B2 — Upper Intermediate
Luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari has launched its first fully electric vehicle, the Luce, priced at $640,000 (£474,320).
In their efforts to take on Chinese EVs, they have been faced with serious backlash. Luce was highly criticized because some think that it betrays the brand’s legacy.
Consequently, shares of the company declined by over 8% on the Milan market and more than 5% on the New York market.
Read this article about Luce, Ferrari’s first ever electric car.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy22rddy5no
Vocabulary Questions:
- What is the meaning if something is “made in-house”? ”The firm said that all of the components are made in-house, so that the car can be repaired by the company well into the future, protecting the Luce’s resale value.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “a masterclass in something” mean? “Responses on social media to the launch ranged from describing it as “straight to the junkyard trash” to an “absolute masterclass in design”.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “to scale back on something” mean? “Supercar rivals like Lamborghini and Porsche have scaled back on their EV plans due to poor demand and intense competition from Chinese brands.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think about Ferrari’s electric car Luce? What are its promises and pitfalls?
- What is your opinion on Lamborghini and Porsche scaling back on their EV plans due to poor demand and intense competition from Chinese brands.
- What are some major obstacles of companies like Ferrari facing in shifting to EVs?
- Ferrari’s chief design officer Flavio Manzoni believes that critics are part of the innovation process. What is your insight on this?
- Do you think that the concept of an electric Ferrari with a new design is “polarising”? Will people eventually come to appreciate it? Share your views.
- What are your insights on this, “Yet Ferrari’s shares have dropped by more than 30% over the past year, mirroring a wider slump across luxury brands as inflation around the world has shaken demand for high-end goods.”?