A 2016 conversation between Ferrari chairman John Elkann and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos helped persuade Ferrari to take electric vehicles seriously, according to Elkann. The discussion came roughly a decade before Ferrari unveiled the production Luce, the company’s first electric car.

Elkann recalled Bezos telling him that although he did not know much about cars, he understood innovation and believed Ferrari needed to think carefully about electric vehicles. Elkann said the exchange strengthened Ferrari’s conviction to pursue the project.

A controversial design for Ferrari

The Luce’s electric powertrain was already likely to be a contentious move for a brand associated with combustion-powered performance cars. Its styling has added to the criticism, with the model drawing a stronger negative reaction from Ferrari fans than earlier divisive designs such as the 1974 Dino 308GT4 and 2012 FF.

Elkann said Ferrari did not set out to create a controversial car. The Luce’s exterior and interior were designed by LoveFrom, a team that includes former Apple designer Jony Ive. While the cabin has received praise for its materials and tactile controls, the exterior has been described in the source as dumpy.

Four electric motors and 1,035 horsepower

Despite its departure from traditional Ferrari styling, the Luce retains supercar-level performance. Four electric motors produce a combined 1,035 horsepower (772 kW/1,050 PS), allowing the car to reach 62 mph in 2.5 seconds.

The car uses a 122-kWh battery and has a stated range of 329 miles (530 km). That range is described as unimpressive in the source despite the battery’s substantial capacity.

Ferrari positioned the Luce toward a different audience from buyers of its other models, but the pricing remains firmly within the brand’s high-end territory. European pricing is set at €550,000, while U.S. pricing has not been announced and is expected to be around $640,000.