The inevitable is happening—Ferrari will launch its first electric car in 2025. Right now, it looks like a Roma and a Levante had a wild night together and had a baby. But don’t judge the looks just yet. This is just a test drive, complete with hilarious fake quad exhaust tips. Speaking of unreal, listen to the sound of that fake V-8. What a time to be alive, isn’t it?
We have to admit it sounds pretty convincing, so much so that non-car enthusiasts would think it’s real. However, the yellow high-voltage markings reserved for EV test vehicles are a clear sign that there’s no combustion engine under the hood. Another clue is represented by the clean, squeaky, slightly misaligned exhaust tips, which are attached to the rear apron with what looks like aluminum foil.
Back to the soundtrack, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna recently said the company’s electric cars won’t be silent. Each zero-emissions Prancing Horse will have a special “sound signature,” and it appears Maranello’s first foray into EV space will mimic a V-8. Whether this “feature” will be an option or standard equipment remains to be seen.
It would be interesting to see if owners can turn it off. However, there are many places around the world where regulations require EVs to emit an artificial audible signal to alert passersby. For example, in 27 European Union states, the law mandates that electric cars must have an acoustic vehicle warning system. AVAS activates after starting the car and remains active until the vehicle reaches about 12 mph.
Ferrari isn’t the first Italian marque to develop a sporty sound for its performance cars. Besides the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore, even the lesser Abarth 500e features a Sound System Generator. The latter apparently took over 6,000 hours to complete to produce the sound of external speakers mounted under the rear of the car. If you haven’t heard it yet, here’s a “revving” sound on the electric hot hatch:
Still under Stellantis (though technically Ferrari isn’t part of it), the new electric Dodge Charger has something called the “Fratzonic.” It makes a similar V-8 note, and we’ll admit it’s pretty good. But nothing beats the sound of a big HEMI. The same goes for Ferrari’s naturally aspirated engines.
Fake noise aside, the first electric Ferrari could be more practical than the exotic carmaker’s usual supercars. The fact that it’s hidden under the Levante’s body suggests it could have rear doors and could be an SUV alongside the Purosangue unless it’s labeled as a GT.
We’ll know the true shape of the EV once the car paparazzi spot a prototype sporting a production body. That could happen either later this year or early 2025.
