While we await the official premiere of their first all-electric car called the Luce, Ferrari has released some interesting details about its development process. During this, the company established an unusual cooperation with the American space agency NASA. The reason for this move lies in the extreme performance of the vehicle, more precisely in the brutality of its acceleration, which, according to CEO Benedetto Vigne, can cause discomfort and impair the cognitive functions of drivers and passengers.
Adaptation to human senses
The Ferrari Luce will have a system of four electric motors with a total of over 1,000 horsepower, which will enable it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 2.5 seconds. Unlike traditional internal combustion engines, the electric drive offers instant torque, resulting in a linear and extremely powerful push to the body. NASA experts therefore helped Ferrari understand the limits of human tolerance to G-forces and how such accelerations affect the inner ear and balance center.
The goal of the collaboration was to find the ideal point between top performance and physical comfort. Analyzes have shown that excessive and sudden acceleration can become “anxious” to the brain if not managed properly. Based on NASA research on perception and orientation, Ferrari developed progressive torque delivery. Instead of a raw and instantaneous release of all power, Luce uses sophisticated algorithms that modulate the intensity of acceleration to keep the ride exciting but not biologically unpleasant.
Artificial gearbox
The interior of the vehicle, the design of which he worked on Jony Ivea former Apple designer, also includes specific levers on the steering wheel. Unlike most electric vehicles where they are used to regulate regenerative braking, in the Luce model they simulate gear changes. This function allows the driver to directly control the way power is delivered, providing a mechanical sense of control similar to that of traditional sports cars, which further aids orientation during dynamic driving.
Ferrari emphasizes that the Luce is not designed exclusively for the track, but as a “hyper-GT” car that combines extreme speed with usability in everyday traffic. Special attention was paid to the weight distribution in the ratio of 47:53 and the active suspension system. The official presentation of Ferrari’s first electric car has been announced for May, when all the final details of this technologically advanced model will be presented to the public.