Palermo explains that the unique acoustic profile of Ferrari’s electric vehicle is not static but dynamically evolves in harmony with the car’s performance and the driver’s intentions. During steady-state cruising, when minimal mechanical exertion is required and the focus shifts toward comfort and refinement, the system carefully diminishes the audible output, ensuring a serene and composed cabin environment. By contrast, when the driver engages in spirited or more aggressive driving, the auditory experience intensifies, producing a richer and more forceful soundscape that mirrors the heightened energy of acceleration and rapid torque delivery. According to Palermo, the technology is so finely tuned that it can even recognize the subtle moment when a rear wheel begins to lose traction. In such instances, a sudden surge in motor revolutions at that wheel is immediately detected by an accelerometer, allowing the corresponding change in tone or pitch to be perceived as a natural part of the sound’s evolution. He further clarifies that latency — the infinitesimal interval between a shift in motor speed and the instant that sound reaches the driver’s ear — has been refined to a level beneath the threshold of human perception. In effect, the sensation feels instantaneous, reinforcing the driver’s intuitive connection to the car’s behavior.
Moreover, the aural characteristics will vary depending on how the driver manipulates specific driving systems such as the steering wheel paddles, which control regenerative braking, and the Torque Shift Engagement mechanism that governs power distribution between the motors. Yet, despite these promising details, Ferrari remains resolutely silent on the precise methodology behind the in-cabin sound projection — whether it is transmitted through the onboard audio system, via specialized acoustic transducers, or through a novel proprietary channel. Similarly, the brand withholds information regarding how it intends to generate the sound perceptible from outside the vehicle. This discretion, however, does not undermine the company’s declared objective. Palermo emphasizes that Ferrari’s approach is rooted in the pursuit of authenticity, striving to ensure that the resulting acoustics serve as a genuine extension of the powertrain’s behavior rather than an artificial or manufactured ringtone. As he succinctly states, highlighting the brand’s philosophy, the auditory component is conceived as a finely tuned instrument — a tool of emotional expression — not a superficial digital embellishment.
Remarkably, for a manufacturer historically celebrated for its dramatic engine notes and emotionally charged theatrics, Ferrari asserts that in everyday operation, subtlety and calmness will dominate. As Palermo notes, silence is now deliberately prioritized to enhance what he calls “acoustic comfort.” In pursuit of this ideal, engineers have undertaken an exhaustive campaign to refine every element affecting NVH — the industry term for noise, vibration, and harshness. Without the masking presence of a roaring combustion engine, even the most minute resonances, mechanical tremors, and tonal irregularities would otherwise become evident. Thus, Ferrari’s challenge was to craft a driving environment that feels simultaneously tranquil and mechanically pure, consistent with the brand’s uncompromising standards.
Underneath its sleek exterior, the Elettrica employs an evolution of Ferrari’s advanced active suspension technology, originally developed for acclaimed models such as the Purosangue SUV and the F80 hypercar. This system utilizes 48‑volt electric actuators, each tasked with applying torque directly to the individual shock absorbers. By adjusting damping forces in real time, the system continuously counteracts pitch and roll, achieving a level of stability and balance that allows the car to remain composed under aggressive driving maneuvers as well as during abrupt transitions.
Like most high-performance electric vehicles, the Elettrica benefits from the inherent advantages of a low-slung battery pack integrated into the chassis floor. This configuration substantially lowers the center of gravity — in this case by an impressive 80 millimeters compared to an equivalent combustion-based vehicle — thereby improving stability through corners and enhancing driver confidence. While no amount of engineering can completely overcome the realities of mass and inertia, Ferrari asserts that its sophisticated suspension controls and the precision of its quad-motor configuration enable the vehicle to behave as though it were nearly 1,000 pounds lighter than its actual weight.
The culmination of these innovations is a machine in which each of the four wheels operates as an independently governed entity, with its own dedicated systems for propulsion, braking, steering, and suspension management. The rear wheels, notably, can be steered individually by as much as 2.15 degrees in either direction, permitting subtle yet powerful handling adjustments that optimize agility at low speeds and stability during high-speed cornering. Furthermore, all four motors are capable of executing their own regenerative braking functions, recovering energy with remarkable efficiency. In its most assertive setting, the system can achieve up to 0.68 G of deceleration solely through regeneration — a figure that surpasses half the braking force typically encountered during a full emergency stop in a conventional automobile. Collectively, these attributes combine to forge a driving experience that is both technically sophisticated and emotionally evocative, preserving Ferrari’s essence of passion and precision even as the marque ventures into its electric future.
Sourse: https://www.wired.com/story/ferrari-reveals-its-electric-powerhouse-and-what-could-finally-be-real-ev-sound/
