The design appears to be entirely the work of former Apple designer Jony Ive and his firm. Only the rear end, with its four taillights, still evokes the brand. It seems that the
new design strikes quite a few people as odd.
One reason may be that the car still looks relatively compact in photos and is therefore compared to Ferrari sports cars. In reality, however, it is almost exactly the same length
as the
Puresangue, the model with which Ferrari pioneered the production of four-door vehicles.
It might be easier to understand if you imagine the structure without its outer shell, which is usually double-walled. Then, at the front, a line rises toward the windshield without any
kinks—
a design that has never been seen before, even on sports cars.
Of course, you can’t design a full-size sedan that way—or maybe you can, if you add a second layer that doesn’t compromise the aerodynamics. Designers from
all over the world will probably be looking very closely at this point.
This is a meticulously styled and designed car. Whatever you may think of Apple products, their design standards are undeniable. If you try to follow the flows of air around the
car, it almost makes you dizzy.
Of course, the windshield wipers couldn't be hidden under a hood that doesn't even exist at this point. So they moved to the A-pillars. However, things were taken a step too far
with the aerodynamically optimized rims, which cannot even withstand coming anywhere near a curb.
But there are other options available on these rims, whose diameter has never been seen on a sedan before. While others are tinkering with the appearance of the light units,
they almost disappear at the front and are only visible at the back when they're needed.
It’s actually easier to get used to the rear end and the black trim at the front and rear. Another unusual feature are the rear doors which open forwards; they can be opened
mechanically and at the same time electrically. Perfect for anyone who finds servomotors too slow.
Inside, you find something similar: three buttons, each tiltable up and down, whose operation is accompanied by a bar on the display that precisely indicates how long you have
been pressing them. The displays, too, are a combination of the real and the virtual.
Others overdo the steering wheel so heavily that you feel like you have to turn half the dashboard when going around a curve. The Luce has a very minimalist set of features. The
steering wheel rim is surprisingly slim, evoking the feel of previous sports cars.
Is it possible that this car is both practical and exclusive? At least four people can ride in style; in fact, it’s lightweight given the battery capacity and engine equipment.
With rear-wheel steering, it still handles corners well and has an unexpectedly high top speed.
However, we would be absolutely fascinated to know how long the car can sustain anything even remotely close to that top speed. In any case, the acceleration strikes us as being sports-car-like.
What did the critics expect, a narrow, low-slung two-seater with even more range?
