“The point is very simple: we have to innovate. If we do not innovate, we do not deserve to be called a market leader,” said Vigna.
“There is a new traction. Yes, this traction is electric. Yes, other people are having problems. But we have to innovate – and we want to show the world that if we master it well, we can deliver unique driving thrills with electric.”
He added that Ferrari believes in “technology neutrality”, which means “it’s possible to harness any technology to delight our client”.
But while the EV has been developed to perform and handle on the same level as Ferrari’s ICE cars, its primary objective is to help the firm “widen the possible client [base] that will enjoy this type of car” – which is one of the reasons, Vigna said firmly, that “this is not a supercar” – but rather a more practically minded four-seat GT.
But there’s also a crucial technical factor behind the model’s positioning, explained product development boss Gianmaria Fulgenzi – which is that this sort of car makes the best use of an EV drivetrain.
“A few years ago, we started a deep research investigation about a new concept for the marque, that would represent an addition to our range,” he said.
“We believed an electric vehicle would be the ideal addition for the specification we had in mind in terms of driving traits, on-board space and visibility, and which could appeal to clients who would not usually think about buying a Ferrari.”
Fulgenzi explained that if Ferrari electrified a two-seater, “the overall improvement in performance and usability would be really modest – not enough to justify the offset in overall weight”.
“Electric technology would not be at all competitive for a two-seater concept, even [with] an incredible output in terms of horsepower,” he said.
By contrast, a “more versatile” model like the Elettrica can benefit in terms of dynamics, visibility and comfort “compared to an equivalent ICE version”.
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