James May shares his honest thoughts on the Ferrari Luce EV and he's backed it up with a lot of detail

James May revealed his thoughts on the electric Ferrari Luce and boy oh boy did he cause a stir.

People were not ready, and they flooded the comment section with memes and jokes.

But May’s comments actually make some sense when you look at his past.

And there’s one thing he said about the Ferrari Luce that’s very ironic.

James May’s relationship with Ferrari

One of the most liked comments below his views on the Luce reads like this: “Sounds like someone’s trying to secure a build slot for a limited run Ferrari.”

We can’t know that for sure, but, at least indirectly, this person may have a point.

All three ex-Top Gear and Grand Tour presenters have driven and owned Ferraris, but there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that James May has a tighter, direct-from-factory relationship with Ferrari that Clarkson and Hammond don’t.

James May tested the LaFerrari on Top Gear and for the first very episode of The Grand Tour, ‘The Holy Trinity’, it was probably not a coincidence that he was the one selected to drive the Ferrari.

May has also owned several Ferraris he bought new, including a Speciale, which is one of those cars you sort have to be ‘allowed’ to buy.

Also, contrary to what people might think, May has always been more open to modern cars.

He’s owned two Toyota Mirais, and several EVs.

With that in mind, his opinion on the Luce is not surprising.

His comments about the new Luce surprised a lot of people

A significant percentage of Grand Tour and Top Gear viewers love to hate EVs, partly because they see themselves as purists, and also because EVs were largely ignored on both shows.

Obviously, they did feature on several occasions, but most episodes focused on gas-guzzling cars.

And Jeremy Clarkson famously and unashamedly dislikes EVs.

In the final episode of The Grand Tour – titled ‘One For The Road’ – Jeremy Clarkson said this was one of the reasons why their tenure as TGT presenters had to come to an end.

“There are several reasons why we’re jacking this show in but, for me, one of the main ones is I’m simply not interested in electric cars,” he said.

His tone was so neutral and flat, you could tell that was never going to change.

But James May does like EVs, and apparently he also likes the electric Ferrari Luce.

Ferrari’s first EV was the subject of several less-than-flattering comments, not because it’s electric but because of its design.

But May is unbothered.

What James May said about the Ferrari Luce

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he said he simply likes it.

“I like it. I think it’s interesting that Ferrari have done something very contemporary, very modern, which I think has been part of the definition of Ferrari’s styling. They’ve always been very much of their time, which is why their cars turn into the great classics that they do,” he said.

Ironically, May also recounted when, testing the LaFerrari on Top Gear, Ferrari had told him they were not interested in electric cars.

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“I think it was about four or five years ago, I was at Ferrari, and one of their senior bosses said to me quite emphatically ‘we’re not interested in making the electric car’,” he said.

May also said he thought an electric Ferrari was inevitable.

“I sort of thought they would eventually [build an EV]. How could they not? I think people are becoming interested in electric cars, and some people will want an electric Ferrari,” he concluded.

Well, he’s not wrong on that front.

The electric Ferrari Luce is apparently sold out through the end of 2027.