In fact, he told the BBC in an interview it would be “arrogant” to dictate to customers what they can buy while at the same time walking away from the company’s heritage, saying, “I don’t want to be arrogant and impose a choice on our client. It is the client who must choose if they want an ICE (internal combustion engine), a hybrid or an electric car.” The BBC, reporting more on Ferrari’s plans after its interview with the automaker’s chief, said:

TRADITIONALLY, THE RAUCOUS SOUND OF AN EIGHT OR 12-CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE HAS BEEN A KEY PART OF ITS APPEAL. BUT BATTERY-POWERED CARS ARE MUCH QUIETER.

NEVERTHELESS, FERRARI IS PLANNING TO LAUNCH ITS FIRST FULLY ELECTRIC MODEL IN TWO YEARS’ TIME – A DESIGN THE COMPANY INSISTS WILL OFFER A “UNIQUE DRIVING EXPERIENCE”.

THIS PUTS IT AT ODDS WITH RIVAL BRAND MCLAREN, WHOSE CEO TOLD AN FT AUTOMOTIVE SUMMIT THIS WEEK THE TECHNOLOGY WAS “NOT READY” FOR USE IN SUPERCARS, DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE BATTERIES.