For many car enthusiasts, a low-slung Ferrari, draped in Rosso Corsa paint and emitting thunderous noises through its exhaust pipes is the definition of an automotive dream. But how Ferrari's future cars will retain some of their famous sonic thrills in an electric future remains a mystery.
No to silence
However, the Ferrari boss gave us some clues. In a recent interview with CNBC, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said his engineers were working on “sound signatures that will evoke emotions” in the same way that some of the brand's iconic sports cars have done over the years. Benedetto Vigna added that Ferrari remains committed to the performance, design and driving experience of its future electric vehicles, saying “electric cars will not be silent.”
We immediately think of the “Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust” that Dodge unveiled with the Charger EV. It's probably too early to guess how Ferrari will replicate the natural sound of a V8 or V12 in an electric vehicle.
Electricity: a path to innovation
But as long as it doesn't slap a “cringe” label on its future “non-quiet” supercar, the reception should be pretty enthusiastic, provided it fulfills other expectations, like lascivious design and performance that revamp your interior, you know, the things you typically expect from a Ferrari.
It's good news that the Italian automaker sees EV technology as something that opens doors to innovation, rather than a radical regulatory change. “If you know technology, you know you can do a lot of things with electric cars,” the Ferrari CEO told the outlet when asked about the sound of EVs.
Carbon neutrality by 2030
However, Ferrari's message regarding EVs is perplexing. On the one hand, she said the electric revolution was firmly underway in Maranello. But last year, Benedetto Vigna said in an interview with BBC that it would be “arrogant” to tell customers what to buy.
He reaffirmed Ferrari's commitment to continuing the development of internal combustion engines this decade and beyond (the EU granted it an exception, provided they are powered by carbon-neutral e-fuels). carbon).
Messaging aside, Ferrari expects electric and hybrid cars to make up around 60% of its sales by 2026, and plans to become carbon neutral by 2030. Its current lineup already includes hybrid cars plug-ins, like the SF90 Stradale and the 296 GTB. A specialist factory is also being built in Maranello, where Ferrari will manufacture electric motors, batteries and inverters.
Several car manufacturers have already succeeded in developing a high-performance electric car: Rimac Nevera, Audi E-Tron GT, Porsche Taycan, the list is long. So there's no reason to think Ferrari won't succeed either.