alcantara, but the real story lies in the interface. The steering wheel is machined from 100% recycled aluminium, housing both the familiar Manettino and a new e-Manettino that governs power delivery and regeneration. Torque-control paddles give progressive acceleration and engine braking feel, while a moving binnacle keeps key information perfectly in view. A unique key made from Corning Gorilla Glass with an E Ink display docks with a flourish of historic Ferrari yellow. OLED displays blend digital precision with analogue character, and every control is deliberately engineered for the driver rather than the showroom.
Under the skin the engineering is formidable. Four in-house electric motors (two per axle) produce 772kW and 990Nm of torque, to achieve 0 – 100km/h in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 310km/h. More importantly for Mzansi conditions, Ferrari quotes a WLTP range of 530km from the 122kWh 800-volt battery. The low centre of gravity – some 95mm lower than the Purosangue – and reduced yaw inertia give the Luce handling responses that belie its 2 260kg kerb weight. Advanced torque vectoring, Side Slip Control X, and clever systems such as Torque Shift Engagement allow the driver to shape power and braking in a way that feels intuitive rather than artificial.
Aerodynamics consumed five years of development, thousands of CFD runs and extensive wind-tunnel time. Smooth surfaces, active grilles and cleverly shaped wheels keep drag low, while sophisticated thermal management ensures consistent performance and fast charging (up to 350kW). Ferrari’s engineers even tackled the vexing issue of EV sound. Instead of synthetic noise, they capture real vibrations from the axles via accelerometers and amplify them naturally into the cabin – a solution that is said to be authentic and Ferrari-like.
Ride comfort has received equal attention. The chassis uses recycled aluminium extensively, the battery pack contributes significantly to structural rigidity, and active suspension plus careful NVH work make this arguably the most refined Ferrari yet. Seven years of scheduled maintenance and an 8-year warranty on the electric powertrain components underline Ferrari’s confidence in long-term ownership.
In the end, the Luce is probably not about replacing the visceral drama of a V12 or V8; it is about evolving the Ferrari experience for a new era. It promises to offer genuine space and comfort without sacrificing the brand’s hallmark driving engagement. For those who have always loved the way a Ferrari makes you feel on a winding mountain pass or a long open road, the Luce suggests the thrill need not be lost in translation to electric propulsion. It is a measured, confident step: exactly what one has come to expect from Maranello.
