Ferrari’s first fully electric car, Luce, started to be compared to Tesla Model 3 Performance and Model S Plaid on social media immediately after its introduction. At the center of the debate is not just 0-100 km/h acceleration or range. Although Ferrari Luce sits on the same table with Tesla’s performance models in terms of technical data, it stands in a completely different class for its price, design, brand position and usage.
Why is Ferrari Luce compared to Model S Plaid, not Tesla Model 3? FeaturesFerrari LuceTesla Model S PlaidTesla Model 3 PerformanceClassUltra-luxury electric GT / four-door FerrariElectric performance sedanElectric performance sedanPriceApproximately 550 thousand euro / $640 thousandApproximately $110 thousand band$56,630Engine layoutFour electric motorsThree electric motorsDual motorsTraction systemFour-wheel driveFour-wheel driveFour-wheel drivePower1,035 hp1,020 hpAround 510 hp0-60 mphApprox.
2.4 seconds1.99 seconds2.9 seconds0-100 km/h2.5 secondsApprox. 2.1 secondsApprox. 3.1 secondsTop speed310 km/h / 193 mph322 km/h / 200 mphApprox. 262 km/h / 163 mphBattery122 kWh grossApprox. 100 kWhApprox. 82 kWhRange530 km WLTP / approx. 450 km EPA expected592 km EPA497 km EPAQuick chargingUp to 350 kWUp to 250 kWUp to 250 kWCurb weight4,982 lbs / around 2,260 kg4,802 lbs / around 2,178 kg4,054 lbs / around 1,839 kgNumber of seats555Body TypeFour-door, five-seat Ferrari GTLiftback sedanSedanDesign approach Radical Ferrari line signed by Jony Ive and Marc NewsonClassic Model S formMore compact and simpler Model 3 designDriver support systemNo claim of fully autonomous drivingAutopilot / FSD Supervised optionalAutopilot / FSD Supervised optionalThe debate that started on social media was sparked by technical comparisons that put Ferrari Luce and Tesla Model 3 Performance side by side.
When looked at on paper, Model 3 Performance offers a very strong price-performance table with a starting price of $ 56 thousand 630, 0-100 km / h acceleration in 2.9 seconds, 497 km EPA range and 4,054 lbs curb weight. According to Tesla’s official data, Model 3 Performance comes with a dual-motor four-wheel drive system, 20-inch Warp wheels, Supercharging support up to 250 kW and a cabin for 5 people. However, a direct comparison of Ferrari Luce with Model 3 Performance attracted reaction due to the class difference, as seen in the comments.
Model 3 Performance is a production electric sports sedan. Ferrari Luce, on the other hand, is Ferrari’s first fully electric model and is a four-door, five-seat, ultra-luxury GT. Ferrari designed the Luce together with Jony Ive and Marc Newson’s LoveFrom team. The Italian price of the model was announced at 550 thousand euros. This means a tag of approximately 640 thousand dollars in its current equivalent. Therefore, the more accurate Tesla equivalent is Model S Plaid, not Model 3 Performance.
Tesla Model S Plaid looks much closer to Ferrari Luce on the technical side, with 1,020 hp power, three-motor powertrain, 0-100 km/h acceleration in 1.99 seconds, 592 km EPA range, 4,802 lbs curb weight and 250 kW Supercharging support. The US starting price of Model S Plaid is 101 thousand 630 dollars. The technical side of Ferrari Luce makes this discussion more interesting. There are four electric motors in the model and the total power is 1,035 hp.
Ferrari’s new electric car comes with a 122 kWh battery pack, DC fast charging support up to 350 kW and a range of around 530 km in the European measurement cycle. On the US side, EPA expectation is given as approximately 450 km. Luce’s 0-100 km/h acceleration is around 2.5 seconds. The picture on paper looks harsh in favor of Tesla. The Model S Plaid is much cheaper than the Ferrari Luce, offers longer EPA range, and is faster from 0-60 mph than the Ferrari.
Model 3 Performance, on the other hand, offers a 0-100 km/h time of 2.9 seconds, an EPA range of 497 km, and a sedan body suitable for daily use, at a price almost one-tenth of that of the Ferrari Luce. From this perspective, the Tesla cheaper and faster comment on social media is not unfounded in terms of technical data. But Ferrari Luce’s claim is not only about straight line acceleration. Model S Plaid is one of the strongest examples of electric performance in mass production.
Ferrari Luce, on the other hand, combines performance figures with the use of ultra-luxury materials, brand value, design language, limited access perception and Ferrari-specific driving character. So, two different engineering approaches come face to face here. Tesla delivers performance as a scalable technology product. Ferrari, on the other hand, attributes the same performance class to a more expensive, more special and more emotional automobile experience.
This is why the design debate has grown. Luce’s design, which is far from the traditional Ferrari line and emphasizes glass surfaces, divided social media into two. While some users found Ferrari’s new electric car too soft and anonymous, others argued that this design was a conscious break from the classic supercar form. Model S Plaid, on the other hand, now stands in a more familiar, simpler and less controversial line, as it carries the Model S form, which has been on the roads since 2012.
Ultimately, this triple comparison highlights the question of which car represents what, rather than which car is better. Tesla Model 3 Performance is an accessible performance car that offers extraordinary speed for its price. The Tesla Model S Plaid still delivers one of the fiercest combinations of acceleration and range in the electric sedan world. Ferrari Luce is the first mass production answer to how to carry the Ferrari badge in the electric age.
That’s why Ferrari Luce is struggling against Tesla in the technical table, but what Ferrari really sells is not just horsepower, battery capacity or 0-100 km/h value. Luce is Ferrari’s brand, design and luxury experience answer to Tesla’s rational argument of speed and technology. This is exactly why the debate has grown so much. Tesla wins with numbers, while Ferrari tries to make a presence in areas other than numbers.
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