Ferrari Luce HMI
HMI Design
Lead designers: Sir Jony Ive & Marc Newson
LoveFrom collaborated with Ferrari's in-house Styling Centre team, led by Flavio Manzoni (Senior Vice President of Design), on every dimension of the Luce's design.
Flavio Manzoni (Ferrari SVP of Design, leads Ferrari Styling Centre) was responsible for the in-house design team's contribution.
Ferrari Luce HMI Details
The Ferrari Luce's HMI represents a deliberate rejection of the large-touchscreen trend dominating modern EVs. The interface prioritises tactility, clarity, and intuitive interaction, combining precision-engineered mechanical controls with multifunctional digital displays. Physical buttons, dials, toggles, and switches are designed to invite touch and engagement — a conscious counterpoint to the screen-heavy interiors of competitors.
The design team spent five years developing the interface, with over 20 evaluation tests conducted with Ferrari test drivers to perfect the mechanical and acoustic feedback of every control.
Driver Binnacle (Instrument Cluster)
The binnacle is mounted on the steering column (a first for a range Ferrari), so it moves in sync with the steering wheel, keeping instrumentation always in the driver's line of sight.
- Display technology - Two overlapping OLED/AMOLED displays manufactured by Samsung Display
- Primary display size - 10.2" AMOLED with three large circular cutouts
- Architecture - The top OLED panel features three cutouts with clear convex glass lenses and anodised aluminium surrounds, revealing a second OLED display behind it — creating visual depth and layered information
- World first - Samsung Display engineered the ultra-light, ultra-thin panel with three strategic cutouts — a first in the industry
- Mechanical element - A physical anodised aluminium needle in the central dial, backlit by 15 LEDs, combines with the digital display
- Left dial - Connected to the e-Manettino mode, displaying available power output and regenerative braking
- Central dial - Shows the two most critical data points — speed and battery level — using a hybrid mechanical needle + digital dial
- Right dial - Displays seven functional data points for driver performance, adjusted via a mechanical toggle on the right analogue control module
- Graphics style - Helicopter-inspired instrumentation graphics
Central Control Panel
- Display - High-resolution, custom-shaped OLED touchscreen
- Articulation - Self-contained panel that pivots — both driver and co-pilot can use the handle and palm rest to reposition it
- Physical controls - Three physical buttons for climate, car settings, and media
- Climate controls - Cabin temperature, fan speed, seat heating, and ventilation are all physical controls
Rear Control Panel
- Shares real-time drive information with rear passengers
- Houses rear climate controls
Key Interface Components
Glass Key with E-Ink Display
- Made from Corning Gorilla Glass — first automotive use of this glass engineered for durability and scratch resistance
- Features a specially developed E-Ink display (automotive first)
- E-Ink only uses power during colour changes due to bi-stable properties
- Start sequence: Inserting the key into the central console dock triggers a choreographed sequence — the key's colour switches from yellow to black as it integrates with the console's glass surface, while the control panel and binnacle simultaneously illuminate
Steering Wheel
- Three-spoke design machined from a single piece of aluminium
- Constructed from 19 CNC-machined parts
- 400 grams lighter than a standard Ferrari steering wheel
- Two analogue control modules in ergonomic positions
- Left module: Dials for cruise control and drive modes; button for park distance control
- Right module: Button for suspension; dials for windscreen wipers and stability control (Manettino)
- Indicator buttons: Positioned where the driver's thumbs naturally rest
- Paddle shifters: Large column-mounted magnetic paddle shifters for the Torque Shift Engagement system (adjusts torque curve)
Tactile Controls
- Buttons are described as clicking with the precision of a rifle bolt
- Every switch, toggle, and dial was engineered for specific mechanical and acoustic feedback
- Physical controls are prioritised throughout — climate, media, settings all have dedicated hardware buttons
Typography and Font
A new custom typeface was created specifically for the Ferrari Luce by LoveFrom in collaboration with the Ferrari Styling Centre. The font is described as understated and heritage-inspired, drawing directly from historic Ferrari typography and Italian engineering lettering traditions. It gives the interface and the car's identity a coherent typographic voice across all displays and branding.
The typeface is used in both the gauge cluster instrumentation and the infotainment system. Ferrari fans will recognise visual echoes of iconic models like the F355, 550 Maranello, and F50 in the shape, dial design, colours, and font choices.
**Note:** The specific typeface name has not been publicly disclosed. It is a bespoke/proprietary font created by LoveFrom for Ferrari — not a commercially available typeface.
HMI Gallery
Image source: ferrari.com/en-EN/media-centre & ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/ferrari-luce
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HMI Gallery is a collection of case studies showcasing the features, functionality, fonts and iconography of digital interface design in high performance vehicles.
Curated by Ben Morris
Digital Creative