Ferrari lifts bonnet on first EV

Ferrari has unveiled the technology which will power its hotly anticipated first electric car, the Elettrica, as the 78-year-old luxury Italian sportscar maker looks to add battery power to its hybrid and petrol-engine models.

- GIULIO PIOVACCARI

In a closely guarded event at its Maranello headquarters, a Ferrari-red cover was pulled back on a stage to reveal the Elettrica's production-ready chassis: a car base, with battery pack and electric motor, though with no wheels or outer shell.

The completed car, which Ferrari is expected to present next year at a global premiere, will have a top speed of 310 kilometres per hour (193 miles) slightly slower than most of its engined models and a range of at least 530 km.

The four-door, four-plus seat car will have a specially designed sound system to amplify actual vibrations from its powertrain to create a distinctly electric Ferrari sound, rather than just faking engine noise.

The unveiling of the inner workings of Ferrari's maiden electric car marks a milestone for the auto industry that is grappling more widely with a shift from the internal combustion engine to the electric battery.

"Today... is an historic day for us. We all have goosebumps," said CEO Benedetto Vigna, who said the electric car would complement, not replace, the company's existing models. "The EV is an addition, not a transition."

RICH KIDS KEEN TO GO ELECTRIC