Ferrari's first electric car, the Luce, has officially been revealed, and it's a stunning piece of automotive engineering. One of the most striking features of the Luce's interior is its leather-and-aluminum three-spoke steering wheel. Penned in partnership with LoveFrom and legendary industrial designer Jony Ive, the wheel is a masterclass in design and functionality. The combination of top-notch materials, a thin diameter, and seamless integration of safety feature integration make the wheel a remarkable sight to behold. The retro-inspired exposed metal spokes combined with close attention to its in-hand weight truly stand out in person. The wheel is a driver's most direct point of connection with the machine, and Ive, alongside equally pedigreed co-designer and fellow LoveFrom employee Marc Newson, knew they had to get it just right. Enzo Ferrari's son, Piero Ferrari, had a direct hand in the looks of the Luce's wheel. However, Ive and Newson had plenty ...
Ferrari’s first electric car, the Luce, has officially been revealed, and it’s a stunning piece of automotive engineering. One of the most striking features of the Luce’s interior is its leather-and-aluminum three-spoke steering wheel. Penned in partnership with LoveFrom and legendary industrial designer Jony Ive, the wheel is a masterclass in design and functionality.
The combination of top-notch materials, a thin diameter, and seamless integration of safety feature integration make the wheel a remarkable sight to behold. The retro-inspired exposed metal spokes combined with close attention to its in-hand weight truly stand out in person. The wheel is a driver’s most direct point of connection with the machine, and Ive, alongside equally pedigreed co-designer and fellow LoveFrom employee Marc Newson, knew they had to get it just right.
Enzo Ferrari’s son, Piero Ferrari, had a direct hand in the looks of the Luce’s wheel. However, Ive and Newson had plenty of inspiration to work from at home, too. Ive cited his own Ferrari 250 Europa and its riveted-wood-rimmed steering wheel as an inspiration for the billet aluminum frame; Newson is also no stranger to vintage Prancing Horses, as he owns a 1955 Ferrari 857S and is a regular behind the wheel at the Mille Miglia.
Recreating the feel of these vintage wheels was imperative, but Newson admitted that working in the necessary safety and technology features while retaining the desired proportions wasn’t easy. “We didn’t want the wheel to be any thicker than that. We worked really hard on the proportions from an aesthetic point of view. Then, of course, came the functionality. We worked really intensely with Ferrari test drivers—a guy called Raffaele de Simone, in particular—so we tested this thing within an inch of its life,” Newson said.
“I’m so proud of this steering wheel,” Ive said. “It’s lovely when you’re aware of historical references that there needs to be a sort of courage and a confidence to not just do some pastiche.” The Ferrari Luce will go on sale later this year with airbags, turn signals, and a crash test rating, and the steering column is an important factor in how well a driver is protected in the event of an impact.
As a result, Ferrari had to design minimalist pods to hold its Manettino and eManettino drive control systems that would collapse with the column in the event of a crash; likewise, the paddle shifters collapse alongside the monolithic aluminum steering hub in a hard impact. Ferrari wants to make waves with its first electric car, but the Luce needs to be highly functional for it to succeed, Ive said. Judging by the steering wheel, the brand seems primed to succeed.
COMMENTS