Ferrari Luce electric: Pope meets it, Montezemolo bashes it

Ferrari's Luce, the brand's first 100% electric vehicle, unveiled Monday, has triggered sharp divisions among enthusiasts and industry figures.

A historic Vatican visit

A Ferrari delegation brought the Luce prototype to the Vatican to present it to Pope Leo XIV. John Elkann, Ferrari's president, and director Benedetto Vigna accompanied the vehicle. As a gesture, they presented the Pope with a steering wheel from the car. This marks the first time a pope has encountered an electric sports car — his predecessor, Pope Francis, received a Lamborghini Huracán that he immediately sold for charity.

Divisive design language

The Luce breaks every traditional Ferrari design rule. Developed with LoveFrom studio — the design firm led by a former Apple product designer — this electric car looks nothing like any other model in Ferrari's lineup. Its "polarizing" aesthetic has already sparked wildly contrasting reactions among Prancing Horse enthusiasts.

Luca di Montezemolo's scathing critique

Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari's former president from 1991 to 2014, pulled no punches. When asked about the Luce, he stated:

> "I shouldn't talk about it or it would hurt Ferrari. A myth's image is at stake. I hope they remove the Prancing Horse from this car."

A pointed attack questioning whether the car deserves Ferrari's legendary logo at all, especially as a full electric vehicle.

Market watching

Despite the backlash, Ferrari's stock posted a slight gain after a 6% drop on Tuesday following the official reveal. The real test: will Luce attract new customers alongside Ferrari's traditional combustion-powered lineup? Auto enthusiasts across Morocco and the Arab world are closely monitoring this major strategic pivot for the Maranello-based manufacturer.

Source: caradisiac