This Ferrari Luce became the world’s most expensive new car
The first ever Ferrari Luce to roll off the production line is also the most expensive new car in recorded history.
Ferrari unveiled the Luce, its first electric vehicle, in May and received a less-than-welcoming response from the majority of the public.
Even former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo went on a tirade about the Luce, finishing it by saying it was “a car the Chinese won’t copy”.
Though Ferrari insiders later told the Financial Times that the Luce had already reached its annual sales target within its first two months, the status of the first prancing horse EV has been solidified with the auction of the first car made.
Ferrari Luce 'Chassis 0' Image credit: RM Sotheby's
As a part of last week’s Monterey Car week, Ferrari auctioned the first Luce – known as ‘Chassis 0’ or ZFF21BUA8T0338000 – via RM Sotheby’s, with all proceeds going to The Ferrari Foundation charity.
While first-build vehicles often go for much more than their retail prices at auction, especially when charities are involved, no one could have expected the final hammer price of the first Luce: US$40 million (A$56.5 million).
For context, in the US the Luce is priced from US$640,000 (A$903,425), making its auction price more than 60 times higher than its value to an ordinary buyer.
That not only makes it the most expensive new Ferrari ever sold at an auction, but the most expensive new vehicle full-stop.
Chassis 0 has already been customised by Ferrari’s Tailor Made program, with an exclusive Madreperla Semi-Gloss paint finish, Le Mans metallic leather in Perla inside the cabin, Grigio Corvara interior highlights, and its unique white wheels and brake calipers.
The buyer of the first Luce has yet to be disclosed, though the previous report by the Financial Times claimed the strongest demand for the electric Ferrari is coming from China, a market which the brand hasn’t tapped into compared to some of its rivals.
