http://bgr.com/2016/04/26/ferrari-vs-tesla-electric-cars-obscene/
Ferrari CEO drives a Tesla, promptly calls electric cars ‘obscene’
Apr 26, 2016 Yoni Heisler
Relative to how fast things typically move in the auto industry (read: not
fast at all), Tesla’s emergence as a forward-thinking and revolutionary car
company seemingly came out of nowhere. While traditional automakers over the
years have been quick to scoff at Tesla’s prospects for long-term success,
the success of the Model S and the recent explosion in Model 3 reservations
underscore that Tesla is here to stay.
Speaking to how Tesla is completely turning the auto industry on its head,
just yesterday we highlighted a video featuring a drag race between a Tesla
Model X and a Ferrari F430. Impressively, the Model X managed to hold its
own against the F430 for far longer than you might imagine.
Think about that for a second: we’re now living in a world where an SUV can
go head to head with a Ferrari and not be blown out of the water. Maybe,
just maybe, there’s something about the EV revolution that industry
incumbents should pay attention to. When Tesla can put out an SUV capable of
accelerating form 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds, maybe it’s time for auto
executives to stop dismissing Tesla out of hand.
That said, perhaps it’s time for Ferrari to stop being so stubborn, swallow
its pride, and dare we utter it out loud, consider developing an electric
car? Various Ferrari models can certainly perform impressively well on the
acceleration front, but imagine what the Italian automaker might be able to
accomplish with an electric car.
While the notion of an electric car might run counter to Ferrari’s DNA, it
hasn’t stopped other blue chip auto manufacturers like Porsche and BMW from
getting in the game. Strictly speaking, Ferrari may not compete in the same
space as BMW or Tesla, but that still doesn’t explain why Ferrari still
seems to view electric cars as something akin to the bubonic plague
Suffice it to say, Ferrari isn’t the least bit interested in the EV
revolution that appears to be picking up steam with each passing year.
Underscoring Ferrari’s aversion to all things electric, Ferrari chairman
Sergio Marchionne last month said that the idea of a Ferrari without an
internal combustion engine would be “an almost obscene concept” and that
it’s something Ferrari will never do.
A CNN report on Marchionne’s remarks reads in part:
It’s obscene, he explained, because a crucial part of the Ferrari
driving experience is the aggressive sound of the engine.
Marchionne described his experience driving an all-electric Tesla car,
which has no internal combustion engine sound at all.
“This is not Ferrari,” he recalled thinking as he turned up the radio to
fill the silence.
Marchionne also said he has no interest in building a self-driving
Ferrari since the Ferrari brand is, fundamentally, about driving.
“You’ll have to shoot me first,” the auto industry veteran told a room
of reporters.
Well, I suppose you can’t fault him for being unclear.
Sure, we can understand Ferrari’s allegiance to loud cars that run on
gasoline; but given Tesla’s ability to defy traditional auto conventions
with great success, one would think that auto makers would be more willing
to look at Tesla with a more objective eye.
Much like in the consumer electronics space, there are certain waves of
innovation that companies risk ignoring at their own peril.
Notably, Ferrari isn’t the only company that seemingly remains beholden to
traditional modes of thinking; there’s also Porsche.
While Porsche recognizes the value of an EV – exemplified by their work on
the Mission E – the company remains philosophically opposed to self-driving
car technology. Just this past February, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said that
no one buys a Porsche because they want to have a computer drive it.
“An iPhone belongs in your pocket, not on the road,” Blume said.
Tesla has already influenced a number of automakers like BMW and Ford to
take EVs more seriously. I suppose it remains to be seen if Ferrari will
ever follow suit, Marchionne reluctance notwithstanding.
[© 2016 BGR Media]
...
http://www.hybridcars.com/ferrari-ceo-takes-a-tesla-for-a-test-drive/
Ferrari CEO Takes a Tesla for a Test Drive
April 26, 2016 ... Marchionne took a Tesla for a spin, and acceleration
aside, he found it wanting ... called it “obscene.” ...
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