Ferrari unveiled its first fully-electric car, the Ferrari Luce, on Monday with a design led by Jony Ive and Marc Newson and a price tag of $640,000. Internet users were quick to mock its looks—while Newson argued that criticism is part of the creative process
On Monday, Ferrari rolled out its first-ever fully-electric car, the Ferrari Luce, and the rollout didn’t even have time to settle before the internet started sharpening its opinions.
Ferrari shared the first look on Instagram. showing the car being unveiled by Ferrari’s Formula 1 drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The vehicle was designed by former Apple designer Jony Ive and Australian industrial designer Marc Newson. and it carries a $640. 000 price—an eye-watering number that set expectations high from the start.
The Luce is powered by four electric engines and can reportedly hit zero to 60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds. Its body is encased in glass, and Ferrari says it will be offered in three colors: a light blue, a yellow, and Ferrari red. It’s also Ferrari’s first-ever five-seater car.
But on X, users didn’t focus on performance. They focused on the look. Several people compared it to the Nissan Leaf. pointing to the same blue and black color combination and the fact that the Leaf costs a fraction of its price. One X user said it looked like it was made by South Korean automaker Kia. while another called it “one of the ugliest EV designs ever.”.
The jokes turned practical, too. One user asked whether it was possible to “buy the new Ferrari Luce interior without the exterior.” Another said they were hoping for something more “batmobile-y.”
Some users went further, using ChatGPT or Grok to generate redesigns they thought the Luce should have—aiming for something sleeker, shinier, and lower to the ground.
Speaking on a Cleo Abram podcast released on Monday about the new Ferrari. the designer Marc Newson pushed back on the criticism without dismissing it. He said “critics are part of the process” while innovating. Newson also pointed to a wider cultural shift: people are very nostalgic now. and look to the past more than the future. which makes the designers’ jobs “very difficult.”.
Ferrari isn’t alone in chasing electric luxury. Porsche, Cadillac, Rolls-Royce, and other automakers have launched electric vehicles too. Even so, Ferrari’s first EV is arriving with an unusual twist: the people expected to be wowed by exclusivity are also the people driving the fastest mockery.
Ferrari did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Ferrari Luce Ferrari first EV Jony Ive Marc Newson Charles Leclerc Lewis Hamilton electric vehicle design internet backlash five-seater EV $640 000
640k for a Leaf-looking thing?? Bruh.
It looks like a Kia trying to cosplay as a Ferrari. Like who approved that glass body… is it supposed to be “future” or just a fish tank.
Jony Ive and Marc Newson led it and it’s giving “Apple design meets middle school science fair.” Also 0-60 in 2.5 is cool I guess but if the interior costs extra or whatever, nah. I saw someone say buy the interior without the exterior and now I can’t unsee it.
I don’t get why people are so mad when “criticism is part of the process,” like okay but the car is literally $640,000 and it still resembles a Nissan Leaf from certain angles. Also five seater EV… so it’s basically a luxury van? And the glass thing sounds dangerous? Like what if it cracks, who’s paying for that, Ferrari or my insurance??