There's a common thread that links the history of motorsport to major technological breakthroughs. On May 25, 1947, Franco Cortese drove the Ferrari 125 S to victory in the Rome Grand Prix at the Baths of Caracalla, sealing the brand's first historic victory. 79 years on from that date, the house of Maranello has once again chosen the setting of the capital to reveal the Ferrari Luce, a project that inaugurates a new chapter in the history of the Prancing Horse.
The presentation took place at Calatrava's Vela – Città dello Sport, a venue that symbolizes engineering ambition and a drive towards the future. The new car not only introduces electric propulsion to the range, but also defines a segment in its own right, combining impressive performance with unprecedented interior space for a sports car from the Emilian manufacturer.
The strategy of technological neutrality
The birth of this model represents the pinnacle of multi-energy planning presented during the 2022 Capital Markets Day. The philosophy of the Emilian company remains anchored to the principle of technological neutrality: electrification does not replace existing internal combustion or hybrid engines, but rather complements them to explore new architectures and driving dynamics.
The company's in-house expertise in developing electric technologies draws directly from its racing experience, creating a transfer of technical solutions between its road cars and the 499P, a protagonist in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), as well as influencing the innovative research laboratory represented by the Ferrari Hypersail project.
With the development of the Ferrari LuceThe goal of Maranello's engineers was to engineer and produce the main powertrain components in-house, from the electric motors to the battery pack. This approach has led to the filing of over 60 new patents and ensures the continuity of long-term support for all high-voltage components, in line with the Ferrari Forever certification and maintenance programs.
A groundbreaking design by LoveFrom
For the stylistic definition of the car, the management chose to follow a unconventional road, entrusting the creative direction to LoveFrom, the collective founded by Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson. The external team worked in synergy with the Ferrari Design Studio led by Flavio manzoni, bringing a multidisciplinary vision outside the traditional canons of automotive design.
The absence of a bulky thermal engine has allowed us to completely redesign the proportions, giving life to a four-door, five-seater body, a configuration never seen before in Maranello's sports carsThe external line is dominated by the glass house, a continuous glass cell that extends beyond the beltline. Above and around this volume float the front and rear aerodynamic wings, which control airflow without altering the purity of the silhouette.
The front and rear light clusters are integrated into the primary surfaces and are transparent; when turned off, they disappear from view to preserve the continuity of the forms. The halo-shaped rear lights pay homage to historic models such as the 360 Modena and the 458 Italia. Another distinctive element is the differentiated diameter wheel rims – 23 inches at the front and 24 inches at the rear – available in a five-spoke forged configuration or with a turbine design optimized for airflow. The color range chosen for the debut includes the shades Blue La Plata, Light Yellow, Dino Red, Arctic White and Flaming Red.
Interiors between craftsmanship and digital technology
The passenger compartment was designed with simplification and rationalization of controls in mind. The dashboard and user interface use high-quality and recycled materials, such as recycled anodized aluminum, Corning® Gorilla® Glass coating, and full-grain leather, combining physical and mechanical elements and digital panels developed in collaboration with Samsung Display©.
The driver interacts with a steering wheel integrated with the adjustable instrument panel. The three-spoke steering wheel, crafted from a single block of recycled aluminum, houses the analog control modules, the e-Manettino for energy management, and the classic five-position Manettino for vehicle dynamics. Behind the rim are the paddles for controlling torque and brake regeneration, equipped with a magnetic mechanism for precise tactile feedback.
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| ARCHITETTURA DEI DISPLAY INTRABORDO |
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| Area di Visualizzazione | Caratteristiche Tecniche |
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| Cruscotto (Binnacle) | Doppio pannello OLED sovrapposto |
| | da 12.9" e 12" con profondità 3D |
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| Pannello Centrale Articolato | Schermo touchscreen OLED da 10.1" |
| | con comandi fisici per il clima |
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| Monitor Posteriore | Display da 6.3" per passeggeri |
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The instrument panel combines digital technology with physical indicators: the left dial monitors power output, the center dial combines the mechanical speed needle with the digital battery charge indicator, while the right dial displays telemetry data. At the center of the dashboard is the articulated and orientable control panel, which houses the touchscreen and physical buttons for climate control and multimedia systems. At the top is the “Multigraph” selector with an OLED display that can be configured as a clock, compass, or chronograph.
The ignition key housing is integrated into the central tunnel, made of Gorilla Glass and equipped with a flexible display. E Ink, a first in the automotive industry. Inserting the key unlocks the gear selector and initiates the ignition sequence. The console extends to the rear of the cabin, where passengers can monitor trip data and manage the climate via a dedicated panel. The electrically adjustable seats offer heating and massage functions.
The on-board experience is completed by a 3000W high-fidelity audio system with 24 channels and 21 speakers, managed by proprietary software Ferrari Audio Director and characterized by the acoustic signature Ferrari Audio Signature, which provides five different listening calibrations.
Mechanics, performance and dynamics management
From an engineering standpoint, the car is based on a dedicated electric all-wheel drive platform, featuring a chassis that combines hollow castings and aluminum extrusions. The 122 kWh battery is integrated into the floorpan and acts as a structural element, increasing bending rigidity by 25% and torsional rigidity by 35% compared to the company's previous four-door models.
The declared technical data place the car at the top of its category:
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Maximum overall power: 1050 CV
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Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 2,5 seconds
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Acceleration 0–200 km/h: 6,8 seconds
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Full speed: over 310 km/h
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Approved autonomy: over 530 km
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Kerb weight: 2260 kg
Propulsion is entrusted to four permanent magnet radial flux synchronous motors derived from the F80, capable of reaching rotation speeds of 30,000 rpm at the front and 25,500 rpm at the rear. The 800 V electrical architecture supports rapid DC charging systems up to 350 kW.
Dynamic Innovation: Vehicle management is entrusted to the new Vehicle Control Unit (VCU), which processes driving parameters and corrects power delivery 200 times per second, interfacing with the Side Slip Control X system for side slip angle control.
Each individual wheel is served by three independent actuators that regulate traction (and regeneration), the steering angle of the rear axle and the vertical damping of the electronically controlled active suspension. This architecture allows for real-time torque distribution (torque vectoring) on each tire, improving agility and stability when changing direction.
To overcome the linearity typical of electric thrust, the engineers have filed a patented system that simulates the progression of a combustion engine: by acting on the right paddle on the steering wheel, the driver can increase the available torque in a modular way, while the left paddle manages the engine braking and energy recovery.
Aerodynamic study and functional acoustics
The pursuit of maximum efficiency required aerodynamic development lasting more than five years, including approximately 6000 computational simulations (CFD), 250 hours in the wind tunnel on scale models, and 80 hours on the real car. The result is the lowest drag coefficient ever recorded for a Maranello road car.
Airflow is regulated by active front grilles, which open only when the radiators require cooling, reducing drag in other driving conditions. The sealed, flat underbody and active suspension, capable of lowering the front end by 10 mm at high speeds, optimize ground effect.
Acoustic comfort has been enhanced by reducing road noise thanks to the adoption of a rear subframe mounted on elastic supports. The sound perceived inside and outside the car is not an artificial reproduction, but rather derives from the amplification of the mechanical vibrations of rotating components. An accelerometer positioned at the center of the axle captures the frequencies, filters them, and equalizes them using a patented system that varies the intensity of the sound feedback based on the mode selected on the e-Manettino.
With the widespread use of recycled secondary aluminium alloys, which reduces emissions of $CO_2$ in the production phase of approximately 70% of the total weight of the metals used, the Ferrari Luce It is part of the brand's sustainability journey, positioning itself as a technological manifesto for the coming years.
