Has the Pope enjoyed the world’s first test-drive of Ferrari’s controversial new all-electric Luce supercar?
The intriguing possibility of a papal road-test by the Pontiff is thrown up by an official Ferrari video.
And significantly, Ferrari is NOT denying it.
Until now Ferrari have simply said the Pope was given a demonstration of the car.
Their official five minute long video shows Ferrari bosses, including CEO John Elkann, demonstrating the new £500,000 Luce to Pope Leo who is filmed inspecting the car and then stepping into the driving seat.
He is seen being guided through the controls by Ferrari’s chief test driver Raffaela de Simone.
Higher power: The Pope is guided through the controls of Ferrari’s new Luce electric supercar by chief test driver Raffaela de Simone
However, the official Ferrari film then jumps suddenly to a shot of the car driving off down the road within the confines of the Pope’s residence in Castel Gandolfo where the event took place.
It raises the intriguing question – who was driving? And was that really Pope Leo behind the wheel?
The plot thickens because, when approached by DailyMail.com/This is Money, Ferrari referred to a pre-prepared and carefully-worded statement which, while open to interpretation, did not specifically or categorically deny it.
It simply declined to ‘confirm’ that this was indeed the case. Ferrari said: ‘We do not confirm whether the Pope has actually driven the Ferrari Luce or not.’
In ecclesiastical terms, that would be considered more a sin of omission than commission.
Ferrari also confirmed that DailyMail.com/This is Money were so far the first and only news channel to ask the question.
The intrigue begins about four minutes into the official Ferrari video where Pope Leo is seen getting into the car behind the driving wheel and being instructed in use of the controls.
But at 4 minutes and 55 seconds, there is a jump-cut to the car accelerating away from the camera – raising the question about whether the Pope was driving.
Test drive: The video then shows the Ferrari pulling away – but it it not clear whether the Pope was actually driving although significantly, Ferrari is NOT denying it
If so, this will be the fastest Popemobile on record.
Ferrari’s first five-seater four-door 1036hp battery-powered Ferrari Luce accelerates from rest to 62mph in just 2.5 seconds and 124mph in 6.8 seconds up to a top speed of 193mph, with a range of 329 miles.
But its unveiling has created a huge backlash centred on its radical design.
The car was conceived and designed in collaboration with San Fransico-based LoveFrom, headed by British design guru Sir Jony Ive who created the game-changing i-Phone.
But it has divided opinion. Former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo was scathing, saying it should not carry the famous Ferrari ‘prancing horse’ badge – but at least it was one car the Chinese wouldn’t want to copy.
Supporters, including former Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter James May, a Ferrari fan and owner, rallied to its defence.
By contrast, the cars clever interior with plenty of physical buttons, has been universally praised and will likely find its way into later Ferraris.
Ferrari bosses stood firm against the criticism last night.
Ferrari’s global marketing director Emanuele Carando said: ‘We are going to have some great lovers and we going to have a lot of haters. We do expect this, and I think this is also good.’
Luce made a theatrical debut at a glitzy launch in Rome, with a price tag of around £500,000
Piero Ferrari , vice chairman of Ferrari said: ‘Those who want to criticise can criticise, but I would reply: see it and try it. Once you have driven it, you’ll probably change your mind.’
Ferrari chairman John Elkann said after the meeting with the Pope: ‘It was a great emotion and an immense honour to meet His Holiness together with my Ferrari colleagues.
This was a moment of extraordinary human and symbolic value, inspiring all the people in our Company to continue their journey with passion, responsibility, and confidence in the future.
‘An occasion that will remain forever in our memories, and in Ferrari’s history.” During the meeting, Ferrari donated the car’s steering wheel to the Pontiff.
