The lack of an engine. Though I agree, if you start with the premise that they're making an EV, I like their priorities.
It's an electrical vehicle. Not a car. If one cannot even agree on that basic fundamental premise, then the discussion is largely pointless, if not a exercise in logomachy.
Actually, I hate electric cars, I really don't know why I'm defending the Elettrica here, probably a reaction to the criticism—playing devil's advocate? On the other hand, I really like Manzoni's work and I find today's Ferraris more interesting aesthetically than they were 10 years ago. Of course, it's just a matter of taste. We mustn't forget one thing: “Pininfarina” is not a designer per se, but a company whose design office always included several people—there were a dozen of them in the 1980s, for example—who were deliberately left anonymous (even if today some names have gone down in history). It is very interesting to note that these people did not achieve much of note when they left Pininfarina to pursue solo careers, proof that collective thinking prevailed at Pininfarina. It may also be interesting to note that some cars that have been attributed to Pininfarina for commercial reasons seem to have been designed in-house at Ferrari. Some say, for example, that the 250 Lusso and the 275 GTB are the work of Edmondo Casoli, who was then Ferrari's aerodynamicist. And then, as I often say to those who tell me that Manzoni should resign and who want Pininfarina back... Just look at what Pininfarina is doing today... And you'll quickly change your mind! Sorry, this is a little off-topic, but since the subject was brought up...
I haven't heard anyone say that it's a bad EV. The debate is whether they should be making an EV at all. Perhaps they could make a very good piano. Doesn't mean they should.
If Ferrari wants to remain relevant, they have to enter the EV market. Both for sales (yes, sales as in "people want an EV Ferrari") and because of government regulations. And, if people would buy a piano from Maranello, trust me, Ferrari would make one.
They could have simply sub branded it like they did the Dino. Elettrica by Ferrari. HOWEVER they didn’t. It would have made all the difference in the world in regards to old clients perception.
No doubt regulations mean they'll eventually have no choice. I don't know if we're at that point. We might be close, in which case I can hardly fault them. If we're not, I'd have preferred they waited. As for tapping into another source of demand, perhaps it will be a commercial success. I'm skeptical, but maybe. Either way, it dilutes the brand for me. But then, so does the Purosangue. And that one is clearly (and unsurprisingly) a commercial success. In any event, no matter how good the Elettrica is as an EV, I won't be getting one. Fortunately, they're still making plenty of cars that do appeal to me. Which can't be said of many other brands. As long as they keep doing that, I'll keep supporting them.
Consider the choices. 1. Ferrari maintains the ICE lineage (with a few hybrids, like the 296/SF90/F80 thrown in) and becomes commercially unviable OR 2. Ferrari incorporates EV into its lineup and stays commercially relevant If anyone thinks option 1 is impossible, think back to 1956-57.
Is well known that through 61 years of collaborative design with Ferrari, Pininfarina was able to interpret Enzo Ferrari's will almost perfectly. After Enzo's death the same happened between Pininfarina and L.C.D.M. when he assumed the role of Ferrari's chairman. The relationship between Pininfarina and Ferrari was so close that Sergio Pininfarina became a member of Ferrari's board of directors in 1969 and served until he stepped down in 2011. Although there was a very close collaboration between Pininfarina and Ferrari, the final decision to approve or reject any design was exclusively Enzo's, and the same continued to happen later with L.C.D.M. However, today we don't know if Manzoni's designs receive final approval from anyone, but even if they do, we don't see anyone in Ferrari's top hierarchy who has the analytical skills of Enzo or L.C.D.M. The solution for design improvement doesn't seem to me to be either Manzoni's resignation or the return of Pininfarina. Manzoni has already proven to be a very talented and capable of producing exceptional designs. However, in models where aerodynamics and lap-time beating are the main existential reason, Manzoni clearly struggles to produce appealing designs and tends always to end up introducing futuristic elements of dubious taste that destroy the design's harmony. IMO, what Manzoni simply needs in this cases is the guidance of someone like Enzo or L.C.D.M. who were able to bring him down to earth from the futuristic and aerospace worlds were he has been living lately. Manzoni won't improve if he doesn't ear the word no whenever necessary. As for the return of a collaboration between the current Pininfarina and Ferrari, IMO that would be the worst possible solution.
If you're arguing that regulators are forcing their hand, sure. As I said: If you're arguing that customer preferences have left them no choice, we can agree to disagree.
For those saying "never self-driving", consider that the company also said "no SUVs". Yet all signs point to this thing being the SECOND Ferrari SUV.
The Pininfarina Battista looks better than any Ferrari in their current roster imo except possibly the 296. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I’m still trying to figure out what is the difference between a car and a vehicle? Well, I guess a car is a subset of vehicle. So, all cars are vehicles, but not all vehicles are cars?
