The automotive landscape has been hit with a fascinating piece of news that bridges classic Japanese heritage with cutting-edge Italian performance. If you are hearing rumors about the “Luce,” it isn’t a new Mazda hatchback it is actually Ferrari’s highly anticipated, first-ever all-electric vehicle (EV), which is currently locked in a trademark dispute with Mazda over the historic “Luce” nameplate.
While Mazda originally used the “Luce” moniker on its flagship premium sedans from 1966 to 1991, Ferrari selected the name for its debut electric vehicle because luce means “light” or “shining” in Italian a nod to the silent, instantaneous nature of electric power.
Here is the complete breakdown of everything known about the rumored tech, body style, designers, and presumed power of the Ferrari Luce EV.
The Body Style: Crossover over Hatchback
While early internet murmurs speculated about a smaller form factor, the Luce will not be a traditional hatchback. Instead, it is being developed as a low-slung, high-performance electric crossover or SUV.
The vehicle is designed to carry a longer wheelbase capable of seating at least four adults comfortably, blending a sleek, low-gravity silhouette with crossover proportions. Ferrari is intentionally shunning traditional boxy SUV shapes to maximize aerodynamic efficiency, which is critical for extending electric range on a performance platform.
The Designer: A Ferrari and Apple Collaboration
One of the most talked-about aspects of the Luce project is its design direction. While Ferrari’s in-house team is handling the exterior sculpting, the brand has embarked on a heavy collaborative effort with LoveFrom the independent design firm founded by legendary former Apple stylist Sir Jony Ive.
This partnership is heavily influencing the interior architecture, resulting in an interface that intentionally pushes back against the modern automotive trend of endless touchscreens.
- Physical Controls: The cabin features a return to tactile, physical controls, including massive buttons on the steering wheel for turn signals and old-school toggle switches for climate control.
- The Manettino: Ferrari’s traditional steering-wheel-mounted performance dial remains completely mechanical.
- Articulated Infotainment: The main digital display is mounted on a flexible mechanical arm extending from the dashboard, allowing it to be angled directly toward either the driver or the front passenger.
- Tactile Paddles: Surprisingly for an EV, paddles are positioned behind the steering wheel. Rather than changing gears, Ferrari uses them to grant the driver manual, progressive control over electric torque and regenerative braking feedback.
Rumored Tech & Proprietary Engineering
Rather than relying on off-the-shelf components from external suppliers, Ferrari is developing the entire high-voltage powertrain entirely in-house.
The Low-Gravity Floorpan
To preserve the agility expected of a Prancing Horse, 85% of the battery pack’s total physical weight is structurally integrated directly into the floorpan, with the remaining 15% tucked neatly under the rear seats. This packaging dramatically lowers the center of gravity and optimizes front-to-rear weight distribution.
The Custom Soundscape
Ferrari is rejecting artificial, synthesized internal combustion engine noises. Instead, the Luce features a proprietary acoustic amplification system that captures the raw, real-time physical frequencies and vibrations of the electric motors, amplifying them into a unique, authentic sound signature specific to the car.
Presumed Power: The 1,000+ Horsepower Threshold
The performance metrics rumored for the Luce place it firmly at the absolute pinnacle of electric hyper-performance:
- Powertrain Configuration: The Luce is slated to run a quad-motor setup featuring four permanent magnet synchronous motors one dedicated to each individual wheel.
- Motorsport Transfer: The compact, highly efficient motor architecture utilizes tech derived from Ferrari’s Formula 1 and F80 hypercar programs, leveraging high thermal conductivity resins to keep the motors cool under extreme, prolonged track use.
- Output: The quad-motor system is expected to deliver a combined output exceeding 1,000 horsepower, offering precise, independent torque vectoring at all four wheels.
The Trademark Dispute: Ferrari holds international rights to the name under the WIPO registration, but Mazda successfully renewed its own “Luce” trademark in Japan in March 2026. Whether Ferrari will fight Mazda for the home-market rights or opt for an alternative name like Elettrica in certain regions remains to be seen before its official unveiling.
