Ferrari’s first electric car is here, and it is even more controversial than expected. Before the full reveal, the Luce got people talking with its interior penned by Jony Ive and Marc Newson – and now we know that radical design continues with the exterior. Unveiled in Rome in the presence of motoring media and customers, the Luce has dominated headlines – for better or worse – ever since. But those divisive looks aside, just how impressive is Maranello’s first stab at an EV? We’ve gathered together the key facts and figures from the Ferrari EV’s main competitors to find out exactly what sort of car it’s going to be – and which cars it’ll need to tempt buyers away from.
Size and shape
Width (without mirrors): 1999mm
Kerbweight (with options added): 2260kg
Width (including mirrors): 2144mm
Kerbweight (with options added): 2290kg
Width (without mirrors): 1959mm
Kerbweight (with options added): 2460kg
A car’s dimensions say a lot about its practicality as well as its personality. Longer and wider cars will inevitably have more passenger and luggage space, but they sacrifice manoeuvrability in tight car parks and on narrow roads. The Ferrari Luce is the longest and tallest on this list, meaning passengers should have more leg and head room, but its width is on a par with most other cars mentioned.
Wheelbase is another key factor, if not more important than the overall dimensions, because it not only dictates interior space but also directly affects the driving trends. A car with a longer wheelbase, such as the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, should manage its centre of gravity very well. On the flipside, the Taycan Turbo GT should be more agile with its 2900mm wheelbase. The Ferrari’s wheelbase sits comfortably in the middle, which means it should provide a lovely balance of handling and stability.
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Power and performance
Maximum power: 778bhp (1019bhp overboost power with launch control)
Capacious batteries and monstrous power are the only options in this class of car. Every car has over 100kW battery capacity, with the Luce and Air Sapphire peeling away from the other pair. Another interesting spread is the power, as the Ferrari and Porsche settle with under 1100bhp, while the Mercedes has 1153bhp, and the Lucid Air Sapphire tops the 1200 mark. The larger battery size combined with the lower weight of the Luce should be advantageous for range, but those power figures appear troubling for Maranello’s EV.
Claimed range (combined): 336-347 miles
Here’s where things get a little spicy, because the electric power of all four cars can deliver blistering acceleration times. Zero to 62mph is achieved in less than three seconds for all these vehicles, and while the Lucid Air Sapphire stands out with a sub-two-second time, it’s worth noting that Lucid claims a 0-60mph time instead – but it’s still mighty impressive. The Ferrari has the slowest claimed acceleration.
The Lucid’s top speed is also impressive, making it the only car on this list to top out at over the double-ton figure, though you’ll eat into that equally impressive 427-mile range very quickly. The Ferrari comes in second for top speed but lacks the same sort of range as the others. It is important to note that most of the range figures are only estimated at this time and will inevitably be affected by weather conditions, driving habits and battery condition.
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Charging speed
Max charging power (DC): up to 350kW
Max charging power (AC): up to 22kW
Charging time to add 70kWh: 20 minutes
Max charging power (DC): up to 320kW
Charging architecture: 800 volts
Max charging power (AC): up to 11kW (up to 22kW optional)
10-80% charging time (320kW): 18 minutes
0-100% charging time (11kW AC): 11 hours
Max charging power (DC): up to 300kW
Platform architecture: 900 volts
Charge to 200 miles: 15 minutes
0-100% charging time (11kW AC): Undisclosed
Max charging power (DC): up to 600kW
Max charging power (AC): up to 11kW
10-80% charging time (320kW): 11 minutes
0-100% charging time (11kW AC): Undisclosed
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe easily trumps the rest with an impressive 600kW maximum charging power, but good luck finding an EV charger to match. The 10-80% charging time should be a good comparison between cars, with the AMG taking the top step again, with the Taycan Turbo GT trailing at a respectable 18 minutes.
Ferrari and Lucid don’t quote conventional 10-80% charge times – instead they disclose the amount of time it takes to reach 70kWh and 200 miles, respectively. To put that into perspective, 70kWh of the Ferrari’s 122kWh battery is around 57%, and 200 miles of the Lucid’s 427-mile range is around 47%. It goes without saying that these figures are less than the 70% that is usually added during a 10-80% charge.
The Ferrari can charge at up to 22kW using AC power, but doesn’t quote any sort of charging times, and the Porsche quotes an 11-hour AC charging time (10-80%) at 11kW despite the option for a 22kW AC charger.
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Price and position
Ferrari Luce: €500,000 (around £440,000)
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT: From £189,200
Lucid Air Sapphire: $249,000 (around £185,000)
Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe: To be confirmed
So, how does the Ferrari compare? Each car impresses with a different skillset, providing you with a unique driving and owning experience. Both the Ferrari and Mercedes make the Porsche seem a little dated now, but the Taycan’s price reflects value-for-money (at this level) if it can keep up with the new boys. The Lucid Air Sapphire is an even better value proposition, but it isn’t available on these shores.
The Ferrari Luce’s stats aren’t new – at least not when compared to the Porsche, Taycan and Lucid – but the Ferrari is intended to be more than power. It incorporates new features such as torque shift engagement, which increases power and decreases regeneration through five modes. This system differs from Hyundai’s set-up, which simulates a redline to increase driver engagement. Add to this the fact that the Luce is Ferrari’s first five-seater, and it’s unlike any Ferrari ever.
That’s how they compare on paper – we’ll see how they stack up when we drive them on the road.
