Luca Cordero di Montezemolo continues to be a figure with enormous weight within the Ferrari universe. Although he left the presidency more than a decade ago, his every statement resonates with the Italian brand's followers as if he still occupied an office in Maranello. That's why his words about the Ferrari Luce, the company's first fully electric model, ignited an immediate debate in the industry.

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The historic leader held nothing back when talking about the new electric project: "If I said what I really think, it would harm Ferrari. We are risking the destruction of a myth, I am very sorry for that. I hope they at least remove the Prancing Horse from that car," he said about the Luce. The phrase fell like a bomb among fans and industry analysts.

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This is not just any opinion. Montezemolo headed Ferrari between 1991 and 2014 and was one of those responsible for the firm's sporting and commercial resurgence. Under his management, the team dominated a good part of Formula 1 and consolidated an identity based on exclusivity, high-revving engines and a very strong emotional connection with its customers.

The Ferrari Luce breaks with several traditions

The new Ferrari Luce represents one of the Italian brand's most risky moves in decades. Not only will it be the first all-electric Ferrari, it also changes several of the company's classic recipes.

The model will have four doors, five seats and an orientation closer to a luxury grand tourer than to a radical supercar. In addition, it will have a 600-liter trunk and a proposal designed for customers looking for extreme performance without giving up comfort and space.

Ferrari intends to position it in a very exclusive segment. The estimated price will start at about $595,000 and the first deliveries are scheduled for the end of 2026. Far from seeking massive sales, Maranello's idea is to maintain the elitist character that has always surrounded the brand.

More than 1,000 horses and a huge technological commitment

In the technical section, Ferrari wants to demonstrate that electrification does not mean losing performance. The Luce will incorporate four electric motors, one in each wheel, and will exceed 1,000 horsepower.

The promised figures are shocking even by electric hypercar standards. The maximum speed will exceed 310 km/h and the range will be around 500 kilometers.

One of the points that most concerned Ferrari was the sensory experience. The Italian brand worked especially on the sound to prevent the car from feeling completely silent. As it turned out, the system amplifies natural vibrations of the electrical mechanics to try to preserve part of the visceral character historically associated with Ferrari.

Jony Ive and a design very different from the classic Ferrari

The Luce also breaks the mold visually. Ferrari worked alongside Jony Ive, former Apple design manager and founder of the LoveFrom collective, to develop a much cleaner and more minimalist style.

The bodywork relies on softer surfaces, large glass areas and a different silhouette from that of traditional Ferraris. Inside, the brand avoided relying entirely on huge touch screens and decided to combine technology with classic materials such as leather, anodized aluminum and glass.

Ferrari is looking to seduce a new generation of buyers, especially in markets where electric cars have quickly gained ground, such as China. There, fiscal and regulatory restrictions on combustion engines are increasingly stronger.

The discussion that divides Ferrari fans

Montezemolo's criticisms go far beyond a technical issue. The former manager focuses on Ferrari's identity and the risk of altering what made the brand a global symbol.

Ferrari doesn't just sell speed. It also markets history, sound, tradition, Italian design and an emotional experience closely linked to the combustion engine. For many followers, that essence is inseparable from the mechanical roar that has characterized the brand for decades.

The Luce will be the great test to see if that emotion can survive in silence and without cylinders. Ferrari believes so and considers adapting to a new technological era inevitable. Montezemolo, on the other hand, made it clear that he does not share that vision.