Ferrari continues to promote its first electric model, the Luce, but the public’s attention is still drawn more by its controversial design than by its drive without an internal combustion engine.
The reactions after the premiere were divided, and it seems that even Pope Leo XIV did not show particular enthusiasm during the meeting with the new model.
On the occasion of the world premiere, Ferrari representatives visited the Pope in the Vatican. Electric Luce was presented by company president John Elkan and executive director Benedeto Vinja.
In the video published by Ferrari, the pope can be seen looking around the car, and at one point he asks if it is the first Ferrari with 4 doors.
Elkan replied that it was the first five-seater in the brand’s history. His reaction quickly attracted attention on social media.
Luce is also special in that it is the first Ferrari whose design was developed by an external company, led by Jony Ive, the former head of design at Apple.
After the unveiling, the value of Ferrari shares temporarily fell, although it has since partially recovered.
Instead of a car, the pope received a Luce three-spoke steering wheel made of leather and aluminum, placed in a special transparent display case.
Ferrari openly admits that the Luce is not aimed at the brand’s traditional customers. The target group is younger and extremely affluent customers who have not owned a Ferrari before.
Whether they will accept the unusual design of the new electric model remains to be seen.
