Is Ferrari Justified in Easing Up, Referring to Dominant Chinese EVs as 'Elephants'? | Carscoops

      Next year's Ferrari Elettrica EV will feature significantly less power than the 1,526 hp Xiaomi SU7 Ultra.

      Ferrari has announced that its inaugural electric vehicle will be equipped with a four-motor configuration generating more than 986 hp (1,000 PS). The head of product development noted that he is not aiming to compete in an electric vehicle horsepower race. Gianmaria Fulgenzi characterized vehicles like China's 1,526 hp Xiaomi SU7 Ultra as “elephants.”

      Ferrari has shared initial specifications about its upcoming Elettrica crossover EV, and some may question if it's missed an opportunity. While it will achieve a peak power exceeding 986 hp (1,000 PS / 735 kW), the automaker has indicated that it will not be as powerful as the latest generation of high-performance Chinese electric vehicles.

      "You can see in the market some electric cars that already have 2,000 horsepower," remarked Ferrari’s product chief Gianmaria Fulgenzi during a media briefing.

      "It's quite straightforward to generate that level of power with an electric motor. Many companies, which have no prior experience in automotive manufacturing, are now able to produce vehicles with 1,000 horsepower."

      Although Fulgenzi did not specifically mention Xiaomi or its 1,526 hp (1,547 PS / 1,138 kW) SU7 Ultra, it is a notable reference, particularly as Ferrari recently had access to an SU7 at its headquarters in Maranello.

      He might have also considered BYD’s 2,977 hp (3,018 PS / 2,220 kW) YangWang U9 Xtreme, which recently achieved a speed of 308 mph (491 km/h) at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track, surpassing the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+.

      Super-Power EVs Are “Elephants”

      "But what's the punchline? What is your experience like driving this type of car?" he questioned reporters, as quoted by Auto Express. "They are like elephants; they require very large engines and very large batteries."

      Setting aside the significant 122 kWh battery in the Elettrica, which is much larger than those in the SU7 and U9, let’s examine the other figures. Ferrari states that a combination of a 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS) front axle from the F80 supercar and 831 hp (620 kW / 843 PS) from the rear motors will deliver "more than" 986 hp. This translates to a startling 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 2.5 seconds and an electronically capped top speed of 193 mph (310 km/h). While these are impressive metrics, they may not set the Elettrica apart from its competitors.

      It is somewhat amusing to see a brand like Ferrari, known for pushing power, acceleration, and top speed to unprecedented levels, discussing the futility of modern hyperperformance. Fulgenzi is correct in his assertion that we and car manufacturers seem to have crossed a threshold in terms of power and performance without knowing how to hold back.

      Why? Because horsepower, top speed, and 0-60 times have long been the benchmarks for performance cars. Without these indicators, we feel somewhat adrift unless we are given a chance to experience the vehicles ourselves.

      Explaining to a prospective buyer why they should consider a vehicle that delivers less power and is slower than their current one would be challenging (although automakers had to manage this during the constrained market of the emissions-focused 1970s), which keeps them striving for more. For years, this approach has been acceptable.

      When you swapped out your naturally aspirated E46 330i that took 6.5 seconds to reach 60 mph for a turbocharged E90/92 335i that accomplished it in 5.5 seconds, the difference was palpable, and that was thrilling.

      How Much Is Enough?

      However, with even standard electric vehicles like the $54,990 Tesla Model 3 Performance achieving 0-60 in 2.9 seconds, one must question how much longer manufacturers can pursue this trajectory. Apart from bragging rights, there is little added value in having a vehicle that accelerates faster than that.

      Insurance companies certainly see no benefit either, as increased accident rates are likely if this trend continues. It’s rarely mentioned today that soaring insurance costs contributed to the decline of the original American muscle car in the early 1970s, alongside tightening emissions standards.

      Anyone who engages in recreational weight training may recognize a similarity with men’s bodybuilding. Since the mid-1990s, largely due to new substances like insulin and growth hormone, top competitors have dramatically increased in size, shifting the focus from aesthetics to extreme muscle mass.

      The feat of the human body when taken to its limits is captivating, akin to the achievement of a BYD hitting 308 mph