Ferrari’s first electric car is already one of the brand’s most controversial designs, and now people have found something even stranger inside. The dashboard of the Ferrari Luce appears to hide a giant smiley face when viewed from above, as The Drive noticed. Whether Ferrari meant to do it or not is another question.
What makes the detail funny is how ordinary the individual parts are until they are seen together from above. Two large circular vents appear near the base of the windscreen, looking a lot like eyes. A third circular element below them acts like a nose, while the seam across the leather dashboard forms a wide grin.
Once you see it, it is hard to ignore. It also fits surprisingly well with the Luce’s softer, more rounded cabin design, which is full of circles, rounded screens and smooth-edged controls.
The Luce was designed in collaboration with Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson at LoveFrom, according to Ferrari. That helps explain why the interior has such a different look from a traditional Ferrari cabin, with a clear focus on simple shapes, tactile controls, and unusual interface details.
Ferrari’s first EV has already divided opinion, especially because it looks so different from the brand’s usual sports cars. Some fans have criticised the exterior for moving too far from Ferrari’s traditional design language. The interior, however, has received more positive attention for feeling distinctive and less touchscreen-heavy than many modern electric cars.
The possible smiley face is probably not something Ferrari will be shouting about in the brochure. It may also depend on the colour of the upper dashboard, as darker leather would make the circular elements less obvious.
Still, it is a funny little detail on a car that already has people talking. Intentional or not, the Ferrari Luce now has one more reason to stand out.