Luce, who started Ferrari's electric car era, held one of the highest-priced auctions in automotive history before it was even delivered to customers.
The first mass production example of the Italian brand's first fully electric model, Luce, called "Chassis 0", was sold for 40 million dollars at an auction held by RM Sotheby's in California.
After the sale, RM Sotheby's announced that Luce was the most expensive new car sold at auction.
Thus, the model has significantly increased the level previously achieved in the new cars category.
IT EXCEEDED THE ESTIMATE
Before the auction, RM Sotheby's estimated a value of over $1.1 million for the car. However, as the offers increased, the sales price increased to 40 million dollars.
Luce's standard starting price is approximately 550 thousand Euros in Europe. The $40 million price paid for Ferrari's first electric car has thus reached tens of times the list price of the vehicle.
In addition to the fact that the car was the first Luce to leave the factory, the fact that the auction was for charity was also effective in reaching such a high level of sales.
Ferrari announced that all proceeds from the sale will be transferred to the Ferrari Foundation to support educational activities. RM Sotheby's also stated that no buyer's commission is charged for this car.
SPECIAL DESIGN FOR "CHASSIS 0"
On the other hand, the car sold for a record price is not an ordinary Luce. “Chassis 0” was specially prepared as part of Ferrari's "Tailor Made" personalization program.
While the Madreperla Semi-Gloss body color, developed only for this vehicle, was used in the car, Perla Le Mans metallic leather and Grigio Corvara details were included in the interior. Rims, brake calipers and some exterior design elements were also prepared specifically for the first produced car.
Ferrari Luce is also the first mass-produced car in the history of the Maranello-based manufacturer that does not use an internal combustion engine. It is announced that the model with four electric motors can reach a maximum speed of 310 km/h.
NOT THE MOST EXPENSIVE CAR
Although the figure of 40 million dollars is remarkable in the automotive world, Ferrari Luce has not yet achieved the title of the most expensive car sold at auction.
This record belongs to the 1955 model Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, which found a buyer for 135 million Euros in a private auction held by Sotheby's in 2022.
Guinness World Records also records the car in question as the most expensive car sold at auction.
The Luce was also not the most expensive Ferrari ever sold at auction.
One of the highest prices in this field was achieved by the 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / 250 GTO, which was sold for 51 million 705 thousand dollars at the auction organized by RM Sotheby's in 2023.
Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish three different record categories in Luce's $40 million sales.
The model is not the most expensive auction car of all time, nor was it the car with the highest auction price in Ferrari history. On the other hand, since it was new and the first production example, it became the most expensive new car sold at auction.
ITS DESIGN CREATED DISCUSSION
Ferrari introduced the Luce model, which means "light" in Italian, at a special event held in Rome in May. However, the brand's first fully electric model has been at the center of controversy due to its design from the very first day.
Luce, who was criticized for moving away from Ferrari's traditional design line, also attracted the reaction of some brand fans. Ferrari's former President Luca di Montezemolo also made harsh statements about the model.
Speaking to the Italian press, Montezemolo evaluated Luce as a model that does not suit the company's history and said, "I hope they will remove the prancing horse logo from that vehicle."
The design of Ferrari's first fully electric model Luce bears the signature of Apple's former chief designer Jony Ive.
The sharp decline in Ferrari shares after the introduction of the model constituted another dimension of the discussions around Luce.
