Tata Motors' Design Head Trolls Ferrari Luce, Promotes Tiago.EV
The launch of the Ferrari Luce, the Italian supercar manufacturer's first electric car, has managed to become the most controversial car launch of 2026. Ever since the unveiling of the Luce, automotive enthusiasts, journalists, and even a number of Ferrari fans have been criticizing its design. Now recently, taking a dig at the Ferrari Luce, Tata Motors' Head of India Design Studio, Ajay Jain, has also shared a humorous post saying that the controversial design of the Luce, in a way, is helping in promoting their newly launched Tata Tiago.ev.
Ajay Jain, Head of India Design Studio, has recently shared a post on Instagram in which he poked fun at the Ferrari Luce. In his post, he thanked Ferrari and the famed former Apple designer Jony Ive for creating the Luce. He jokingly stated that because of the launch of the Ferrari Luce, Tata Motors' newly launched Tiago.ev has now become an even bigger success.
In his post, Jain stated, “Special thanks to Ferrari + Jony Ive for the Luce.” He then added, “Now our Tiago.ev is an even bigger super hit.” Finally, with sarcasm, Jain thanked Ferrari for giving Tata Motors a “free glow-up.” As a result of this dig at Ferrari, the post has become viral, and a lot of people have shared it.
The Ferrari Luce was recently unveiled in Rome as the brand's first fully electric production vehicle. Now, unlike traditional Ferraris, the Luce is a four-door, five-seat electric sedan. It has been co-designed by the former Apple design chief Jony Ive and designer Marc Newson through their design firm LoveFrom.
Soon after its unveiling, almost all social media platforms got flooded with criticism. Many enthusiasts highlighted that the vehicle does not look like a Ferrari at all. Many people have even compared it to normal electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and others. Also, a number of netizens have highlighted that it looks like it has been designed to only sell in China.
What is more interesting is that this criticism of the Ferrari Luce has not been limited to social media platforms. In the real world, Ferrari's stock fell around 8 percent following the launch of the Luce. Former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo has also criticized the design and jokingly stated that at least the Chinese would not copy this particular Ferrari.
A number of automotive designers have also shared their opinions. Veteran designer Maurizio Corbi described the Luce as a vehicle that looks like it was designed by a product designer instead of a car designer. He criticized its flat surfaces and small wheels and stated that it does not have an emotional appeal. According to him, the Luce does not follow the styling elements that have made Ferraris iconic over the decades.
One of the biggest reasons behind the criticism of the Luce's design is that Ferrari has intentionally moved away from its traditional design language and created a dedicated EV platform. The vehicle gets a shell-like glasshouse design with floating body panels and aerodynamic elements surrounding it.
It also features a large bonnet scoop, hidden tail-lamps, smooth surfaces, and specially designed low-drag wheels. Ferrari says these design choices were necessary to improve aerodynamic efficiency and maximize driving range. Chief designer Flavio Manzoni has explained that designing an electric vehicle is very different from designing a traditional supercar.
According to him, EVs require lower drag coefficients rather than maximum downforce. As a result, the Luce features cleaner and flatter surfaces compared to Ferrari's combustion-powered models.
Now, although the exterior has been hated by many people, there are a lot of people who have praised its interior. Unlike a lot of modern EVs, which have a lot of touchscreens, the Luce features a large number of physical switches, buttons, and rotary controls. The cabin also gets a unique analogue clock called the Multigraph, premium materials, Samsung-powered displays, and a steering wheel inspired by classic Ferrari designs.
Now, coming to the powertrain, the Ferrari Luce does not disappoint. It comes equipped with four electric motors, with one motor dedicated to each wheel. The electric powertrain produces more than 1,000 bhp, and its sprint from 0–100 kmph happens in just 2.5 seconds. The Luce can achieve a top speed of over 310 kmph and offers a claimed driving range of more than 500 km.
Ferrari has also developed a unique sound system that amplifies actual electric motor vibrations to create a distinctive driving experience. The vehicle additionally gets advanced torque vectoring, regenerative braking controls, and a unique paddle-operated performance management system.
Now, on one hand, Ferrari is currently dealing with criticism because of the Luce. Tata Motors, on the other hand, is getting praised for the launch of the updated Tiago.ev in India. It has been launched with a starting price of Rs 6.99 lakh, and it goes up to Rs 9.99 lakh.
The updated Tiago.ev now comes offered with a redesigned front fascia, new LED headlamps, connected LED tail-lamps, and refreshed styling elements. On the inside, it gets a completely redesigned dashboard along with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system and connected car technology. Its feature highlights include wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cruise control, automatic climate control, rear AC vents, a cooled glovebox, and a height-adjustable driver's seat.
Tata Motors is now offering the Tiago.ev with six airbags as standard, along with a 360-degree camera, blind-view monitor, ESP, hill-hold assist, and TPMS. The Tiago.ev still comes offered with the same 19.2 kWh and 24 kWh battery pack options. The larger battery version offers a claimed MIDC range of 285 km. Meanwhile, the smaller battery pack provides a range of 226 km.