FERRARI LUCE: REVEALING INTERIOR & INTERFACE DESIGN – AND THE NAME THAT LAUNCHES A NEW SEGMENT FOR FERRARI
- Maqina Team
- 45 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Ferrari unveiled today the interior design and announced the name of its visionary new full-electric sports car: Ferrari Luce, the start of a new chapter in Ferrari’s history.
‘Luce’ is more than a name. It is a vision. When Ferrari speaks of Luce, it is not defining a technology, but a philosophy: electrification as a means, not an end – a new era where design, engineering and imagination converge into something that did not exist before. Simple, pure and evocative, Luce becomes a symbol of clarity and inspiration, expressing Ferrari’s approach to innovation: uncompromising vision, transparent design, silent energy that is felt in every fibre, and form shaped by function.
This new naming strategy reflects how the Ferrari Luce marks a significant addition to the Prancing Horse’s line-up, embodying the seamless expression of tradition and innovation. With its cutting-edge technology, unique design and best-in-class driving thrills, it unites Ferrari’s racing heritage, the timeless spirit of its sports cars, and the evolving reality of contemporary lifestyles. It testifies to Ferrari’s determination to go beyond expectations: to imagine the future, and to dare. Because leading means illuminating the path ahead – and Luce embodies that mindset.
The launch was hosted in San Francisco by Ferrari and LoveFrom, the creative collective founded by Sir Jony Ive with fellow designer Marc Newson, which has been collaborating with Ferrari for five years on every dimension of the new car’s design. A global centre for technology and design, San Francisco has long been home to the world’s most innovative user experience and interface design.
Ferrari’s decision to conceive this car with LoveFrom is a deliberate expression of the marque’s vision for the future: a car that honours Ferrari’s legendary heritage while challenging conventions and reimagining every detail, from materials and ergonomics to the interface and the overall user experience. LoveFrom was given the creative space to define the project’s design direction from the outset to translate a new, cross-disciplinary design language into an authentic Ferrari experience.
The major interior components offer a first, tangible insight into the design philosophy behind the new Ferrari Luce, where innovation meets craftsmanship and cutting-edge design. The team focused on perfecting and refining every solution to its purest form – not to reinvent what already works, but to create a new, carefully considered expression of Ferrari, built for a world where interaction is increasingly meaningful.
In the development phase, LoveFrom worked with the Ferrari Styling Centre, led by Flavio Manzoni, evolving the concept with respect for its original intent, while ensuring every solution met Ferrari’s functional targets, packaging constraints and homologation requirements for a production road sports car.
The cabin is conceived as a single, clean volume, with forms simplified and rationalised in the service of driving, creating an environment that feels calm, focused and spacious. Hardware and software were developed together, so the physical architecture and the interface behaviour feel harmonious. Essential elements such as the binnacle, control panel and central console are self-contained and clearly organised around inputs (controls) and outputs (displays).
This holistic approach is driven by extraordinary care and purposefully shaped by some of the most influential minds in technology design. Every component has been designed and engineered with the same attention and precision, quietly and purposefully functional. Everything integrates seamlessly, forming a unified aesthetic and functional whole that preserves and intensifies the emotional thrill of driving a Ferrari.
Production processes were also carefully considered, with sophisticated manufacturing technologies applied to ensure that every material is presented in its most noble form. This gives both a modern and timeless feel, with materials that are not just luxurious, but genuinely authentic – demonstrating Ferrari’s dedication to quality, innovation, and the enduring value of craftsmanship.
Materials were chosen for their durability and integrity. The designers embraced aluminium for its suitability for precision machining, with engineered components that celebrate the quality and beauty of the material. The aluminium is 100%-recycled aluminium alloy meticulously machined from solid billets using advanced 3- or 5-axis CNC technology, then subjected to a state-of-the-art anodisation process. This treatment creates an ultra-thin, hexagonal cell microstructure on the surface, ensuring exceptional resistance, hardness, and a refined micro-texture. The result is a finish with a deep, enduring colour that remains vibrant over time. Glass is precision-milled Corning® Gorilla5® Glass, which is durable, scratch resistant and has high visibility.
Ultimately, the design of the Ferrari Luce’s interior is a synthesis of meticulous craftsmanship, respect for tradition, and thoughtful innovation. It offers a new choice for Ferrari enthusiasts – one that honours the past while embracing the future, and exemplifies the brand’s enduring commitment to quality, performance, and cultural significance.
LOVEFROM
LoveFrom is a creative collective of architects, artists, engineers, filmmakers, graphic designers, industrial designers, interaction designers, motion designers, musicians, sound designers, type designers and writers. The collective was brought together by Sir Jony Ive in 2019 and has studios in San Francisco and London. LoveFrom works closely with OpenAI, as well as a small number of selective projects, including Ferrari.
PRESS KIT
HUMAN INTERFACE
Following LoveFrom’s industry-defining expertise, the interface of the Ferrari Luce delivers a strong emphasis on tactility, clarity, and intuitive interaction. The design team prioritised physical controls that invite touch and engagement, creating a compelling connection between driver and car. Defying the convention that electric cars must be dominated by large touchscreens, many of the Ferrari Luce controls are mechanical and precisely engineered to be intuitive and satisfying by making every interaction simpler and more direct. Inspired by classic sports cars and Formula One single seaters, the interface is clearly organised and pared down to essential functions.
STEERING WHEEL
The steering wheel of the Ferrari Luce pays homage to Ferrari’s rich heritage while embracing modern innovation. The design team chose a simplified three-spoke form, reinterpreting the iconic 1950s and 60s wooden three-spoke Nardi wheel. The aluminium structure of the spokes is intentionally exposed and highlighted, showcasing the material’s strength and finish. Manufactured in 100% recycled aluminium, the alloy was developed specifically for the Ferrari Luce to ensure mechanical resistance and a superb surface quality for the anodisation process. The steering wheel is made with 19 CNC-machined parts and weighs 400 grams less than a standard Ferrari steering wheel.
Controls on the steering wheel are organised into two analogue control modules, ensuring both functionality and clarity. This intuitive arrangement echoes the layout of Formula One single seaters. Every button has been developed to provide the most harmonious combination of mechanical and acoustic feedback based on more than 20 evaluation tests with Ferrari test drivers.
KEY AND KEY DOCK
Starting the Ferrari Luce is designed to be theatrical and memorable, echoing the marque’s tradition of creating a thrilling driving experience. The ritual begins with engaging the key – a unique, tactile object. The key is made in Corning® Gorilla5® Glass, the first automotive glass engineered for superior durability and scratch resistance while maintaining excellent optical performance. The key features a specially developed ‘E Ink’ display that only uses power during colour changes, due to its bi-stable properties. This implementation of an ‘E Ink’ display marks an automotive first.
Inserting the key into its dock on the central console initiates a carefully choreographed sequence: the key’s colour switches from yellow to black as it integrates with the glass surface of the central console. The control panel and binnacle simultaneously light up, heightening anticipation and signalling the transition from stillness to motion.
DISPLAYS
The three displays in the Ferrari Luce – driver binnacle, control panel and rear control panel – have been meticulously designed for clarity and purpose. The team spent significant time considering the organisation of inputs (controls) and outputs (displays), making the user experience intuitive and easy to navigate. An understated, new custom typeface gives the interface and identity a coherent typographic voice, informed by historic Ferrari type and Italian engineering lettering.
BINNACLE
The binnacle moves with the steering wheel, optimising the driver’s view of the instrumentation and supporting driver performance. An instrument cluster mounted on the steering column is a first for a range Ferrari. It features two overlapping OLED displays that deliver crisp graphics, vibrant colours, and infinite contrast for an unprecedented viewing experience. It merges digital and analogue elements in a self-contained unit attached to the steering column, moving in sync with the wheel’s rake and reach for seamless interaction. The designers’ meticulous attention to detail for the binnacle required the collaboration of Samsung Display’s engineers to create an ultra-light and ultra-thin OLED panel featuring a world first – three large cutouts strategically reveal the information generated by a second display behind the top panel, creating a fascinating visual depth that captures the eye. Each opening is protected by a clear glass lens, further enhancing the sense of three-dimensionality, and is surrounded by anodised aluminium rings that give the openings the perfect balance, echoing the style of the structural frame of the entire binnacle.
CONTROL PANEL
The control panel is mounted on a ball-and-socket joint, allowing the screen to be oriented towards either the driver or the passenger – a unique feature that enhances and shares the Ferrari experience. Attention to ergonomic details, including a palm rest for operating the panel, further elevates the user experience. This feature allows users to interact with controls effortlessly and intuitively without looking, demonstrating the team’s commitment to solving complex problems in ways that feel simple and natural.
The multigraph integrated into the central display is a masterpiece of micro-engineering. This symbol of precision and innovation features a proprietary movement with three independent motors that move the hands autonomously. Three anodised aluminium hands glide over a minimalist dial protected by Corning® Gorilla5® Glass. An advanced electronic control system gives the multigraph four modes – clock, chronograph, compass, and launch control – with animated transitions reminiscent of the finest chronographs. The multigraph honours Ferrari’s tradition, and redefines the onboard experience, blending watchmaking artistry and technology into a feature that expresses the brand’s passion and excellence.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
Controls are inspired by both historic automotive cues and the purposeful, clear graphics found in aviation, particularly helicopters and aircraft. These displays are designed to resemble analogue gauges, delivering a sense of familiarity and tactile engagement, yet are fully digital beneath their surface. The result is a cockpit that feels both modern and classic, with every display communicating information in a clean, graphically legible manner.
The binnacle's graphics are inspired by the clarity and elegance of historic instrument dials, particularly Veglia and Jaeger instruments from the 1950s and 60s. Drawing on decades of experience in horological design, the team sought to achieve a watch-like clarity, creating a modern, clean layout that highlights the legibility of the dials. Information is presented in a way that is immediately legible and intuitively understood.
This approach is rooted in the concept of reducing cognitive load for the driver. By referencing the simplicity of analogue watch dials, where time can be read at a glance, the designers aimed to make the car’s controls and displays equally intuitive. The graphics are purposefully minimal and clear, allowing drivers to glean essential information quickly and effortlessly while keeping their attention on the road.
SHIFTER
The shifter is a technical work of art in Corning® Gorilla5® Glass. Functional, strong, and elegant, it is made using first-of-their kind glass manufacturing processes that have never been incorporated into automotive interior design before. To achieve the level of precision required by Ferrari, lasers were used to make tiny holes in the glass half the width of a human hair to deposit the ink for the graphics with the perfect level of uniformity. Gorilla5® is designed to offer superior surface durability as well as better impact and scratch resistance than conventional glass and is used on the control panel, binnacle and on the surface of the central console.