Ferrari CEO Awards Tesla Roadster Reveal 10/10 for Tech, Presentation

Ferrari CEO Awards Tesla Roadster Reveal 10/10 for Tech, Presentation

Tesla’s new Roadster drew praise from an unexpected source: Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna, who rated the Roadster presentation 10 out of 10 for technology and 10 out of 10 for presentation, according to Reuters.

Speaking remotely from India during an automotive conference hosted by Italian magazine Quattroruote in Milan, Vigna said the redesign showed that a mature industry still has room for bold ideas.

A Perfect Score From Ferrari

“It certainly shows that also in the automotive world there’s still a lot to be done. We have to keep dreaming,” Vigna said. “As a European, thank you for showing us how that, even in an old world, you can still innovate and dare.”

At last week’s Roadster event, the car drove upside down on an inverted ramp, performed a kickflip over Tesla’s lineup, and hit 0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds using cold-gas thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX.

Wall Street’s reaction was more cautious. Tesla shares initially rose after the event, but analysts noted that deliveries are still a few years away. The Roadster was first announced in 2017, and production starts in 2028 after years of delays and a complete redesign.

Ferrari’s Own Push to Innovate

Ferrari is facing its own skeptics. Its shares fell in May when it revealed the Ferrari Luce, its first fully electric vehicle, designed with former Apple design chief Jony Ive and his studio, LoveFrom.

Vigna said that outside help was essential. “If we had worked on our own, we wouldn’t have done what we did,” he said, noting that outside observers pushed Ferrari to revisit key questions.

Supercar DNA

The latest Roadster leans far more into supercar territory than the 2017 concept. Instead of the earlier curvy, S3XY-inspired design, it adopts a low, wedge-shaped silhouette with manual scissor doors, closer to what you might expect from Ferrari or Lamborghini.

Under the skin, the car brings 1 MW of power, a suction fan system for downforce that lets it drive upside down, active aero, and more.

With production still two years away, a head-to-head with Ferrari on the track will take time. For now, the new Roadster has already impressed one of its most prominent potential rivals.