Ferrari Korea unveiled its next-generation all-electric sports car, the Ferrari Elettrica, at its Cheongdam showroom in Seoul's Gangnam District on the 24th.
The Elettrica is the first mass-produced electric vehicle Ferrari has developed to expand the brand's possibilities and product range through electrification.
Powered by four independent electric motors mounted on each wheel and a large 122-kilowatt-hour battery, it produces a peak output of 1,036 horsepower and accelerates from a standstill to 100 kilometers per hour in 2.5 seconds.
It is the first Ferrari to adopt a four-door, five-seat layout, with 597 liters of trunk space. It also features active suspension.
The design was completed in collaboration with LoveFrom, the studio led by Jony Ive—the designer famous for the iPhone—and Marc Newson. Ferrari said it unified the exterior, interior and digital interface into a single design language to achieve a refined simplicity. Inside, an OLED display system co-developed with Samsung Display is fitted to the driver's binnacle instrument cluster, the central panel and the rear-seat panel.
Since its unveiling last May, however, the Elettrica has drawn controversy over claims that its design undermines Ferrari's identity. Luca di Montezemolo, a former Ferrari chairman, argued that the "Cavallino Rampante"—the prancing horse emblem—should be removed from the Elettrica, saying "our legend is at risk of collapsing." On social media, the car's rounded exterior was mocked as looking like a low-cost mass-market vehicle.
Despite the controversy, purchases have continued, led by wealthy customers in China, and the Elettrica is reported to have already met its sales target for this year of 500 units. The domestic price in Korea will be in the mid-to-high 800 million won range (about $600,000), with local deliveries expected around the third quarter of next year.
Thibault Dussarat, CEO of Ferrari Korea, said, "Korea is a very important market that combines a deep understanding of rich cultural heritage with a keen eye for cutting-edge future technology." He added, "The Elettrica will go beyond the limits of the traditional automobile to deliver a higher dimension of driving emotion and a state-of-the-art user experience."
Ferrari Korea will hold customer invitation events at its Cheongdam showroom from the 26th through September 13, and at its Busan showroom from September 29 through October 4. On October 22 and 23, it will display the Elettrica and its key display components at Samsung Display's headquarters in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
