FYI: Ferrari has enlisted the help of the Apple Watch designer to create an innovative steering wheel for its first all-electric vehicle, launching next year.
# Ferrari’s First EV: Inspired by Apple Watch Design
Ferrari, renowned for its roaring engines and unrivaled performance, is set to awe car enthusiasts with its first all-electric vehicle (EV), expected to debut next year. Initially hesitant to join the EV movement, Ferrari’s venture into electric territory has garnered much curiosity about how the legendary marque will blend its iconic heritage with cutting-edge electric tech.
## Ferrari’s EV: Progress Beyond Expectations
Very few details have emerged about Ferrari’s upcoming EV. However, there is a positive buzz surrounding its development. According to Ferrari’s CEO, Benedetto Vigna, “Ferrari’s first fully electric model project is going as planned, but for some processes, we are even ahead of schedule,” suggesting that the iconic brand has not only embraced the EV concept but is excelling in its execution.
## The Ferrari Steering Wheel: A New Vision
One of the standout features of this new EV is expected to be its reimagined steering wheel, a design spearheaded by none other than Jony Ive, the former Apple design chief behind the Apple Watch. The steering wheel is a critical component in the driving experience, and Ferrari aims to revolutionize it by infusing innovative, user-centered design principles learned from the technology sector.
## Collaboration with LoveFrom Design Studio
The luxury carmaker has collaborated with LoveFrom, a design studio founded by Jony Ive and Mark Newson, both former Apple designers. This partnership was initiated due to John Elkann, the CEO of Exor and Ferrari heir, being deeply impressed by the Apple Watch. He recognized Apple’s ability to transform an analog device into a highly admired digital product and wanted the same level of innovation for Ferrari’s EV steering wheel.
## Insights from Automotive and Tech Design Legends
In a meeting described as lasting several hours, Jony Ive and his team engaged in detailed discussions about how to reinvent the steering wheel. Elkann emphasized the significance of paying meticulous attention to the steering wheel’s physicality and functionality in an EV. He teased that the end result would be “something really, really different,” raising expectations for a groundbreaking approach to ergonomic and aesthetic design.
## Anticipation Builds
While specifics about the redesigned steering wheel or other features of the EV remain scarce, the involvement of such high-caliber designers signals Ferrari’s commitment to excellence and innovation. As the automotive world eagerly awaits the unveiling of Ferrari’s first EV, it is clear that the legendary brand is setting out to marry tradition with future-forward thinking.
Stay tuned for more updates on Ferrari’s foray into the electric vehicle market. For insights and the latest automotive news, reach out to us at tips@automotive.fyi or follow us on Twitter @automotivefyi.
William Rapp, Editor of Automotive.fyi
