Ferrari has unveiled the first substantial details about its debut electric vehicle, the Elettrica, set for a full debut next year. Announced at the company’s Maranello headquarters, the Elettrica is shaping up to be a unique machine, focused not just on raw power but on redefining the EV driving experience and achieving an authentic acoustic identity.
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While the Elettrica is expected to generate over 1,000 horsepower from its four electric motors (one per wheel), Ferrari is quick to downplay the output. Chief Product Development Officer Gianmaria Fulgenzi admitted, “It’s very easy and simple to create power in an electric engine. It’s not difficult.”
Instead, the Elettrica is designed to overcome what Fulgenzi calls the “elephants” of current performance EVs—cars that are fast in a straight line but cumbersome in corners. Ferrari’s solution is a complex suite of dynamics:
- Quad Motors: The motor-per-wheel setup allows the car’s traction and stability management systems to modulate power individually at each tire, maximizing grip without relying on traditional differentials.
- Independent Rear-Wheel Steering: The Elettrica can steer each rear wheel independently, helping manage or even induce oversteer to enhance driver engagement.
- Active Suspension: It features a novel, motor-driven active suspension system—first seen on the Purosangue SUV—that replaces traditional valves and oil with an electric motor. This enables near-instantaneous, independent adjustment of damping and ride height at each corner.
CEO Benedetto Vigna affirmed the goal: “We want to show that we are able to harness any technology in a unique way,” promising an EV that drives unlike any other.
Addressing the acoustic challenge of electric performance, Ferrari engineers created a sound that avoids being “fake” or like a “starship.” Their solution is highly technical and aims for authenticity.
Similar in concept to Porsche’s Taycan approach, the Elettrica will use an accelerometer installed inside the casing of the rear electric motors. This sensor picks up the harmonic resonance of the motors and runs it through a digital amplifier. The resulting sound is not a sample or a remix, but the actual, digitally amplified noise coming directly from the electric motors. Fulgenzi likened it to an amp on an electric guitar, turning near-inaudible vibrations into sound.
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While Ferrari is keeping the exterior design a secret until next year, the company has confirmed it is working with design house LoveFrom, the firm co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive. Given Ive’s minimalist history, a significant departure from traditional Ferrari styling seems likely.
The Elettrica will feature four doors and four seats, positioning it between a grand tourer and an SUV—a practical machine designed for comfort. It will feature a 122 kWh (gross) battery pack sourced initially from SK On, providing somewhere north of 330 miles of range, making it a viable long-distance tourer.
Ultimately, the Elettrica is a bold statement—a technological marvel intended to prove that electric propulsion can still deliver a visceral and engaging driving experience. We’ll have to wait until early next year to see the final design and hear the sound of the new electric motor.
