The Ferrari Luce is Ferrari’s first fully electric car, designed specifically as an EV rather than converted from a gas model. The episode highlights that it’s also a five-door layout and that people are reacting strongly to how different it looks.
The Type 00 is a new model name connected to Jaguar’s brand changes and new car launches. The podcast is mentioning it as a big moment for the company. It’s included because it signals what Jaguar is planning next.
“Built from the ground up” means the car was designed as an EV right from the beginning, not adapted from a gas car. That can help the battery and motors fit better and work more efficiently.
A “five-door” car has four regular doors for passengers and an extra door at the back for loading (usually a hatch). The episode mentions it because it affects the overall shape and practicality of the EV.
Pininfarina is a famous Italian design company that has helped shape the look of many Ferraris. In this episode, they bring it up because the Luce isn’t following Ferrari’s usual design route.
Jony Ive is a famous designer best known for his work at Apple. The hosts mention him because his involvement is part of why the Luce’s styling is seen as a big departure from what people expect from Ferrari.
Mark Newsom is an industrial designer. In this segment, the hosts mention him as part of the design team connected to the Luce, helping explain the car’s unusual look.
Concept
controversial look
They’re saying the Luce’s design is polarizing—some people hate it and others might like it. The episode treats it as a big deal because Ferrari’s design language is usually more consistent.
A “five seat SUV” is a bigger family car type meant for about five people. The hosts are basically asking why Ferrari’s first electric car would be that kind of vehicle.
EV just means an electric car. It runs on electricity from a battery, not gasoline, and in this segment the hosts say people aren’t mainly upset about it being electric.
The “prancing horse” is the Ferrari logo. The hosts are saying the car looks so different that it doesn’t feel like it should have that Ferrari badge on it.
The Dacia Spring Electric Cargo is a small electric car that’s set up to carry items, not just people. The podcast is making a point about how much you can realistically do with it—using the vehicle’s size and range as the basis for the comparison. It’s aimed at showing how practical a small electric vehicle can be for deliveries.
“122 kilowatt-hour battery” is the size of the EV’s battery. Bigger battery capacity usually means you can drive farther before needing to recharge, but it’s not the only factor.
“Range” is how far the EV can drive on one full charge. The hosts are basically saying 320 miles isn’t a standout number compared with what people expect from EVs now.
“NMC” is the type of chemistry inside the EV battery cells. The “gross” wording is about how the capacity is measured/quoted, and it matters because not all of that energy is necessarily usable for driving.
“0–62” means how fast the car can go from standing still to 62 (mph). Two and a half seconds is very quick acceleration, but it doesn’t automatically mean the car has great range.
Term
cut out at the front
A “cut out” at the front is a styling feature that changes the shape of the front fascia (the nose of the car). Hosts describe it as “really dramatic,” implying the design is a major visual talking point for the Ferrari Luce.
The Nissan Leaf is an electric car. In this discussion, it’s mentioned because the hosts say Ferrari’s Luce used the same launch color as the Leaf, so people already associate that color with Nissan’s EV.
The Milan stock exchange is where companies’ shares are traded in Italy. The hosts mention it because Ferrari’s stock price fell there after the new car was revealed.
“Electrification” means car companies are moving toward electric drivetrains instead of relying only on gasoline engines. In this segment, they suggest that shift is big enough to worry investors.
A “halo EV” is a brand’s standout electric car that’s meant to be the showpiece. It’s usually the most exciting example of what the company wants to build next.
The Toyota Hilux is a pickup truck, usually used for work and hauling. The podcast talks about an electric version, meaning it would run on a battery instead of petrol or diesel. That’s why it’s mentioned—people are comparing what electric pickups can do.
A recall is when the car maker says there’s a safety problem and asks owners to take action. Here, the recall is related to a potential fire risk, and the message explains what to do if it happens.
“Two wheels” here means a motorcycle situation where one wheel isn’t on the ground. The host is basically saying they’ve been riding a bike in a way that’s physically intense, so they didn’t want a car that would feel jarring.
The Renault 5 is a small, fun French hatchback that many people love for being easy and enjoyable to drive. Here, the host is saying they really like it, but they’re also comparing it to another car’s everyday features.
The 5 E-Tech Electric is the electric version of the Renault 5. The podcast says they liked it a lot during a year of using it. It’s mentioned because it’s an example of a small electric car that can work well day to day.
A cup holder is the place in a car where you can put a drink so it doesn’t spill. The host is upset because the car they’re talking about doesn’t have one, so they’re improvising and getting burned when the tea slips.
A hot hatch is a small hatchback that’s been tuned to feel more exciting to drive. It’s meant to be sporty, but the host is saying it should still have practical features for daily life.
The Alpine A290 is a sporty small car from Alpine. The host really likes how it drives, but they’re annoyed it doesn’t have a cup holder, which they say makes daily life less convenient.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an electric car (it runs on a battery instead of petrol). The podcast is talking about a small design detail on the car, like where parts are placed. Those details can affect how easy the car is to use day to day.
The BMW iX3 is an electric SUV made by BMW. In the podcast, they talk about testing it alongside another SUV to see how it compares. It’s mainly about how the electric SUV drives and works day to day.
The “GLC” is a Mercedes-Benz SUV. They’re talking about how good it feels to drive, and how the ride changes depending on whether it has air suspension or the normal suspension.
The Volvo EX60 is Volvo’s electric SUV that they say is coming soon. They’re basically saying the timing isn’t great for the GLC because more EV options are on the way.
Air suspension is a suspension system that uses air-filled “springs” instead of regular metal springs. It can make the ride feel softer, but in this case they think it might also feel a bit too loose or floaty.
Passive dampers are the normal shock absorbers that don’t adjust themselves. They’re saying the standard setup can still ride nicely, even if it’s not as soft as the air-suspension feel.
“Range difference” means how far a car can go before it needs charging. They’re saying the EVs’ range makes the comparison tougher for the GLC, even if the GLC is a great car.
BYD is a big car company from China that makes electric cars and batteries. The host is talking about BYD trying to get into Formula 1 to get more global visibility.
Christian Horner is a key leader in Formula 1, best known for running Red Bull Racing. The host is saying he could be involved in BYD’s plan to join F1.
Formula One is the biggest, most watched kind of race series in the world. The host is saying it’s the more valuable place for a company to get attention.
Term
50-50 with electrification and internal combustion power
The host is talking about a rules change where the cars use a mix of electric power and regular fuel power. They’re saying that specific mix didn’t work out well for racing.
Term
60-40 in favor of the internal combustion
The host says the rules are going to change again so the cars rely more on regular fuel power than electric power. It’s a way of tuning the balance of the technology used in the race cars.
The BYD Seal is an electric car, meaning it runs on a battery. The podcast mentions it with a joke about the name, but the point is that it’s a real model people are talking about. It’s included because it’s part of the current EV lineup.
Car
MG S6 trophy
The MG S6 Trophy is an electric SUV from MG Motors. They’re talking about it as a good deal because it’s supposed to go a long way on a charge and still feels roomy and practical for families.
The Audi S6 is a faster, sportier version of an Audi sedan. The podcast mentions it while talking about a specific listing and range expectations. That’s why it’s included—people are comparing what they can get from a particular car offer.
The Polestar 4 is an electric premium SUV/crossover. This “long range single motor” version is meant to get you farther on a charge, and the hosts are debating how comfortable it feels to ride in.
One-pedal driving means you can drive and slow down mostly using just the accelerator pedal. When you take your foot off it, the car slows itself down using the battery’s energy recovery.
Charging to 80% means you stop the battery at about four-fifths full instead of topping it all the way up. It can be faster for day-to-day charging and may be easier on the battery over time.
The Dodge Charger is a big, powerful car model. In the podcast, it’s mentioned because the driver talks about charging only up to about 80% so other people can use the charger too. That’s about how you manage charging, not about changing the car itself.
“EV drivers” just means people who drive electric cars. In this part, they’re asking whether electric-car owners are being less considerate when using shared charging stations.
Public charging means plugging your EV into a charger that’s available outside your home. You usually have to find an open spot and use the station’s payment or app to start charging.
In EV charging, “etiquette” refers to informal norms around how long you should occupy a charger and how you behave when others need access. The hosts contrast early-adopter behavior (helping each other at chargers) with today’s more anonymous, “like a petrol pump” approach.
EV chargers are the machines where you plug in an electric car to charge it. At busy places, it can be hard to tell if a charger is free or already taken.
An EV bay is a parking spot meant for electric-car charging. The problem being discussed is that some people park there even when they aren’t charging, so it’s annoying for drivers who actually need the charger.
Term
EVs only
“EVs only” is a sign that means the spot is reserved for electric cars. The hosts are saying some people see it and think they can park there, even if they aren’t actually using the charger.
Car
Skoda Epic
The Škoda Epic is an EV the hosts talk about as being roomy enough to work as a family car. They compare it to another EV and suggest people may choose it based on how it drives and the brand they want.
The Alpina B10 is a luxury car that’s tuned to feel faster and more special than a standard version. The podcast is talking about how much it costs compared with another similarly named car. It comes up because people want to know whether the price matches the features.
The Leap Motor B10 is another EV option the hosts compare to the Škoda Epic. They point out that it’s bigger, which can make parking and everyday use less convenient for some buyers, even though it offers good features for the money.
Brand image is basically what people think of a car brand—like how it feels or what it says about you. The hosts suggest some buyers choose a car partly because of that, not just because of the features or price.
An automatic license means you’re only allowed to drive cars with automatic transmissions. If you have one, you may not be legally able to drive a manual car without getting the right qualification.
The Volkswagen E up is a small Volkswagen that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. It’s meant for city driving and everyday errands, and it was an early example of a normal-sized car going electric.
A manual gearbox is the kind of car where you choose the gears yourself, usually using a clutch pedal and a stick. The discussion here is about whether people miss that experience or prefer automatic driving.
When they say “analogue,” they mean the older, more hands-on way of driving. They’re talking about whether kids might start wanting the more traditional experience instead of fully automated driving.
Car
Citroen 2CV
The Citroën 2CV is a classic Citroën that’s known for being simple and weird in a charming way. People mention it when they’re talking about old-school driving and cars that feel more “mechanical” than modern ones.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is an electric van-style vehicle. The podcast is talking about how it didn’t meet expectations, meaning people felt it wasn’t as good as they hoped. It’s mentioned because it’s a big, visible electric family vehicle.
Stellantis is a big car company that owns multiple brands. In this clip, someone is worried that Stellantis could ruin a retro-style car concept. It’s basically a complaint about how the company might change the original idea.
“Retro premium vehicle” means a car that looks like it’s inspired by the past, but is sold as a nicer, more upscale product. In this discussion, that framing matters because people judge it not only by specs, but by whether it captures the right vibe. That’s why the debate gets heated.
The PV5 is an electric car mentioned in a comparison discussion. The podcast says some people think it compares poorly to another PV5-related option, and that caused disagreement. It’s included because it’s being evaluated against similar electric cars.
“Retro pastiche” means copying the style of an older car or era, but making it new. The speaker is basically saying the attempt doesn’t work and doesn’t feel authentic or appealing.
Frank Stephenson is a car designer. The hosts are saying he’s responsible for bringing back the look of some classic cars, so they think he should design the new 2 CV too.
The Fiat 500 is a famous little Italian car. The speaker is saying it was brought back with a retro look, and that’s why they think the same designer could handle a new 2 CV.
A concept car is a prototype/show vehicle built to preview future styling, engineering ideas, or brand direction. They can look very different from the final production model, which is why the host is disappointed that the production version doesn’t match the concept’s appeal.
LIVE
Hello and welcome to the Kilowatt Half Hour, a podcast about the world of EVs brought to
you by the team at electrifying.com.
So on the show this week we're going to be talking about what I think is the only story
in tan, the internet's brutal reaction to Ferrari's first EV. We're going to be talking
long term test cars and of course we'll be discussing your comments, your questions and
your moans as always, we love a good moan. Joining me today we've got Vicky and we've
got Mike, hello you two. Hello, how are you? This is nice, we haven't done a podcast together
us three for ages have we? No we haven't. It's lovely to see you. Shall we talk about
this Ferrari story because it literally, I think our collective jaws dropped didn't they
when this hit. So what I love about this is for such a long time the most controversial
rebrand and car launch of years has been Jaguar's Type 00 and Ferrari saw that and they
just went hold my beer and then they came out with the Luce or hold my glass of Chianti
or Campari or whatever it was. It has been an extraordinary reaction. Mike is our resident
Italian expert and linguist. Tell, in case people have been living under a rock for the
past sort of four days, just talk to us about the Luce. What do we know about it? Okay,
it's Ferrari's first all-electric car built from the ground up as an electrics, a five
door car and they have put the design out not to their usual people, which you need
Pininfarina or it's just our in-house. It's been put to an agency, Love From which is
run by a chap called Johnny Ive who very famously an Apple designer and Mark Newsom who is also
an industrial designer with he's done bits and pieces of cars based not just spoke clear,
neither of our car designers. And it's a very controversial look. It's a complete departure
or anything Ferrari has done before. We saw the interior a few weeks ago and that was kind of
tamed by comparison, isn't it really? So the exterior was revealed on Tuesday and it's broken
the internet because I'm safe to say it's been a fairly negative response to it.
Yeah, I mean the thing that I loved about this was that they presented it to Pope Leo
and part of me was like, do you think they're seeking forgiveness for what they're about
to unleash from the world, you know, from the higher powers because it has been brutal, hasn't
it? Vicki, what do you make of it? Are people being unkind? Is it, you know, is it Ferrari's
best to even know they're not being unkind? Are they? It's a funny looking thing.
It is a very, well, I think it's a very un-Ferrari looking thing. I think that's
what's really taken people back. I think and also I think a lot of people are asking the
question about why it has to be a five seat SUV for their first EV. Why wouldn't Ferrari set the
benchmark for what an electric performance car can really do sort of thing? Why not go for a
sort of more classic Ferrari layout and body shape and this kind of thing? And so I think people are
a little bit, yeah, but I mean, what I would say, and this may be an unpopular opinion,
I don't actually mind the way it looks. In fact, I quite like the way it looks. I just don't think
it looks like a Ferrari. I think this is my issue. I think that's where the problem is.
I completely agree. And I actually don't think the problem is that it's an EV because I've
spent a lot of time looking at the comments this week on, you know, the stuff that we put up about
and just comments generally. And I think that the feeling is it doesn't seem to be the backlash
that Ferrari, who of course are known for, you know, the soul and the sound have gone EV.
It's just people just go not that EV. It just doesn't look great. One of the best comments I
read on it was not even the Chinese will copy this one. If Ferrari's goal was to make a car that
no one would copy success, which doesn't make me laugh so much. But I don't like the way it looks
particularly, but I completely agree with you. My bigger issue is that it does not deserve that
lovely prancing horse on the side of the car. It just looks weird. It doesn't look like it should be
there. No, well, there have been some sort of amusing responses, haven't they? I did particularly
like the, did you see the Toblerone one that was going around? That really made me laugh.
So there have been some good ones. And can I just say, while we're talking about this,
there is an article on the site at the moment that our very own Sam Burnett wrote about alternatives to
the Ferrari and Luce. And one, I think my favorite is that you could have 38 Dacia springs,
which equates to over 5,000 miles of range. And so you can line them up and just throw them out
when you've run out of charge and just move on to the next one. Because this is the extraordinary
thing with it, right? So there's some quite impressive performance figures on it, but the range
is really average. It's got a, is it 122, I'm just trying to get the stuff, 122 kilowatt hour battery,
does that sound about right? Neither of you, either of you remember, I think 122 kilowatt hour battery,
but the range is about what, 300 and something miles? 320 miles? Just a bit like, so you're also
not going to make it technically like really wow either, because that's very average, isn't it,
compared to what we're seeing at the moment. Yeah, 122 hour gross NMC battery, 320 miles of range.
And yes, it can do 0-62 in two and a half seconds, but so kind of old though these days,
you know, but it can, can't it? It can. Yeah, I mean, yeah, it's maybe in a slightly different
way. I don't know. I think Ferrari have got a lot to prove. I'm a bit, I'm a bit less cynical about
it than some. I think, I think Ferrari, like a lot of brands are having to really rethink
how they approach stuff. I think they're having to rethink what they do for the electric era.
I think it's a big challenge for them. And like I said, I genuinely, I actually really
quite like the way it looks. I just don't think if it didn't have the Ferrari badges on it,
I would never say that's a Ferrari. I quite like it, apart from that, but yeah.
My ear nodding, do you, our in-house design go? I was, I was a bit shocked to see it for the first
time, but I'm kind of team Vicky on this one. I kind of like it. And I think, you know, it's the
whole thing. You didn't like beer the first time you tasted it. Oh, I did. I bloody loved it.
Yeah, I woke up this morning looking at it again. I thought, yeah, I mean, there's a
bit slightly unresolved. The rear end is very strange with that kind of cowl over that. It's
like someone's built a car over a car, doesn't it, at the back. But I think it might be one of
those cars you need to see in the metal, because I think the cut out at the front is really dramatic.
I mean, there's that shot of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton veiling it,
and they kind of put their hand up the front bit, then it comes out of the bonnet. So that,
all that is kind of like negative space. So maybe it's something that works better in the
metal. Who was an odd colour to launch it in? But the problem is, it's exactly the same
launch colour that Nissan used for the leaf. So the internet is full of pictures of the leaf
and the luce. And that, you know, it's very, you thought somebody would have done their
due diligence on that, because it's quite a niche colour. It's actually the colour of
your cushions, Vicky, right, the back there. I style my sofa on the Ferrari luce. This is
a Ferrari sofa behind me. Yeah, absolutely. I will say one more thing. Can I just say,
this is my forecast. I think they'll sell quite a lot of them. I think that they will,
because it's really controversial. And I don't know that they'll sell them to the traditional
Ferrari buyers. I bet you anything they'll sell a lot of them to, you know, the Middle East,
to China, this kind of thing. So maybe it's the new KN. Maybe it's the car that everybody
doesn't want the brand to make, but that everybody will actually, with the money, will buy. So,
you know what I mean? I think we might be in that sort of territory with it. I don't know.
It's interesting. You know, I agree with both of you. I think it is one of those cars that you
need to see in the metal. And I've been doing this long enough to know that you can see cars that
look great in a photograph and you go and see them and, you know, you're really disappointed
and vice versa. So I think, you know, I will be very interested to see it. I think we're going to,
it's going to be in the UK at Goodwood Festival of Speed, I think, isn't it, Vicki? So,
yes, I think there will be chances for people to have a look at it. But I thought the other
interesting thing was the reaction from the market, the financial markets, which, you know,
the internet might be very loud, but the financial markets were probably more worrying for Ferrari,
because the shares fell 8% of the Milan stock exchange following the reveal. I haven't checked
as to whether they've bounced back. I think they've come back slightly, but it's obviously this
move into electrification is massive. But I think on a different note, I think for me,
what it really signified is that, listen, if Ferrari is now going, having a halo EV is part
of our future then, we've just moved in. The EV is here, isn't it? You're like, you're not,
this is happening. It really is. You know, there's no, you know, people have just got to get on
board with it now, for sure. Anyway, should we talk about some cars that we could actually perhaps
afford to buy? Because at £475,000, I don't think any of us are going to have concerns about whether
we should treat ourselves to it or not, are we? Unless it's just something you two aren't telling me?
No, give us a pay rise, we might consider it. Okay, all right.
And Batch isn't on the podcast, so he can't.
I want us to have a couple. I want to see a Batch match with those trousers,
with the turquoise trousers and the Ferrari luce. Should we challenge Batch to find a pair?
That would be great. He's already lining that up, don't you? He's already been shopped for them.
He's actually weirdly, I'm recording it, he's in the corner. Are you shopping for a pair of trousers
to match the luce? He's talking to his tailor as he speaks. He's having some samples flown over
from Milan fabric samples. Right, anyway. So what we all been driving, Vicky, you've had a nightmare
week with cars, haven't you? Should we start with you? I mean, I was very glad I wasn't you.
So I've got a flat tyre on our very lovely Skoda L-Rock Long Terma, which I have been really
enjoying. And thankfully, the flat tyre happened about half a mile from my house. So I managed
to sort of limp it home and get it on the driveway. But I mean, I'm talking a proper flat,
and it turned out that it actually had a split in the tyre. So I don't know how or what's happened
there. So it wasn't even repairable. And it took nearly a week to get the tyre fixed. It's just
one of those things. It's life, isn't it? And I didn't have any other cars around. So I've actually,
largely this week, been driving a long wheelbase diesel transit. I was very strongly of white
spirits and paint stripper, which is my husband's daily. And thankfully, he hasn't really needed it.
So that's been a bit of a departure. I mean, I do drive, I've got an old petrol with ladies and
things, but Blimey, you get into a diesel these days. And it feels like you've gone back about 30
years in time. It's such a kind of departure from any EV. It's just unbelievable. And I like the
transit. So that's what I've been driving. It's really fun. So I'm building a house and my builder,
Gareth, was was like, ripped me paint like just terribly for being an EV advocate when he first
met me. Oh, awful. Oh, that would argue about them all the time. Lo and behold, he's in a plug-in
hybrid now. Lo and behold, he's just said to me, I quite fancy trying the electric transit.
I think I think that'd be really quite nice. So it's like, okay, so you know, so I think even
the most cynical amongst us, which Gareth definitely is, are slowly coming around to the
idea that getting in a diesel now, I definitely very rarely drive them. But when I do, it's a bit
like, oh my goodness me, how did I, how did I live with one of these? Yeah, well, on that note,
so we've got the new pickups, haven't we? We've got the electric Hilux and we've got the electric
Isuzu D-Max, I think it's still, they're still calling, I find that weird calling it an electric
D-Max. But anyway, so I've got, they've got the pickups, haven't they, which are quite interesting.
So I work, we should get those in and have a look at those. Yeah, definitely.
I wonder how well they're going to do, because I mean the Hilux as well, that's a real kind of
legend, isn't it? So that goes down as an EV. Yeah, we've got a video coming soon on that one.
Mike, what about you? What have you been, what have you been driving around in other than,
you know, your bike and even out on your motorbike this week?
Yeah, I'm on my motorbike, so you can throw rotten veg at me now. He's a petrol motorbike.
I've made a few calls to sort out some electric motorbikes while the summer, I mean,
that'll be the guarantee at the end of summer, won't it? Of course it will.
Of course it won't. So I'm not using the buzzer much because I've got a recall on it.
Oh, another one. Well, no, it's nothing to worry about, it's just a fire risk, it says.
We advise that should the vehicle fire occur, stop immediately, park in the open and end your
travel. I mean, that's, isn't it? I thought if it's on fire, oh, it says it's important you
should leave the vehicle as well. So without that, I wouldn't know, I'd have sat in it.
Yeah, I'd drive it to the barn, which is largely, you know, a large timber structure,
I'd have just parked there. So I'm glad I got that letter, but obviously the earliest I could
get it in was about eight weeks time. So I'm doing fewer miles in that and whether,
while the weather's nice, I've been on two wheels. Yeah.
And you had to go in the Alpine this week, didn't you? Well, I think we've both driven it for the
first time this week, the A290. I did, I did, and I loved it. I liked it, but I think I'm getting a
bit old because it was quite firm, isn't it? I like how firm it is. Yeah, maybe because I just
spent three hours on a motorcycle. The last thing I wanted to do was get in something that was going
to shake my feelings out again. But yeah, I do like it. It's a cup holder short of being perfect,
isn't it? This is what I was going to say. I absolutely love this car. I love the Renault
5. So my long-term Renault 5 video has gone up and is getting a lot of views and I'm slightly
heartbroken that Yoda left me. We had a little fling and Yoda's gone and that was very difficult
because I really did love the Renault 5 for a year. It's just a cracking car.
So I was interested to spend a few days in the Alpine A290 because I've never driven it.
A bit like you, I just thought I'm going to really like the way it looks and it's a cool thing.
And then I'm going to find it. I'm too old for it. I don't enjoy it, but I absolutely
bloody love it, honestly. I would buy one in an absolute heartbeat, apart from one reason.
And this would stop me. There's no cup holder. Like what were they thinking?
Like what they think that just because you want to have fun and, you know, and have a kind of
sporty, fun little, you know, hot hatch that you don't also want to have a cup of tea in the car?
Like what? Is it like that's classed as a demographic that doesn't take a drink with them?
It literally would stop me. I found myself googling. I've been trying to find a cup holder
that I can put on to the dashboard so I can, I can put it in because at the minute I'm traveling
with it between my legs and I've had some nasty burning accidents with, with tea slipping over.
In it, not the place you want to be burned either, I've got to say.
Nicola's here as well now and she's laughing. Oh yeah, she'll laugh at me on this. Oh, Nicola's
like, yeah, she relates. She doesn't want to be burnt there either, Dinek. Ish comes,
ish comes, comes. I walked in at a point where Ginny said between my legs and
burning and I didn't understand. Happy podcasting. We're going to throw an HR again. Oh God, Nicola.
Anyway, so Nic and I, I guess, drag us back out of the gut. Yeah, I think, yeah, there's space for it.
Why isn't, yeah, it seems nonsense, not even to offer us. It does seem mad, doesn't it?
Yeah, so here's a question for you all. Which car have you driven or which car do you know about?
They will chuck this out to the internet, to the audience. Which, which car have you had that
was missing something vital? Like it could have been, you know, the, like the wing mirror that
you broke off your car and still drove around with it, without it for like three years when
you were 18. So what car have you had that you think has just been missing something vital?
Because for me, the Alpine A290 is literally my, it's my spirit car. Honestly, I love it
that much, but it's got to get a cup holder. Yeah, I think it lives in the same folder as the
rear wiper on the original IONIQ 5, doesn't it? In so much as, no amount, no amount of PR,
you know, nonsense, make up for the fact. The window, the window clear the rear screen,
don't worry, no, it was filthy within five minutes. Yeah, I'm with you though, I do love the Alpine,
but again, maybe I'm getting old and we have discussed that before as well, but I just buy
a Renault 5, not only because of the cup holders, which is a big swaying decision for me as a big
coffee fan, but I just think that the Renault 5 drives, you know, merely as well as the Alpine
and is usefully cheaper and looks kind of just as cool and I sort of prefer the ride on it and
there's aspects of that. I just think, I just think I'm going to have just as much joy from a
Renault 5 and I can do it with my Grande Latte at the same time. I'm completely with you,
you know, I would never have one. I do love the Alpine. So just, yeah, so we've got some great
videos up at the moment, haven't we? So we've got the Renault 5 long-term test and we've also,
this week, we've all been spending some time in the GLC and the BMW iX3, so we've managed to get
the first twin test of those two rivals live. So that was an interesting day. Again, I think
seeing those two together, I think what we sort of thought, all of us, was that in any year the
GLC would blow you away because it's such a good car. Sadly for the GLC, it's the year that we get
the BMW iX3 and then the Volvo EX60 is coming as well. So you almost feel a little bit sorry for
it because if it had been last year, we'd have been absolutely raving about it and it is a very
good car, but it's just the game is being, the bar's being raised so much higher, isn't it?
What did you think of it, of the mic? Because you, we were all here when we were filming this
early in the week in the sweltering heat. Yeah, exactly the same as you. I thought the GLC was
brilliant. I only drove about 10 minutes up and down the sort of roads near the barn, but yeah,
fabulous. I mean, it was interesting, the car we had was on air suspension, which I'd be interested
to know how many people actually specify that because it is quite a dynamic change. It does feel
a little bit sort of wallowy, maybe because I jumped straight out of the Alpine and into that,
but on a long journey I could live with that ride. So I drove the standard GLC on its standard
passive dampers back when I was on the launch a week or so ago and that was actually really,
really good. So I said, I mean, it's a little, it does feel a tiny bit firm at times, but I still
think it's really good. So I genuinely think it would probably be better without the air
suspension. Although I didn't mind the sort of wallowiness as much as you and Nick did. I quite
like a really sort of soft cushy car as well. But the standard suspension, I know you really
like sort of quite a firmer ride comfort, I think we can, we can establish, haven't we? But yeah,
I did, I thought the standard GLC and that was also just the base sport trim. It didn't have any
options apart from silver paint on it that I drove. So which makes it a whole lot better value
than the test car that we had, which was really high spec. And when I drove that, I was like,
actually, this is does feel like quite a lot of car for the money. But it's the range difference
between the IX3 and the GLC, isn't it? And that's the thing now, like you say, such a good car
that the Merc, I really, really like it. But I do think that that disparity is like nearly 100
miles more range in the IX3. And a lot of people are going to struggle to choose the GLC over that.
But hey, there you go. Yeah, so those videos are out there. I think that the interesting thing on
the rumor mill this week for me has been the news that BYD is potentially putting a bid together
to enter F1 with ex-Red Bull boss, Christian Horner at the helm. He was apparently seen on a
super yacht in the South of France with Stella Lee, BYD's vice president, as you do, because that's
as we know, all Formula One deals happen in the South of France on super yachts.
And part of me was like, yeah, yeah, I can see that. And then also I was kind of a little
surprised that maybe the Formula E wasn't where they were going. But I guess given all the electrification
now in F1, I don't know, do you reckon that's going to be a go and mic? Well, it's interesting.
I think what you were saying about Formula E and Formula, I mean, Formula E has quite a large
read of viewership, but it pales into comparison with Formula One, which is a massive sport. So
that's the one you want to bid. It's a strange one, especially this year was when they went 50-50
with electrification and internal combustion power in the carts. And it's proved to have been
unpopular. So they're going to wind it back to 60-40 in favor of the internal combustion for next
year. So you'd think, what a BYD got to gain in that, presumably they got very deep pockets. But
they definitely want the exposure. If you remember the Euros, the football tournament,
three years, two or three years ago, they acquired the sponsorship for that under the
nose of Volkswagen. And the tournament was in Germany, and yet the main sponsor was BYD
everywhere, wasn't it? So they clearly understand the value of having the name out there. Maybe it's
just building the brand rather than thinking we're going to flog some seals on the back of it.
I think from what we know of BYD and how they operate, I just think, yeah, they'll probably
do it. Because they're like, there's such a force of nature, aren't they, that company?
Yeah, they move really quickly. They've got a lot of money. And I think actually the last few
years, I mean, they've still been doing well by sales numbers and things, but they've seen a bit
of a sort of plateau in the Chinese market. And I wonder if this is one of the things they're
planning on doing, because they're really focusing on global sales now. So I think this
is what they're trying to do to really, I think Mike's right. I think it's a huge marketing move
and I wouldn't be surprised if they do it. So yeah. And you know, Formula One is the place to be if
you want to really get the brand out there, isn't it? So yeah, of course. Yeah. Right, so bringing
us back to Earthworth with a bump, have we got a bargain of the week? We certainly have. So we've
got, I found a lease on an MG Motors, MG S6 trophy. So you're talking about a 329 mile range car there.
It's a big, it's comfy, it's good. I like the MG S6 really good. So, you know, a two and a half
thousand pound deposit, which is nine months down. £162. Wow. That's a lot. That's a lot for the money,
isn't it? That really nice. Good car. That's 8,000 miles per year as well. So I think that would
do a lot of people for a really decent price on a really decent family electric SUV, you know,
pretty long range. So I thought that was a good deal. Or how about a used 2025 Polestar 4 long
range single motor, so you're talking 385 mile range premium car there, £31,000 and it's only
got 17,000 miles on it as well. I'd have that in a heartbeat. I know that we've disagreed vastly
across the electrifying team on the ride quality of the Polestar 4 again. I just like, I quite like
it. You know, I'm not, you know me, I like, you know, I like, yep. But I think that's a cracking car.
So Ben, one of our financial man, Electrifying, who pays all our wages, who is a fantastic guy and
we all really love him. We love him. You're a great, great Ben. Thanks so much. You love him.
Thanks for paying us each month, Ben. Really, really appreciate it. You're a great Ben and the
expenses, if you assume Ben, so if you just send them over. We get paid today, don't we? So yeah,
so we need to say thanks Ben. Ben has won. He loves it. Two of my friends on various recommendations
from me have got them. Absolutely love it. So I know we've had, Nicholas had, you know, perhaps an
interesting relationship with her Polestar 4 when she had won. She loved a lot of it, but some of the
text I've driven mad. But honestly, the two friends that I know who bought, who bought one, no issues
at all and really think it's fantastic. That's a good price for that car, isn't it? I've seen loads
around me too. I've seen a lot. So yeah, I think it's quite popular thing, isn't it? I think it's
a good lot of car for the money that. So it's a good one. Good. Good. Okay. Should we do a welcome
to our Electric Virgin of the Week? Yes. So this is from Brad, who wrote in, say, Dear Electrifying
team. I wrote into the podcast a few weeks ago to ask if you heard any news about one pedal
driving and regen paddles coming to the Renault 5. Within a couple of weeks, you had an answer,
you ran the story on your site and you mentioned it on the podcast. I have no place, my order for
my R5 Roland Garros in black and I take delivery in a couple of months. Thanks for your help, Brad.
That is brilliant. I massively approve of that choice, don't you? Yeah. Yeah. Nice.
Roland Garros in black, that's really nice as well. That's really nice. Yeah. And if you would like to
be our Electric Virgin of the Week, do drop us an email podcast at electrifying.com or you can
drop a comment wherever it is that you're listening or watching.
We've got a load of comments to get through. I just want to say, which is my favorite comment
that I read this week and it must be my favorite comment of the year so far. So on the Renault
5 long term, which, as I said, is live now. And it's fair to say that we love that car and it's
got its faults, but it was generally a really positive experience. Mr Stovey's 2444 on YouTube,
just simply wrote, Ginny gets a divorce from the enyak and a laugh emoji. And I couldn't
stop laughing at that. If you don't get this, it's because the enyak has long been my default car
for anyone that wants to go electric by an enyak, enyak. So apparently I'm now
divorced from the enyak. But I think we, I'm sure we'll get back together at some point because,
you know, it's been a long-standing, very fond relationship. So, you know, we're bound to rekindle
at some point. Right, what else have we got? Have we got any questions? Right, so we've got
somebody's written in at BBSS CJ. So they wrote in and said, I have a question for everyone. I
have been driving an EV since 2019 and I'm a bit of an earlier doctor. If I needed a charge away
from home, I would only charge up to 80% to let others use the charger if needed, which I think
probably all of us do, and charging gets much lower anyway. Is it me or do you think EV drivers
are now less considerate and staying at charges longer than needed? Oh, that's a really interesting
question. Or are there just a lot more on the roads? Well, it's tricky, isn't it? Because there are
also more charges now. I mean, if you, you know, we were all driving EVs back in 2019 as well, and
it was at times a bit tricky to charge and it could be quite a sort of stressful thing.
But now, I mean, I don't plan charging, public charging, I just pull into services and plug in
generally unless it's a really, really long trip through Europe or something along those lines.
I don't tend to really plan anything. I think there probably was, Mike. Do you remember around
the time that we were launching electrifying, we talked about having a clock, a timer thing that
you can put in the car that would show people how long you plan to be there. And I think there
almost was a, in those earlier days, there was a bit of a kind of an etiquette, wasn't there?
There was. There was. About it. Yeah. Yeah. And it was more of a club back then, wasn't it? We were
the sort of early adopters club. And I think, you know, you'd often strike up a conversation with
somebody at a charge, wouldn't you? And you would help each other if someone's app didn't work or
the car didn't work. You know, helping them out. And I think it's now just people who just get,
it's just a car, isn't it? You know, no more than you would strike up a conversation at a petrol pump
with anyone. I do think that, yeah, it is the etiquette, isn't it? And I think that has always
been a little bit of a difficult one, because where EV chargers tend to end up in the busy
motorway services, it's often quite difficult to see if they're, if they are full, which I have to
say these days, I find very rare. I have to wait, but you're never quite sure if they're, if there
are cars waiting or not, and if they're parked. And there are aspects of that. I don't think I'm
generally seeing people charging for longer necessarily. I wonder if it is just, yeah, maybe
it is just, you know, particularly at big times, maybe it's just the amount of use that they're
getting, but I'm not sure about that one. I'll tell you what, I don't see as much, I don't see as
much icing. Do you remember when we used to talk a lot about being iced? So this would be
ice cars parking in EV charging, charging bays. I don't think I see that much anymore.
So this is going to cue a huge influx of comments from all of you, who it happens to you all the
time and it drives you all mad. But I don't think I have seen that for a long time. And in the early
days, that would be something that you would just regularly see. So yes. I think I see more EV owners
not plugged in in an EV bay these days, you know, sometimes people say, if it's taking things to
the literal level, isn't it? If you see something written on the tarmac that says EVs only, people
just park there and then don't realise that it's a charging date. Well, they do realise, but just
think I can park here. So yeah, that's even more annoying. Yes, it is. Right, Mike, if you've got
coming for us. Yes, this is from BST1623 from YouTube says keen to know your thoughts on a
high spec Skoda Epic for approximately 32 grand versus something like a Leap Motor B10 at 30 grand
as well. Given the Chinese cars are as good in terms of quality now, are they? Would you agree
with that? Why would someone choose the Skoda? Vicki, you've spent a bit of time with the Skoda
Epic. Yeah, I think that was one of the because when I sort of spent some time with the Epic,
it did cross my mind to actually a high spec one of those because it really is surprisingly
spacious inside. You could definitely use it as a very usable family car for a sort of small
family. I think in truth, it's going to come down to I suspect the Epic is going to drive.
It's going to be better to drive than the Leap Motor. I think there is an aspect of brand image.
Some people prefer having a smaller car. The B10 is quite a bit bigger and that's not always
useful for everybody if you've got, you know, different driving or parking or that kind of
thing. Sometimes a smaller car is good, especially when it's still useful like the Epic.
So I think there are lots of reasons you would still go for a for the Epic over the Leap Motor,
but I can also see because, you know, that B10, it does feel it's pretty nice inside. You get
all the kit. It's really good value. So I think it just comes down to personal taste to, you know,
how much you value how the car drives and your brand image and all of that really.
Okay. Yeah. No, I would agree. I think we did some a survey amongst visitors to the website
and I can't remember the stat, but I think it was something might you might be able to remember
70, 75% of people said they just didn't really care where their car was made anymore. So those days
where, you know, you would literally you would want to buy a car because it came from Germany or
because it was built in Britain, but that's definitely been disappearing. And that, you know,
as long as it does the job and it's what they want and their preference and it's been well
reviewed by a source they trust. So I do think we've seen quite a lot of change in that. But again,
like Vicki said, it's just it's just up to, you know, what you particularly like, isn't it? And
what, you know, what matters to you? There's an interesting looking at the pricing on an Epic.
And this sort of slightly relates to this question. They priced it. So the two prices
are identical. There's one with a small battery with a really high trim. And then there's the
big battery with the basic trim. And they're exactly the same price, like to the penny. So I'll
be, I'd be, because I'm a nerd, I'm interesting to know what people will go for. Because we're
like, Oh, God, I need the longer range. I could put up with the fact that it hasn't got, you know,
adaptive cruise control or whatever. I don't know entirely from me on the specs. But yeah,
will they have less kit and longer range or do they just want all the luxuries, all the buttons,
but a slightly smaller battery? But see what the order take will be on that.
And I think I think I'm going to drop this comment in here now as we are now at 30,
30 odd minutes in. So we're definitely now hitting the half hour. I'm going to read that comment
from, I think it's Wagner Gimenez. Because we've had, we've pronounced Wagner Gimenez's name wrong
many times. Like we used to call him Wagner Gimenez. And I'm pretty sure correct as please,
again, if it is incorrect. But he just says, thanks, guys, I'm going to put my first vote
for renaming the podcast, kilowatt hour, I'm cool with that. Because yeah, so we
should carry on. I don't know if we're going to get to the hour, but let's carry on with that. Vic,
have you got a comment for us? We have, yes. So at Henry Andrews 2011 said, if someone suggested
the current as a new form of transport now, so this is off the back of that quote.
It would be refused on environmental as well as safety grounds. He says, you know, imagine,
let's drive around alone in two ton transport pods that require lots of mining. Yeah, this is off the
back of that comment from the Mercedes safety people, wasn't it about? Yes. The cars wouldn't
be left out. And interestingly, about five years ago, when Grant Shaps was the transport minister,
I interviewed him for a program that I was making, and I asked him that very question.
I said to him, if somebody came to government now, and we have this idea for the car and everything
it was going to do, would you sign off? And he went, Oh my God, no, the car would never,
never, ever, ever be allowed now today. Just wouldn't. So it comes back to that comment,
you know, that the Volvo guy said, which is, you know, would you say today a
form of transport that kills 30,000 Europeans a year? You know, it's just it's really interesting,
isn't it? But yeah, no, I get that, I get that. And Mike, anything, anything from you to wrap this
bit up? Yeah, Jason Thorne, which is a really normal name. I got one sort of four digits and a
couple of letters after that. But I'm glad to because it's a nice easy one to read. I'm one of
the only from the few people who owns an automatic license. I did so as I'll only drive ever drive
EVs. Yes, I have a beautiful X little X demo Volkswagen E up in Kings red metallic.
I love that my first car is an EV and I haven't the slightest regret skipping manuals. Yeah,
I don't think I'd be happy never to drive manual gearbox again. I realize that probably the only
one who says that but no, I would be happy never to drive a manual manual. Vicky will disagree.
Vicky will disagree. Absolutely. And it's interesting because my son disagrees. So Zach,
my son is turning 17 at the end of August. He's quite cheesed off because he's the youngest in
the year. So he's had a year of all his friends, you know, I've been driving lessons and you know,
got the licenses and he's like finally getting around to the point and he wants to learn to drive
a manual. I was like, why? But he's doing it. He wants, he's doing it. He's doing it. So I just
wonder if there's a bit more of that whole analogue thing that might start coming back in with the
kids. I don't know. But yeah, he's, he's going for the manual. But yeah. Yeah. Good luck with that,
Zach. Good luck with that. That's all I've got to say on that. And we had loads of comments in
actually about the Citroen 2CV which you were talking about on the podcast last week.
And yeah, it got quite a big reaction. Well, I like this one from below below. I can't,
below below. Anyway, it's a YouTube comment from somebody lovely, I'm sure. I love the 2CV2
much that I fear Stellantis will mess it up big time. Not unlike how VW messed up the ID buzz.
I thought we wanted to get your reaction to this one, Mike, as a retro premium vehicle instead of a
van comparing rather poorly in their opinion to the Kia PV5. I thought that was quite controversial
statement. I wondered how Mike, you would feel about that.
I don't, yeah. Well, yeah, the buzz is a buzz, isn't it? I mean, people said to me,
you must be annoyed because the PV5's come out now. I don't know. I don't want a van with windows.
I'm quite happy with my buzz because I bought it because the way it looks, it's a completely
different car. I mean, on paper, yes, they are comparable and the PV5 has better specs. But
yeah, I'd bought it because I like the way it looked, though it smiles at me. And I don't,
I wouldn't get that from a PV5. I admire it for what it does. But I admire it and say,
an airbus, you know, in case you've made it. I thought that was harsh because I think the buzz
is the thing of beauty. I don't think they've messed the buzz up at all. I love it. I think
the buzz is great. All I want to know is why they still haven't launched a proper campervan version.
It was coming in 2025, then 2026. Now they're not even talking about it anymore.
I know. I thought that. I've not heard anything about it for a long time,
so I don't know what's going on there. But apart from that, I love the buzz. I would,
I would buy a used buzz. I think they're great.
I've got some interview time with Thomas Schaefer, the boss of VW
groups. I'm going to ask him where the buzz is and I'll report back. Okay. Vicky, not everybody
agrees with Batch on the subject of the, no, no, go on. You might as well do some background for
this in case people didn't listen last week. So, yeah, so Batch was saying that he didn't
really sort of think that the two CV was a good idea. He didn't seem to really be in favor of
that. And so we've got a comment here from at Atre Uri Dao. Good stab there, Vicky. Yes. Nailed it,
Vick. Yeah, exactly. I'm sure that's spot on. I do apologize for definitely mispronouncing
that. Anyway, so YouTube comment, he says, so Batch, Renault, Mini, Fiat, VW can go retro, but
Citroën can't. Very strange. And the Ammi is getting close to 100,000 units now. I point out,
I actually defended the Ammi and said that it did sell well in Europe. Many cars would love to
reach that figure. So I think, I think it was just that Batch didn't really like the looks of the
sort of the proposed two CV. It's, I mean, it's a sort of, it's a sketch, isn't it really? So I
don't know that the new two CV will actually look like that image that we've all seen kind of,
kind of going about. I think that might be a bit misleading, but we'll find out, won't we?
Like I said, I'm all in favour of it. I think it would be great. I'm just a bit unclear about
quite how or where it's fitting into the Citroën range, but I'm sure it will be great.
I'm sure it will all be. It will all be revealed. Might we have that for us?
Finally on this subject, Richard Blaney, 5898, not to be confused with Richard Blaney, 5896 or
7, they said they definitely need to do a retro pastiche two CV. If you market a car with a name
like two CV, there's nothing else you can do. That's what people would want to buy. Look at the buzz.
It's a pathetic attempt at the retro looking camper concept. It's just an awful car that people
don't want. I've gone off you, Richard Blaney, suddenly. What's with the buzz hating? Can we get
some comments like just to kind of spread the love for the buzz? Because I love the buzz.
Yeah, I do too. Anyway, it's just going to be all comments from Mike next week on the bottom of
this podcast. I really like the buzz. I like all indifferent. He's going to get me and Mike's
combining it next week. Oh, you know, you're on holiday next week. We'll save them when you come
back, Mike. Well, I think the trick with the two CV is you've got to get Frank Stephenson,
the designer to do it, because if you look, he revived the Mini. He revived the Fiat 500.
And, you know, why not give him the full clean sweep? He's probably not that busy.
I interviewed Frank Stephenson in the 90s when he was working at Maserati.
And he said to me, the rear of a car, it needs to look like the derriere of a beautiful woman.
Which is possible. The most designery thing a designer has ever said to me.
It's like, it's like Swiss Tony from the fast forward.
Swiss Tony from the fast forward.
I really like Frank, but I was like, oh, okay, right then. Okay. Didn't know what to say to that.
Look at the back of a Mini again in the sunlight.
No, I know, I know. But on the subject of hating on cars, it's not just been the, you know, the
buzz and also the Ferrari Luce. The AMG, that Maserati's AMG has given the Luce run for its money
in the comments, isn't it? Flowy neck. People, yeah, I didn't realise that would be so controversial.
No, it's very strange, isn't it? We had one comment at Stevie Cadd says,
I'm absolutely with batch on that, Maserati. It's disgusting. It's not holding back here.
It is disgustingly tasteless inside and out. I mean, you know, tell us what you think,
Stevie. Maserati's styling choices in general have got me wondering about their appeal.
It's definitely not a restrained look. We're all different, I suppose.
He tries to soften it at the end there by saying.
Disgustingly tasteless, I think, you know, there's no coming back from that.
Should I do Fingalbats, who is a regular? Fingalbats are regular. Fingalbats on the
subject of the AMG said, I feel like I need to do a ranty voice for this. They used to be driven by
world leaders, or rather, they were driven around in them. Maserati's Benz. Maserati's Benz was a
name synonymous with class, innovation, classic quality with timeless looks. Now I find Benz is
often overly glitzy, like having a glitter ball in a public lavatory. It adds no benefit to form
or function. They panned out to the Nouveau Riches, a black class like online influencers, not proper
online motoring journalists before I upset the electrifying team. I hope they get back to their
heritage one day and bring out a true belter steeped in their timeless look and quality,
whilst being innovative and forward-looking BMW, I think, of beating Benz at their own game.
Again, Fingalbats, I love you, you know, just say it like it is. Don't hold back.
I don't know what side of the argument he's on there, isn't it?
Oh, I think he just doesn't like it.
Yeah.
Oh, you're being sarcastic. Sorry, that completely slipped me back.
No. Firstly, I've worked with quite a few influencers and they're often
mostly very nice, so I don't really think that we're knocking people who do that.
I think I agree to an extent on the AMG GT four-door Coupe, whatever, catchy name they've
given it. I think it's a shame the concept car, the GT XX looked lovely. It was really simple
and it sort of drew its inspiration from the C111 concept car 1970. It just looked nice.
And I think the final production version, that link had gone. So yeah, I mean, it doesn't
mean anything to me.
I'm just looking at that again in that lovely orange color.
Look beautiful, right?
Beautiful.
Yeah.
Absolutely beautiful. They've done that awful hideous online dating thing, haven't they,
Sadie's there. That thing, they've catfished us all. Like they've gone with the, oh yeah,
this is this is what it's going to be and then you turn off and see the real thing and it's
just like.
Defeat from the jaws of victory again.
Yes. Okay. I agree. I agree. Anyway, well, I feel like we've had a full-on vent on this podcast.
We've been quite negative about quite a lot of stuff and sometimes that's just what you need,
isn't it?
Yeah.
Okay. So, Mike, you're going to be sunning yourself and from your sunbed next week,
aren't you?
I think that's called annual leave.
I think it's, yeah.
Is it not called sunning off? No.
No, it's annual leave, okay. Thank you.
Thanks to Ben.
Thanks, Ben, for signing off on that.
Thanks, Ben.
Thanks, Ben.
So, Vic, you and I will be, we'll be driving, we'll be coming back to tell everybody what
we've been driving and doing next week, but in the meantime, thank you.
Thank you for joining us.
Let us know your comments, send us your questions, podcast.electrifying.com,
or you can always drop a comment in the comments from YouTube if you are watching.
Until then, any final thoughts to leave everybody with Mike, Vicki?
Not really. No, have fun.
All right, good. Okay.
Enjoy your pinnacle ladders, Mike, and have a good week, everyone.
Have a good week.
See you later.
Bye.
About this episode
Ferrari’s first all-electric, five-door Luce sparks heavy backlash, and the hosts argue the real problem isn’t EVs—it’s that the car “does not deserve that lovely prancing horse” because it doesn’t look like a Ferrari. They still dig into the Luce’s claimed battery, range, and 0–62, plus the market reaction after the reveal. The conversation then pivots to what they’ve been driving and why the Renault 5 keeps winning over the Alpine A290—mostly thanks to cup holders.
Ferrari has finally shown its hand with the upcoming Luce EV – and the internet has had thoughts. Lots of them. In this week’s Kilowatt Half Hour, Ginny, Vicky and Mike dive into the fierce reaction to Ferrari’s first electric car, asking whether the criticism is justified or if we’re all judging too soon.
Away from Maranello, the team catches up on the latest cars they’ve been driving, including the Alpine A290, Skoda Elroq, Renault 5 and Renault 4, plus a brief encounter with a diesel Transit. There’s also a look at BYD’s reported interest in Formula 1, some cracking EV bargains in the new and used markets, and another Electric Virgin success story as a listener takes the plunge with a brand-new Renault 5.
As always, we tackle your comments, questions and hot takes – from charger etiquette and Chinese challengers to retro-inspired Citroëns, automatic-only licences, and whether Mercedes has completely lost the styling plot.
All that, plus the week’s favourite comment and plenty of automotive moaning along the way.
