Ferrari’s Maranello manufacturing headquarters, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, is a place where history hangs heavily in the air. “Headquarters”, however, does not capture the scale of the Cittadella, as this sprawling reticulation of offices, production buildings, wind tunnels, warehouses and workshops is known. Visitors are left in no doubt of its motorsport heritage. The complex centres around Via Enzo Ferrari, the main axis off which run roads named after famous F1 winners: Via Nuvolari, Via Niki Lauda, Via Kimi Räikkönen.
The names of these star charioteers flick past as we drive to the Design Centre, the heart – figuratively and physically – of the Ferrari Citadella. It is here, on an open-air viewing platform, that I will be getting the first glimpse of the marque’s fully electric car as designed by Jony Ive and Marc Newson, shrouded in secrecy and a large sheet of silken material.
The reveal has taken place in an informational striptease over the past seven months. Last autumn saw the technical reveal, with details of the powertrain and EV platform. In February the action moved to San Francisco, where the interior and driver interface were shown. Only now have the engine, interior and bodywork come together in the vehicle Ferrari has chosen to call the Luce.