Jony Ive, designer of the iPhone, defends this year’s most “crazy” electric car: “It’s possible to create something new that turns out to be a mess.”

Ferrari has been at the center of one of the biggest automotive controversies in recent years with the introduction of the Luce, its first fully electric car. The Italian manufacturer opted for a design that breaks away from all of its traditional branding elements, resulting in a vehicle with an "odd" appearance that has sparked very mixed reactions. This was a particularly risky decision for a company whose cars are among the most eye-catching in the world, and which, in this case, entrusted much of the project to one of the most renowned designers in the technology industry.

Jony Ive, former Apple design chief and one of the key creators behind products like the iPhone, has been involved in developing the Ferrari Luce through his studio LoveFrom. After 5 years of working with the Italian manufacturer, the British designer has decided to address the criticism received for the car. He did so during a conference held in Turin, where he argued for the need to innovate, though he also admitted that creating something different does not necessarily mean achieving a good outcome.

Jony Ive defends Ferrari Luce design amid criticism

"It’s very easy to create something new and different that turns out to be a mess," Jony Ive said during his speech. However, the designer went on to elaborate on this point to explain what the true goal of the project was: "What’s truly difficult is to create something new and different whose novelty stems from it being better. And that’s what we’ve tried to do." As reported by Automotive News, this statement acknowledges that originality alone does not justify any aesthetic decision.

The former Apple designer also believes there is a significant difference between viewing the Ferrari Luce in photographs and seeing it in person. According to Ive, some people’s perception changes markedly when they have the vehicle in front of them, a change he attributes to its unique design and the experience it offers. In fact, he has admitted that he has never seen such a substantial shift in opinion among those who know a product through images and those who can examine it directly.

The design of the Luce has not only reached fans of the brand but also drawn negative comments on social media and skepticism from some analysts, who have compared its appearance to that of much more conventional electric vehicles. However, John Elkann, Ferrari’s president, explained that the company never intended to deliberately create a controversial car. According to him, the goal was to develop a different product that represents the brand’s future, rather than simply replicating solutions from its previous models.

An interior that returns to physical buttons over touch screens

I have defended this choice by arguing that touchscreens should not become the primary control interface of a car. According to the designer, they force drivers to divert their attention and reduce physical connection with the vehicle. For this reason, the team behind Luce has opted for switches and controls that can be used without needing to look at them. They have also developed unusual elements, such as a key that changes color when inserted into its slot, aiming to make even the starting process different from that of other electric vehicles.

Ive himself has admitted that the Ferrari Luce does not alone represent the future of the industry, though he believes it is part of Ferrari’s future. The project aims to show that electrification can offer new possibilities for design and driving experience without requiring the abandonment of all physical elements that have traditionally defined sports cars.

Over 1,000 horsepower and a price exceeding 550,000 euros

Beyond its aesthetic design, the Ferrari Luce also stands out for its technical features. It features a 4-door, 5-seater body. Its propulsion system includes 4 electric motors that together generate over 1,000 horsepower, powered by a 122 kWh battery and an electrical architecture of up to 880 volts.

As a result, Ferrari claims an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds, a top speed exceeding 310 km/h, and a range of over 530 kilometers. Both the battery and the main components of the propulsion system are manufactured or assembled in Maranello, while its starting price exceeds 550,000 euros.