Jony Ive Designs Ferrari’s First Electric Car Interior
▼ Summary
– Ferrari has released interior images of its first all-electric supercar, the Luce, designed in collaboration with Jony Ive’s firm LoveFrom.
– The interior features physical controls and screens with rounded corners, blending Ive’s minimalist Apple aesthetic with classic Ferrari elements.
– Key materials include anodized aluminum and Corning glass, while the steering wheel uses recycled aluminum and is significantly lighter.
– The cabin has innovative displays, including a moving instrument cluster and a central screen on a rotating ball-and-socket joint.
– The collaboration has been secret for five years, with Ive noting the unique challenges of automotive safety regulations.
The first glimpse inside Ferrari’s groundbreaking all-electric supercar, the Ferrari Luce, reveals a cabin shaped by one of the most influential designers of our time. Jony Ive, the creative force behind iconic Apple products like the iPhone and iMac, has partnered with designer Marc Newson and their firm LoveFrom to craft the interior. This five-year collaboration marks a significant departure for the Italian marque, outsourcing such a critical element and offering a tantalizing hint at what an Apple-designed vehicle might have embodied.
Contrary to expectations of stark minimalism, the Luce’s cockpit features a thoughtful array of physical buttons and controls, a welcome sight for driving purists. Ive’s signature touch, however, is unmistakably present. The displays boast familiar rounded corners, and the extensive use of materials like anodized aluminum and Corning’s strengthened glass directly echoes Apple’s design language. The steering wheel itself is a modern homage to classic Ferrari designs from the mid-20th century, crafted from recycled aluminum and weighing significantly less than a standard unit.
A trio of advanced displays defines the driver’s environment. The instrument cluster is a technical marvel, moving with the steering wheel, a first for Ferrari, and utilizing overlapping Samsung OLED screens to create a unique sense of depth. The central infotainment screen is mounted on a versatile ball joint, allowing it to swivel toward the driver or passenger and includes a tactile palm rest. A separate mechanical display with independent motors serves multiple functions, from a chronograph to a launch control indicator.
Innovative details abound. The key fob incorporates an E Ink screen, an automotive first that changes color only when activated, conserving power. Throughout the cabin, over forty pieces feature durable Gorilla Glass, some etched with laser-drilled micro-holes for intricate graphics. This partnership feels like a natural progression, given Ferrari’s history of early adoption, like being the first to implement Apple CarPlay in the 2014 FF model.
During the interior’s unveiling in San Francisco, Ive reflected on the unique challenges of automotive design, noting the intense regulatory environment focused on safety. His comments underscore the complex balance between visionary design and the rigorous practical demands of building a road-going supercar, making the Luce’s revealed cabin a compelling fusion of Silicon Valley aesthetics and Maranello’s legendary performance ethos.
(Source: The Verge)
