Latest news with #BenedettoVigna
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
It's Early in Formula 1, and Ferrari Has Already Faded
Ferrari came just 14 points short of winning the Formula 1's constructors' championship in 2024, but already the fabled Italian team is firmly out of contention for the crown. It is languishing in fourth, 165 points behind the runaway leader, McLaren. It has just one top three finish this year. 'The beginning has not been easy, we all know that,' Benedetto Vigna, the Ferrari chief executive, said in an conference call earlier in May. Its car, the SF-25, has not lived up to expectations and has lacked performance across a variety of conditions. Charles Leclerc, who dominated in Monaco 12 months ago to finally win at his home Grand Prix, is pessimistic. 'Unfortunately, I'm really not looking forward to Monaco this year,' Leclerc said after the Miami Grand Prix. 'As I don't think we've got a car to be quick there.' Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion who joined the team after 12 years at Mercedes, has not looked fully comfortable. He shone in the sprint race in China, winning from pole position, but he has labored and his mood has fluctuated. After finishing seventh in Saudi Arabia in April, a downbeat Hamilton said he feared 2025 would be painful and that he was 'struggling to feel the car beneath me,' while also being clueless as to how to address the problem. After the following race in Miami, where he finished eighth, Hamilton was significantly more ebullient, saying, 'I truly believe that when we fix some of the problems that we have with the car, we'll be back in the fight with the Mercedes, with the [Red] Bulls.' Even accounting for Hamilton's own performances, Ferrari has struggled to extract speed during qualifying sessions and has difficulties getting Pirelli's tires into the optimum operating window for one-lap performance. Those results always heavily dictate Grand Prix results, a trend that has been prominent in 2025 because of the impact of disrupted air flow when following another car. Grid position is also vital for Monaco, less so because of dirty air, but because of the narrow streets that render passing nearly impossible. While Hamilton's average qualifying result in 2025 has been a lowly 8.7, Leclerc — a renowned qualifying specialist with 26 pole positions — is at 6.1. 'I think we need to focus on qualifying,' Leclerc said in Saudi Arabia. 'I feel very at ease with the car in a way that I know I can extract the maximum out of the car more often than not, but unfortunately, the car potential is just not good enough to fight for better in qualifying,' he continued. Similar sentiments were echoed in Miami, after Leclerc qualified only eighth. 'I feel we are maximizing the potential of the car,' he said. 'It's just that the potential of the car is just not there. And when I finish a lap, again, in qualifying, I feel very satisfied with my lap, but it's only bringing us whatever it is, P8 or something.' Leclerc said that 'we are just not fast,' adding: 'Whatever we do with the car, we can run it in different ways, but we just don't have the down force that the others have at the moment, especially at low speeds.' It is possible that Ferrari can remedy its problems by bringing new components, but these take time to design and produce — once an issue is identified — and even then there is no guarantee of its efficacy. Other teams, too, are not standing still. Operationally, Ferrari has also made mistakes, such as misreading the weather in Australia and suffering a rare double disqualification in China when its cars had separate technical breaches, with one underweight and the other with excessive skid plank wear that rendered it illegal. Ferrari has two high-caliber drivers, and all the resources at its disposal, but as another new regulation change looms for 2026, a championship, which it last won in 2008, may continue to be out of reach.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How This Top Luxury Stock Makes a Comeback in a Critical Market
Ferrari's sales have suffered in a challenging Chinese market. Ferrari is preparing to launch its first fully electric vehicle. The automaker's F80 could provide additional growth. 10 stocks we like better than Ferrari › When it comes to Ferrari (NYSE: RACE) the business, or the racing heritage, there isn't much weakness to find in its operations. The company generates ridiculous margins for the auto industry, like other luxury businesses is recession resilient, and even boasts a near $4 million vehicle that's already sold out. One small weakness for the company has been its results in China – but that could be changing soon. Ferrari isn't alone in facing pain in China's automotive market. In fact, it's faring far better than its western peers as it has purposely limited its sales in China to roughly 10% of its total. Meanwhile, peers are struggling with massive sales declines amid a brutal price war in the country. That said, Ferrari's sales in China have hit a speed bump as well and fell 25% during the first quarter to their lowest in nearly four years. Part of that was a shrinking China luxury car market last year due to a broader economic downturn, and weak consumer sentiment and spending. In a way, Ferrari is merely attempting to adapt to the prevailing trend in China that has been a boom and focus on electric vehicles (EVs). That's right, Ferrari is looking to roll out its first fully electric supercar -- don't forget that Ferrari already does roughly half its sales in hybrids -- in hopes of reviving sales in China. Not only will Ferrari benefit from China's rising EV market, but it will also benefit from lower tariffs and taxes. The vehicle, dubbed Elettrica, that Ferrari plans to unveil in October is expected to be taxed at a compound rate of 30% of its manufacturer's suggested retail price, which compares favorably to its vehicles equipped with 12-cylinder engines that can be taxed at nearly four times that rate. Make no mistake, this will be a big launch for Ferrari, which will launch the EV through a three-step process. Ferrari will show the "technological heart" of the new EV at its capital markets day on Oct. 9, per CEO Benedetto Vigna on the company's first-quarter earnings call. Then the world premiere takes place during the spring of 2026, with sales launching that following October. Further, while Ferrari historically limits its sales in China to around 10% of its total, that cap could rise with a potentially more profitable EV due to lower tariffs and taxes. That could mean more growth for a company that always makes sure it has more demand than supply and keeps a lid on sales. It's not the only near-term avenue for growth, either. In fact, Ferrari's upcoming $3.8 million F80 could deliver a significant earnings boost that could help its shares gain another 30%, according to Barron's. The super-luxury vehicle is an example of just how strong the company's pricing power is. Anthony Dick, who covers the automotive market for Paris-based private bank and asset manager ODDO BHF, told Barron's that the vehicle's margins could be high enough to generate 20% of company profit from just 2% of units sold. Ferrari has emerged as not only a top automotive stock, but one of the best-performing stocks over the past few years. Its share gains have trounced the broader S&P 500 index, gaining 158% over the past three years compared to the S&P 500's 47% gain. It has products people dream of owning, incredible margins, impressive pricing power, and best of all, room for growth. If the company's first fully electric EV is a hit in China, and potentially more profitable, it would be another huge win for the company that seems to keep winning. Before you buy stock in Ferrari, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Ferrari wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $598,613!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $753,878!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 922% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 169% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 12, 2025 Daniel Miller has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. How This Top Luxury Stock Makes a Comeback in a Critical Market was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Electric Ferraris look set to get fake gearbox and engine sounds
Two recent patent applications suggest Ferrari is working on a virtual engine and gear-shift system for its upcoming electric vehicles. The patent specifications were filed with the European Patent Office headquartered in Munich in September last year but only recently published and reported on by automotive industry media. The patent with the number EP 4 527 667 A1 would see Ferrari using an electric motor to emulate the torque output of an internal combustion engine and the shifting processes of a gearbox. When the fake gearbox technology "shifts" and when it does not, or which virtual gear it selects, depends on the respective engine torque and the accelerator pedal position. However, it also allows simulated manual gear changes, which can be carried out via steering wheel paddles. Another patent, EP 4 523 947 A1, describes the coupled sound system with interior and exterior loudspeakers. This allows a digitally generated engine sound to be reproduced and according to the patent specification, this can be "historical, modern or futuristic, adrenaline-fuelled or relaxed" depending on preference. The gear changes are also acoustically accompanied. The system is also said to have a function with which other engine sounds can be recorded and played back. Ferrari is still fettling an electric car to bear the prancing horse badge, but brand boss Benedetto Vigna has said the finished car should go on sale in October 2026, if all goes well. Filing patents does not guarantee that the new EV will have the features described, but the company has repeatedly said it wants its battery electrics to match the emotional experience of its traditional, internal-combustion cars. Ferrari is not the first to go down this road either. Hyundai installed an 8,000-rpm turbocharged four-cylinder and eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox in the Ioniq 5 N. It pegs the torque output of its electric motor to give the driver a similar sensation to a combustion engine. The car can also manage either automated simulated shifts, or driver-controlled manual shifts via the paddles behind the steering wheel. In the US, Dodge also has an external and internal device to produce noise for its new Charger Daytona EV but it's a purely aural system, with no simulated torque outputs or gear-shifts. BMW has said it is developing something like the Hyundai system, but Porsche has been clear that it will not jump on this technical bandwagon.
The Advertiser
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Waiting to see Ferrari's first EV? You'll need to wait longer
Ferrari's first battery-electric vehicle (EV) won't be revealed in October as it previously advised – instead it will be revealed next year ahead of first customer deliveries later in 2026. At the company's Capital Markets Day in Maranello on February 5, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said the famed Italian performance car brand would unveil its first EV on October 9, but last week he clarified that only its "technological heart" (ie: its powertrain) would be revealed on that date. It'll be part of a three-stage global launch for the mould-breaking EV. The interior of the as-yet-unnamed battery-powered vehicle, which apart from introducing electric power will debut a new four-door Ferrari body style that looks more like a liftback or shooting brake wagon than the Purosangue SUV, will then be revealed early next year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Ferrari now says the car's full exterior reveal won't take place until the northern hemisphere spring (autumn for us southerners, so March-May) of 2026, ahead of first customer deliveries commencing in October next year. Now spied testing several times outside Maranello, Ferrari's first EV has so far only been seen in prototype form wearing what appears to be a modified Maserati Levante body with Ferrari Roma headlights. The development mule featured fake quad exhaust outlets protruding from the rear of its mismatched bodywork and was heard emitting a synthesised low-pitched V8 rumble. Little else is known about the EV, however Ferrari has said it's expected to account for five per cent of its annual sales from 2026. Based on sales figures from 2024, when Ferrari sold a record 13,752 vehicles globally, that would equate to about 700 EVs annually. Thanks largely to the 296 GTS, Roma Spider and Purosangue, the Italian carmaker increased its revenue by 11.8 per cent last year, to about US$7 billion (A$10.879bn) based on current exchange rates. Ferrari's new battery-powered fastback will join the growing list of electrified vehicles from the Italian brand, including the 296 GTB/GTS supercar and the SF90 Stradale hypercar. But its first EV comes amid cooling consumer demand for exotic EVs, and a growing list of brands to push back or cancel an upcoming EV, most recently including the Maserati MC20 Folgore supercar. Ferrari executives have previously told CarExpert that any EV from the hallowed prancing horse brand will remain true to its red-blooded performance ethos. "Driving thrills are the most important thing within our portfolio and we measure driving thrills in two ways," said Emanuele Carando, Ferrari's global marketing director. "The easiest way is the smile the clients have whenever they drive our car and get out of the car. [This is] the best indication of how fun it is to drive the car. "But there is a more scientific approach which is longitudinal acceleration, lateral acceleration, braking, gear shifting and sound. Those five elements are the most important elements we evaluate and we build together to develop our cars." Since Ferrari announced in February that it would reveal six new vehicles this year, it unveiled the sharper new 296 Speciale in April – its most powerful rear-wheel drive production model ever. It's unclear what the other five (four if you include the EV) new models will be, but a hardcore XX version of the SF90 is expected, along with a convertible version, and there's speculation of a successor or heavy facelift for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) hypercar, production of which started in 2019 and ended last year. Other possibilities include a PHEV version of the Purosangue, a replacement for the Roma coupe to be sold alongside the current Roma Spider, and another limited edition Icona series model like the Monza SP1/SP2 and Daytona SP3. MORE: Ferrari EV launch date setMORE: How Ferrari will ensure its first EV is a 'true' FerrariMORE: Ferrari's electric Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S rival spiedMORE: Is this the sound of Ferrari's first EV? Content originally sourced from: Ferrari's first battery-electric vehicle (EV) won't be revealed in October as it previously advised – instead it will be revealed next year ahead of first customer deliveries later in 2026. At the company's Capital Markets Day in Maranello on February 5, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said the famed Italian performance car brand would unveil its first EV on October 9, but last week he clarified that only its "technological heart" (ie: its powertrain) would be revealed on that date. It'll be part of a three-stage global launch for the mould-breaking EV. The interior of the as-yet-unnamed battery-powered vehicle, which apart from introducing electric power will debut a new four-door Ferrari body style that looks more like a liftback or shooting brake wagon than the Purosangue SUV, will then be revealed early next year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Ferrari now says the car's full exterior reveal won't take place until the northern hemisphere spring (autumn for us southerners, so March-May) of 2026, ahead of first customer deliveries commencing in October next year. Now spied testing several times outside Maranello, Ferrari's first EV has so far only been seen in prototype form wearing what appears to be a modified Maserati Levante body with Ferrari Roma headlights. The development mule featured fake quad exhaust outlets protruding from the rear of its mismatched bodywork and was heard emitting a synthesised low-pitched V8 rumble. Little else is known about the EV, however Ferrari has said it's expected to account for five per cent of its annual sales from 2026. Based on sales figures from 2024, when Ferrari sold a record 13,752 vehicles globally, that would equate to about 700 EVs annually. Thanks largely to the 296 GTS, Roma Spider and Purosangue, the Italian carmaker increased its revenue by 11.8 per cent last year, to about US$7 billion (A$10.879bn) based on current exchange rates. Ferrari's new battery-powered fastback will join the growing list of electrified vehicles from the Italian brand, including the 296 GTB/GTS supercar and the SF90 Stradale hypercar. But its first EV comes amid cooling consumer demand for exotic EVs, and a growing list of brands to push back or cancel an upcoming EV, most recently including the Maserati MC20 Folgore supercar. Ferrari executives have previously told CarExpert that any EV from the hallowed prancing horse brand will remain true to its red-blooded performance ethos. "Driving thrills are the most important thing within our portfolio and we measure driving thrills in two ways," said Emanuele Carando, Ferrari's global marketing director. "The easiest way is the smile the clients have whenever they drive our car and get out of the car. [This is] the best indication of how fun it is to drive the car. "But there is a more scientific approach which is longitudinal acceleration, lateral acceleration, braking, gear shifting and sound. Those five elements are the most important elements we evaluate and we build together to develop our cars." Since Ferrari announced in February that it would reveal six new vehicles this year, it unveiled the sharper new 296 Speciale in April – its most powerful rear-wheel drive production model ever. It's unclear what the other five (four if you include the EV) new models will be, but a hardcore XX version of the SF90 is expected, along with a convertible version, and there's speculation of a successor or heavy facelift for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) hypercar, production of which started in 2019 and ended last year. Other possibilities include a PHEV version of the Purosangue, a replacement for the Roma coupe to be sold alongside the current Roma Spider, and another limited edition Icona series model like the Monza SP1/SP2 and Daytona SP3. MORE: Ferrari EV launch date setMORE: How Ferrari will ensure its first EV is a 'true' FerrariMORE: Ferrari's electric Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S rival spiedMORE: Is this the sound of Ferrari's first EV? Content originally sourced from: Ferrari's first battery-electric vehicle (EV) won't be revealed in October as it previously advised – instead it will be revealed next year ahead of first customer deliveries later in 2026. At the company's Capital Markets Day in Maranello on February 5, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said the famed Italian performance car brand would unveil its first EV on October 9, but last week he clarified that only its "technological heart" (ie: its powertrain) would be revealed on that date. It'll be part of a three-stage global launch for the mould-breaking EV. The interior of the as-yet-unnamed battery-powered vehicle, which apart from introducing electric power will debut a new four-door Ferrari body style that looks more like a liftback or shooting brake wagon than the Purosangue SUV, will then be revealed early next year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Ferrari now says the car's full exterior reveal won't take place until the northern hemisphere spring (autumn for us southerners, so March-May) of 2026, ahead of first customer deliveries commencing in October next year. Now spied testing several times outside Maranello, Ferrari's first EV has so far only been seen in prototype form wearing what appears to be a modified Maserati Levante body with Ferrari Roma headlights. The development mule featured fake quad exhaust outlets protruding from the rear of its mismatched bodywork and was heard emitting a synthesised low-pitched V8 rumble. Little else is known about the EV, however Ferrari has said it's expected to account for five per cent of its annual sales from 2026. Based on sales figures from 2024, when Ferrari sold a record 13,752 vehicles globally, that would equate to about 700 EVs annually. Thanks largely to the 296 GTS, Roma Spider and Purosangue, the Italian carmaker increased its revenue by 11.8 per cent last year, to about US$7 billion (A$10.879bn) based on current exchange rates. Ferrari's new battery-powered fastback will join the growing list of electrified vehicles from the Italian brand, including the 296 GTB/GTS supercar and the SF90 Stradale hypercar. But its first EV comes amid cooling consumer demand for exotic EVs, and a growing list of brands to push back or cancel an upcoming EV, most recently including the Maserati MC20 Folgore supercar. Ferrari executives have previously told CarExpert that any EV from the hallowed prancing horse brand will remain true to its red-blooded performance ethos. "Driving thrills are the most important thing within our portfolio and we measure driving thrills in two ways," said Emanuele Carando, Ferrari's global marketing director. "The easiest way is the smile the clients have whenever they drive our car and get out of the car. [This is] the best indication of how fun it is to drive the car. "But there is a more scientific approach which is longitudinal acceleration, lateral acceleration, braking, gear shifting and sound. Those five elements are the most important elements we evaluate and we build together to develop our cars." Since Ferrari announced in February that it would reveal six new vehicles this year, it unveiled the sharper new 296 Speciale in April – its most powerful rear-wheel drive production model ever. It's unclear what the other five (four if you include the EV) new models will be, but a hardcore XX version of the SF90 is expected, along with a convertible version, and there's speculation of a successor or heavy facelift for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) hypercar, production of which started in 2019 and ended last year. Other possibilities include a PHEV version of the Purosangue, a replacement for the Roma coupe to be sold alongside the current Roma Spider, and another limited edition Icona series model like the Monza SP1/SP2 and Daytona SP3. MORE: Ferrari EV launch date setMORE: How Ferrari will ensure its first EV is a 'true' FerrariMORE: Ferrari's electric Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S rival spiedMORE: Is this the sound of Ferrari's first EV? Content originally sourced from: Ferrari's first battery-electric vehicle (EV) won't be revealed in October as it previously advised – instead it will be revealed next year ahead of first customer deliveries later in 2026. At the company's Capital Markets Day in Maranello on February 5, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said the famed Italian performance car brand would unveil its first EV on October 9, but last week he clarified that only its "technological heart" (ie: its powertrain) would be revealed on that date. It'll be part of a three-stage global launch for the mould-breaking EV. The interior of the as-yet-unnamed battery-powered vehicle, which apart from introducing electric power will debut a new four-door Ferrari body style that looks more like a liftback or shooting brake wagon than the Purosangue SUV, will then be revealed early next year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Ferrari now says the car's full exterior reveal won't take place until the northern hemisphere spring (autumn for us southerners, so March-May) of 2026, ahead of first customer deliveries commencing in October next year. Now spied testing several times outside Maranello, Ferrari's first EV has so far only been seen in prototype form wearing what appears to be a modified Maserati Levante body with Ferrari Roma headlights. The development mule featured fake quad exhaust outlets protruding from the rear of its mismatched bodywork and was heard emitting a synthesised low-pitched V8 rumble. Little else is known about the EV, however Ferrari has said it's expected to account for five per cent of its annual sales from 2026. Based on sales figures from 2024, when Ferrari sold a record 13,752 vehicles globally, that would equate to about 700 EVs annually. Thanks largely to the 296 GTS, Roma Spider and Purosangue, the Italian carmaker increased its revenue by 11.8 per cent last year, to about US$7 billion (A$10.879bn) based on current exchange rates. Ferrari's new battery-powered fastback will join the growing list of electrified vehicles from the Italian brand, including the 296 GTB/GTS supercar and the SF90 Stradale hypercar. But its first EV comes amid cooling consumer demand for exotic EVs, and a growing list of brands to push back or cancel an upcoming EV, most recently including the Maserati MC20 Folgore supercar. Ferrari executives have previously told CarExpert that any EV from the hallowed prancing horse brand will remain true to its red-blooded performance ethos. "Driving thrills are the most important thing within our portfolio and we measure driving thrills in two ways," said Emanuele Carando, Ferrari's global marketing director. "The easiest way is the smile the clients have whenever they drive our car and get out of the car. [This is] the best indication of how fun it is to drive the car. "But there is a more scientific approach which is longitudinal acceleration, lateral acceleration, braking, gear shifting and sound. Those five elements are the most important elements we evaluate and we build together to develop our cars." Since Ferrari announced in February that it would reveal six new vehicles this year, it unveiled the sharper new 296 Speciale in April – its most powerful rear-wheel drive production model ever. It's unclear what the other five (four if you include the EV) new models will be, but a hardcore XX version of the SF90 is expected, along with a convertible version, and there's speculation of a successor or heavy facelift for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) hypercar, production of which started in 2019 and ended last year. Other possibilities include a PHEV version of the Purosangue, a replacement for the Roma coupe to be sold alongside the current Roma Spider, and another limited edition Icona series model like the Monza SP1/SP2 and Daytona SP3. MORE: Ferrari EV launch date setMORE: How Ferrari will ensure its first EV is a 'true' FerrariMORE: Ferrari's electric Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S rival spiedMORE: Is this the sound of Ferrari's first EV? Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Waiting to see Ferrari's first EV? You'll need to wait longer
Ferrari's first battery-electric vehicle (EV) won't be revealed in October as it previously advised – instead it will be revealed next year ahead of first customer deliveries later in 2026. At the company's Capital Markets Day in Maranello on February 5, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said the famed Italian performance car brand would unveil its first EV on October 9, but last week he clarified that only its 'technological heart' (ie: its powertrain) would be revealed on that date. It'll be part of a three-stage global launch for the mould-breaking EV. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The interior of the as-yet-unnamed battery-powered vehicle, which apart from introducing electric power will debut a new four-door Ferrari body style that looks more like a liftback or shooting brake wagon than the Purosangue SUV, will then be revealed early next year. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Ferrari now says the car's full exterior reveal won't take place until the northern hemisphere spring (autumn for us southerners, so March-May) of 2026, ahead of first customer deliveries commencing in October next year. Now spied testing several times outside Maranello, Ferrari's first EV has so far only been seen in prototype form wearing what appears to be a modified Maserati Levante body with Ferrari Roma headlights. The development mule featured fake quad exhaust outlets protruding from the rear of its mismatched bodywork and was heard emitting a synthesised low-pitched V8 rumble. Little else is known about the EV, however Ferrari has said it's expected to account for five per cent of its annual sales from 2026. Based on sales figures from 2024, when Ferrari sold a record 13,752 vehicles globally, that would equate to about 700 EVs annually. Thanks largely to the 296 GTS, Roma Spider and Purosangue, the Italian carmaker increased its revenue by 11.8 per cent last year, to about US$7 billion (A$10.879bn) based on current exchange rates. Ferrari's new battery-powered fastback will join the growing list of electrified vehicles from the Italian brand, including the 296 GTB/GTS supercar and the SF90 Stradale hypercar. But its first EV comes amid cooling consumer demand for exotic EVs, and a growing list of brands to push back or cancel an upcoming EV, most recently including the Maserati MC20 Folgore supercar. Ferrari executives have previously told CarExpert that any EV from the hallowed prancing horse brand will remain true to its red-blooded performance ethos. 'Driving thrills are the most important thing within our portfolio and we measure driving thrills in two ways,' said Emanuele Carando, Ferrari's global marketing director. 'The easiest way is the smile the clients have whenever they drive our car and get out of the car. [This is] the best indication of how fun it is to drive the car. 'But there is a more scientific approach which is longitudinal acceleration, lateral acceleration, braking, gear shifting and sound. Those five elements are the most important elements we evaluate and we build together to develop our cars.' Since Ferrari announced in February that it would reveal six new vehicles this year, it unveiled the sharper new 296 Speciale in April – its most powerful rear-wheel drive production model ever. It's unclear what the other five (four if you include the EV) new models will be, but a hardcore XX version of the SF90 is expected, along with a convertible version, and there's speculation of a successor or heavy facelift for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) hypercar, production of which started in 2019 and ended last year. Other possibilities include a PHEV version of the Purosangue, a replacement for the Roma coupe to be sold alongside the current Roma Spider, and another limited edition Icona series model like the Monza SP1/SP2 and Daytona SP3.
