After struggling to keep up with a Kia with their $400k Ferrari. They have finally decided to enter the EV market. For decades, Ferrari has been linked with the roar of high-revving V8s and the symphonic wail of naturally aspirated V12s. The identity of the Ferrari has always revolved around visceral combustion engines, but the automotive world is changing. Now, for the first time in its long history, Ferrari is working on a fully electric car. Recent spy photos of a heavily camouflaged prototype represent a momentous occasion—one not just for Ferrari, but for the entire exotic car segment.
An Ingeniously Built Test Mule
The prototype caught on camera in Italy does not look like any Ferrari we’ve ever seen. In fact, it barely looks like any kind of Ferrari at all. It is like an unqualified test mule tied to the world of careful appearances.
In a suitably odd mix of body panels that look like they were taken from a blistering pace of other cars thrown together, this test mule resembles a comic version of the supercar Ferrari. From the front, the mesh of panels clashes with a generic mono-facial and close-mirrored sedan here, but from the side or rear, it has all of the proportions of a boxy van. The side panels of the images show that Ferrari is clearly hiding the true design of the car.
What we can say for sure is that this forthcoming EV will feature five doors, which is relatively unusual for Ferrari, a brand that has typically specialized in two-door sports cars and its recent Purosangue. The proportions currently appear awkward, highlighted by lengthy overhangs and gargantuan wipers – neither of which will be included in the end product.
This just goes to show how far Ferrari has gone to disguise the final version. The production version will likely feature the practicalities of an SUV minus the jarring proportions to achieve the sleek aggression we continue to associate with Ferrari design language.
Why Ferrari’s First Electric Car is Important
Ferrari’s hurdle with electrification goes much deeper than styling. The brand is about sound, excitement, and the visceral connection to the car. Hybridization, such as in the SF90 Stradale, was the low-hanging fruit. There was still a snarling V8 with the electrification as a complement, nothing more.
With a pure EV, Ferrari has no such comfort. The next car will need to provide the same theater without the thunder of a combustion engine. Ferrari this time will have to sell its engineering prowess to create the driving experience worthy of the shield through handling, power delivery, and technology.
Price will be told as well. Reports suggest the EV will be over $500,000. While that certainly puts it in the ultra-exotic category, Ferrari has a shield of exclusivity here. This will not be a mass production car, but a low-volume halo project that is as much about showing the world that Ferrari could make an EV as it is about return.
Looking Forward
While details about Ferrari’s first electric vehicle are few, it is clear that it is the boldest risk taken by the brand since its foray into SUVs with the Purosangue. If successful, the car could change the narrative around what it means to be a Ferrari in the all-electric era to suggest that passion and performance will not dim when the gas tank is gone.
For now, the test mule raises more questions than it answers. We do know that when Ferrari debuts its first EV, the world will be watching to see whether the prancing horse can still run with the same fervor without the sound of pistons.
