You know things are bad when the Pope gets involved. This time it was to endorse Ferrari's first electric vehicle, the Luce, alongside Chairman John Elkann and test driver Raffaele De Simone in a hillside town east of Rome. However, market reaction was swift and harsh, with Ferrari’s share price tumbling by 8%.

Luca di Montezemolo, former Ferrari chairman, voiced his disgust, warning that the car risks 'the destruction of a legend.' Yet, designer Dale Harrow sees it as more thoughtful and appealing to a different audience. The Luce's design is reminiscent of early projects from Marc Newson’s portfolio, offering clarity and confidence in its direction.

As a WIRED writer, I see the Luce as a unique opportunity. With Apple's once promising Project Titan now shelved, the Luce could potentially be what Apple’s car might have been had they pursued it further. Its design closely mirrors that of Ive’s work at Apple, making it both attractive and innovative.

However, critics argue its ungainly proportions and costly price of $640,000 make it a hard sell. Still, Ferrari can’t be blamed for trying something new in the luxury EV market, which is currently struggling. The Luce represents a different manifestation based on simplicity, offering an alternative to traditional automotive design.