The Ferrari Luce, the brand’s first electric four-door, five-seat family car styled by former Apple designer Sir Jony Ive, has become one of the most polarizing models Ferrari has revealed in years. Purists were quick to attack its rounded, almost egg-shaped profile, accusing Maranello of swapping Italian character for what looked like a giant smartphone on wheels. Some former executives even wanted the Prancing Horse badge removed from the grille before traditionalists lost their patience completely.

But the backlash online did nothing to slow demand. According to reports, Ferrari sold through its entire first-year allocation of nearly 500 cars in less than 60 days. With a price tag above $600,000, the Luce shows that rarity and a strong badge can still attract buyers, especially Silicon Valley executives and customers in China.

Under the controversial aluminum body, the hardware is far more serious than the styling debate suggests. Four radial-flow electric motors send 1,035 hp / 1,049 PS to all four wheels, launching the 4,982 lbs / 2,260 kg battery-electric saloon from 0 to 60 mph / 0 to 97 kph in just 2.5 seconds. It will run to 193 mph / 310 kph, and its 122-kWh battery is good for around 329 miles / 529 km of range. Even if the Luce resembles a futuristic computer mouse to some eyes, a four-digit power figure goes a long way toward silencing criticism.

So what does this mean for Ferrari’s future? Is selling out proof that the Luce is already a success, or are buyers simply paying for access to the badge? Should Ferrari have launched its first EV as a traditional two-door supercar instead? And could this Apple-inspired minimalist look become the template for ultra-luxury electric cars?