Ferrari is finally shifting gears and heading into the electric car era. Naturally, the company must do so in style, right? Well, today, Ferrari announced Luce, its first electric car, and also gave us a glimpse of its interiors. And guess who helped with the design process? Ferrari partnered with LoveFrom, a design firm started by Apple legend Sir Jony Ive.
The “Apple touch” is visible
Ferrari says both firms worked for five years to design the car, and the results look stunning. Ive’s touch also reflects his work at Apple, bringing clean metallic looks, rounded corners, and a seamless fusion of glass and other luxurious materials in the cabin. What’s notable is the focus on analog inputs, instead of going with an all-digital cockpit, a principle that has been embraced by Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
The steering wheel is inspired by the wooden three-spoke Nardi wheel from the 1960s, and its recycled aluminum material was developed specifically for the Luce. The button placement is inspired by Formula One cars, while the start key features an e-ink display that lights up in tandem with the central console and binnacle.
The Ferrari Luce is also the first car from the brand to feature an instrument cluster mounted on the steering column, and it features a one-of-a-kind dual OLED display with three cutouts. The control panel, notably, is mounted on a ball-and-socket joint, while the instrument cluster graphics draw inspiration from helicopters and airplanes.
Raw, tactile, and visceral
Ferrari also paid special attention to the shifter, which is made out of special Corning Fusion5 Glass with laser-etched microholes to create the backlit graphics. There are plenty of buttons, dials, toggles and switches in the cockpit, and the overall design is calmly minimalist, unlike other hypercars that either go too deep with digital controls or embrace over-the-top aggressive styling.
The key, in particular, looks like a miniature iPhone or iPod, with its metallic sides and polished finish. Ive’s touch is clearly visible on the car’s interior. The Luce, which was initially supposed to debut as the Ferrari Elettrica, will be introduced later this year. It’s also somewhat of a bittersweet chapter for Ive, who was involved with Apple’s cancelled electric car project. Notably, Ferrari’s announcement comes at a time when rumors are swirling that Porsche has cancelled two of its high-profile electric sports cars.
