Ferrari announced in late 2019 that it would not introduce its first electric car until the middle of the decade. However, the market launch was brought forward in April 2021 when company chief John Elkann said the car would be out in 2025. The car is still on track for its official debut late next year. In the meantime, the car may have been spotted testing for the first time.
This strangely disguised test mule was discovered by Derek Cornelissen looks like a large hatchback. Spotted in Maranello, the unusual vehicle appears to be wearing a modified body taken from the Maserati Levante. However, the headlights appear to be Ferrari Roma-like. We also can’t help but notice the redesigned wheels, which may lack aero covers.
And yes, those quad exhaust tips hanging out of the corners of the rear bumper are fake. The yellow high-voltage stickers indicate that we are dealing with an electric vehicle. This is not the first time an automaker has decided to install fake exhausts on an EV prototype as Porsche has been doing it for some time now with the electric Boxster.
Just because Ferrari has decided to use the Levante body doesn’t mean the V-12-powered Purosangue will get an electric companion. The Prancing Horse has yet to reveal what its electric car will look like. What we do know is that the mystery car will be built at a new factory that was unveiled this week at its Maranello base. Seeing this test mule driving a few days later may not be a coincidence.
Ferrari has promised its first EV will make a “real” sound, whatever that means. The car is said to cost more than $500,000 each. Reutersalthough CEO Benedetto Vigna declined to confirm the reports this week. He also denied speculation that the new plant would increase annual production from around 14,000 to 20,000 vehicles.
Even though Ferrari is just entering the electric era, the company still plans to sell V-12 cars for as long as possible. Product Marketing Chief Emanuele Carando recently said that the twelve-cylinder engine will remain in production until it is banned. However, the Italian exotic car brand projects that pure ICE cars will only account for 20 percent of its annual sales by 2030. About 40 percent will be represented by plug-in hybrids, with the remaining 40 percent being pure EVs.
Meanwhile, the first EVs are expected to account for five percent of total deliveries by 2026. Reuters suspect that a second electric car is already in the works, although it is still in the early stages of development.
