The inevitable has arrived—Ferrari is set to unveil its inaugural electric vehicle in 2025. At first glance, it appears as though a Roma and a Levante had an eventful evening together and produced a child. However, it's premature to judge the vehicle's aesthetics just yet. This is merely a test mule, featuring comically fake quad exhaust tips. Speaking of inauthentic elements, listen to that artificial V-8 engine noise. What an era to be alive, right? We must concede that it sounds remarkably convincing, so much so that even non-car enthusiasts might be fooled into thinking it's the genuine article. But the yellow high-voltage sign, typically reserved for EV test vehicles, is a clear indication that there's no combustion engine under the hood. Another clue is the squeaky clean, slightly misaligned exhaust tips attached to the rear apron with what appears to be aluminum foil.
Returning to the soundscape, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna recently stated that the company's electric cars will not be silent. Each zero-emission Prancing Horse will boast dedicated 'sound signatures,' and it seems Maranello's first venture into the EV space will emulate a V-8. It remains uncertain whether this 'feature' will be optional or standard equipment. It will be intriguing to discover if owners can disable it. However, there are numerous regions globally where regulations mandate that EVs emit an artificial sound signal to alert pedestrians. For instance, in the 27 countries of the European Union, the law requires electric cars to be equipped with an acoustic vehicle alerting system. This AVAS activates upon starting the car and remains operational until the vehicle reaches approximately 12 mph.
Ferrari isn't the first Italian brand to craft a sporty sound for its performance cars. Beyond the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore, even the less renowned Abarth 500e features a Sound System Generator. The latter reportedly took over 6,000 hours to finalize the sound emitted by the external speaker mounted beneath the car's rear. In case you haven't heard it, this is how the 'revs' sound on the electric hot hatch:
Staying within the Stellantis umbrella (though Ferrari technically isn't part of it), the new electric Dodge Charger boasts something called the 'Fratzonic.' It generates a similar V-8 note, and we must admit it sounds quite impressive. However, nothing can ever surpass the authentic sound produced by the big ol' HEMI. The same holds true for Ferrari's naturally aspirated engines.
Aside from the artificial sound, the first electric Ferrari might offer more practicality than the typical supercars crafted by the exotic automaker. The fact that it's concealed under a Levante body suggests it might feature rear doors and could be an SUV to complement the Purosangue, unless it's classified as a GT of some sort. We should uncover the true form of the EV once the car paparazzi capture a prototype sporting the production body. This is expected to occur by the end of this year or early in 2025.
