Ferrari caught testing its first electric mule at Maranello disguised as a Maserati Levante

Ferrari has been reluctant to embrace electrification, with former CEO Louis Camilleri convinced an electric range would not see the light of day in his lifetime. Even before that, in 2011, Luca di Montezemolo was convinced that an electric Ferrari would never see the light of day. However, “times are changing,” to quote Dylan’s song, so Ferrari accelerated his VE plans with Benedetto Vigna at the helm. Even before taking office, Executive Chairman John Elkann confirmed Ferrari’s first electric vehicle in April 2021. Rumors suggest that Ferrari is already working on its second electric vehicle, although we have yet to see the first one.

But isn’t that the case? Dutch photographer Derek Cornelissen photographed a strange prototype being tested in Maranello. The test car combines Maserati Levante bodywork with Ferrari Roma headlights and is fitted with huge quad-outlet exhaust pipes, the ones we’ve seen before on Ferrari’s test vehicles. However, the yellow stickers on the camouflaged body reveal that the exhaust pipes are fake, since it is an electric vehicle. The newly designed wheels also appear to be optimized for aerodynamics, as is the case on electric vehicles.

The crossover’s bodywork suggests that Ferrari’s next EV could also arrive as a lifted thoroughbred. However, that’s likely another red herring, at least considering the electric Ferrari’s rumored price tag. At half a million euros (about $535,000), the next EV will likely be an exotic supercar rather than a sports car. SUV. After all, Ferrari wants its first electric vehicle to be talked about for exciting reasons, not to make fun of it. If Ferrari launches an electric crossover (and the Purosangue has shown real interest in this), it won’t be its first model.

Not much is known about the upcoming electric Ferrari. The sports car maker hasn’t even revealed its name. What is known, however, is that it has been preparing for its arrival with a dedicated production line in Maranello, north of the current Ferrari campus. Ferrari intends to manufacture all electrical components, such as high-voltage batteries, electric motors and axles, in-house.

While the exhausts are obviously fake, don’t think the Ferrari EV will spend its life in complete silence. Earlier this month, patent filings showed that Ferrari intends to give its electric supercar a “authentic sound” Unlike other electric vehicles, the sound will not be synthesized by the car’s speakers. Instead, a unique system of resonators and valves will amplify the natural sounds of the electric motors.