The Most Practical Ferrari Ever: Luce EV

When Ferrari shocked the world with the Purosangue in September 2022, it claimed the V12-powered SUV was “unlike any other.” Fast-forward nearly four years, and that statement also applies to the Luce. It’s not just because a combustion engine is notably absent. Described as “a new chapter for the Maranello marque,” the EV introduces several firsts.

Luce has the largest staggered wheel setup ever fitted to a Ferrari, with 23-inch wheels at the front and 24-inchers at the rear. It uses automotive-grade Corning Gorilla Glass, E Ink technology for the key, and an inverter that eliminates the need for a 48-volt battery. Additionally, it’s the company’s first model with active aerodynamic grilles.

When it comes to day-to-day usability, it’s also the most spacious Ferrari ever made. For the first time, there’s room in the back for three passengers. As a refresher, the Purosangue is exclusively offered with two rear seats. Open the rear-hinged doors, and you’ll find something not even the royal-grade and incredibly rare 456 Venice GT wagon had: a center rear seat.

The Everyday Ferrari

Thanks to its EV underpinnings, the Luce has a completely flat floor and copious legroom. Even though its 116.5-inch (2,961-millimeter) wheelbase is slightly shorter than the Purosangue’s, it’s more spacious and can easily accommodate three adults. Measuring 197.8 inches (5026 millimeters) long, the Luce is the longest production Ferrari ever made. At the same time, it’s predictably also the heaviest, tipping the scales at 4,982 pounds (2,260 kilograms).

Cargo capacity easily trumps the Purosangue’s, with 21 cubic feet (597 liters) of space behind the seats, or nearly 4.4 cubic feet (124 liters) more than the company’s first four-door series-production model. The Luce is technically a five-door hatchback because it has a tailgate, which makes it easier to load and unload cargo. The three-seat bench features a 40/20/40 split, adding even greater versatility from a company known for making some of the most impractical cars on the road.

Say what you will about an electric Ferrari, sacrilegious and all that, but the new EV-only platform has eliminated the need for a central tunnel, freeing up additional room inside. The battery pack’s modules sit underneath, with 13 in the floor and another two beneath the rear seats. Each module incorporates 14 cells, and the entire 122-kWh battery weighs 1,389 lbs (630 kg).

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Source: Ferrari

Motor1’s Take: While most discussions surrounding the Luce have centered on its unexpected exterior design, Ferrari’s first EV is interesting for many other reasons. With a cavernous interior (well, by Ferrari standards), it should be easier to live with than even the Purosangue. The completely bespoke cabin also clearly distinguishes the Luce from any gas-powered model in the stable.

With a starting price of €550,000 before options and a purely electric powertrain, it’s inevitably going to be a niche product. However, Ferrari has clearly done its homework, and internal projections presumably show the Luce will justify its place in the lineup.

At the same time, with emissions regulations becoming increasingly stricter across much of the world, an EV was a matter of when, not if.