Is This Ferrari's First Electric Supercar? Spotted with a Truly Bizarre Fake Exhaust
Jun 27, 2024 at 3:32am ET
Ferrari fans, the moment you've been waiting for might just be on the horizon. After announcing in late 2019 that its first electric car wouldn't hit the market until after the middle of this decade, Ferrari propelled excitement in April 2021. Company chairman John Elkann revealed that the legendary automaker's debut EV would grace us by 2025. The official debut remains on track for late next year, but whispers from Maranello suggest that we might have our first glimpse of this elusive creation.
The test mule spotted has certainly piqued curiosity. Appearing initially as an oversized hatchback, this mysterious vehicle's body seems borrowed from a Maserati Levante, yet it flaunts the unmistakable headlights of a Ferrari Roma. Adding to the intrigue are newly designed wheels, notably devoid of the typical aero covers.
The most striking—and baffling—feature? The quad exhaust tips that declare themselves glaringly faux. Dishing out an added layer of enigma are the yellow high-voltage stickers screaming 'electric vehicle.' It's not the first automaker to pull this quirky stunt; Porsche has also been spotted with similar antics on its electric Boxster prototype. This amusing ploy leaves no doubt that what we're looking at here is an EV cloaked in bravado.
A Peek into Ferrari's Future
Don't be too quick to assume that just because this prototype wears a Levante body, Ferrari's famed Purosangue is due for an electric sibling. The Prancing Horse has been mum on what shape its maiden EV will finally take. What we do know is that this avant-garde machine is being crafted at a brand new factory inaugurated recently in Maranello. The sudden appearance of the test mule, mere days after the factory's opening, can hardly be dismissed as mere coincidence.
Ferrari has promised its first electric vehicle will deliver what it calls an "authentic" noise. While the concept sounds nebulous, the rumored price tag isn't—think north of $500,000, according to a Reuters report. Nevertheless, CEO Benedetto Vigna has been tight-lipped, neither confirming nor denying the staggering cost. Meanwhile, he also dismissed speculation that the new factory could swell annual production from around 14,000 units to a whopping 20,000.
The Electric Revolution
Ferrari stands at the brink of an electric revolution but remains loyal to its gas-guzzling roots. Head of Product Marketing Emanuele Carando recently declared that their V-12 engines will keep roaring until legislation forces their silence. By 2030, Ferrari projects that internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles will make up only 20 percent of its output, with 40 percent allocated to plug-in hybrids and the remaining 40 percent to pure electric vehicles.
As for its pioneering EV, Ferrari forecasts it will make up five percent of total shipments by 2026. But that's not the end. Rumor mills are buzzing with hints that a second electric car is also brewing within Ferrari's hallowed design studios, albeit still in its infancy.
From fake exhaust pipes to groundbreaking factories, Ferrari's venture into electric territory is a heady cocktail of tradition clashing with innovation. Whether or not you embrace the EV wave, one thing's for sure: Ferrari's first fully electric thoroughbred will be an electrifying chapter in automotive history.