You don’t often see Ferrari and Mazda competing in the same space, with one being an Italian luxury supercar brand and the other a Japanese automaker known for its reliable, affordable commuters. However, Mazda may have beaten Ferrari in a race to the name “Luce,” prompting Ferrari to possibly rethink its upcoming electric vehicle.
Ferrari has been teasing the Luce, its first all-electric vehicle slotted for 2028, for a while now. On Ferrari’s website, where it still calls the EV “Luce,” we have all the information we need about the vehicle’s interior tech design. I would say we even have more than what we need at this point — the scrolling feels almost infinite, with Ferrari going over every single little button individually. Previously, Ferrari hired the former Head of Design for iPhone to make the interior feel functional and aesthetic while avoiding the big, “lazy” screen found in EVs like Tesla’s. The analog control modules outlined on the website are definitely welcome, but I’d like to see a bit more of the Ferrari Luce’s exterior or learn more about its powertrain (said to be a quad-motor powertrain that produces over 1,000 horsepower).
Okay, if you scroll down to the bottom, you can at least see the seats. And this quote: “Ferrari has always been ready to innovate. The Ferrari Luce project with Jony Ive, Marc Newson, and LoveFrom began with a mutual interest in learning, in understanding the future — and a deep understanding of and appreciation for Ferrari heritage. This work is motivated by excellence and by creating something extraordinary.”
There is no denying that Ferrari has a vision and is working towards that vision, down to every button. However, the Ferrari Luce may not be able to keep its name.
Mazda trademarks “Luce” after Ferrari’s reveal
A vehicle’s name is very important, as it creates a sense of identity, personality, and purpose. It’s something that people can latch onto. Well, unless you’re Polestar and just want to use random numbers. But a lot of thought usually goes into a name, like Lucid’s thoroughly thought-out line of mid-size SUVs, including the upcoming Cosmos and Earth.
For Ferrari, the name “Luce” was deliberately chosen, the Italian word for “light.” It makes a lot of sense for an electric vehicle, which will feel much more airy and modern than Ferrari’s usual lineup of loud V8- and V12-powered cars. However, this isn’t a new name on the scene: Mazda has been using it for decades.
According to CarExpert over in Australia, Mazda filed a trademark for the name a few weeks after Ferrari announced the Luce. It’s not believed to be an indicator of a new vehicle, based on Mazda’s recent (lame) naming pattern, but rather a retaliation against Ferrari. Indeed, Mazda had its own Luce, introduced in 1966 as its flagship luxury sedan. It was designed by Bertone in Italy (hence the name) and was more popular in Europe and Australia, though it was sometimes referred to as the Mazda 929 in regions such as North America. It was produced until 1991.
In 2017, Mazda mentioned its Luce during the reveal of a Vision Coupe concept, stating that it was a “long, swept-back sedan” meant as a “respectful nod to its heritage.” The Vision Coupe concept is rotary-powered, just like the Mazda Luce from 1969 onward. Mazda is still working on a rotary-powered sports car.
Right now, it’s unknown if Ferrari will now be forced to rename the Luce due to Mazda’s trademark. It’s possible the trademark could only impact the Japanese market, which could mean the Ferrari is largely in the clear. It may have to change its name only in Japan. Something happened in the past with Volvo, which had to change its name to “S40” because Audi had reserved the “S4” name.
We are not sure what Ferrari would name the Luce if that name does become off-limits. But you can be sure that it will have plenty of buttons, control panels, and dials.
