Ferrari Luce ‘Chassis 0’ Sets $40 Million Record, Making History as the World’s Most Expensive New Car at Auction.

Ferrari Luce ‘Chassis 0’ Sets $40 Million Record, Making History as the World’s Most Expensive New Car at Auction.

Ferrari’s first fully electric production car, the Luce, has made an extraordinary debut in the collector car market after a unique “Chassis 0” example sold for $40 million at a charity auction during Monterey Car Week in California. The sale, conducted by RM Sotheby’s, set a new record for the highest price ever paid for a new car at auction, surpassing the previous $26 million record achieved by a bespoke Ferrari Daytona SP3.

The vehicle auctioned was not an ordinary production Luce. Identified as “Chassis 0,” it was the first production chassis in Ferrari’s electric car programme and received a unique specification through Ferrari’s Tailor Made division and Design Studio. Its distinctive exterior features a specially developed Madreperla Semi Gloss finish, while the interior uses Perla Le Mans metallic leather alongside bespoke design details. The car is powered by four electric motors and delivers more than 1,000 horsepower, underlining Ferrari’s attempt to combine its performance heritage with electric technology.

The $40 million result is particularly notable because RM Sotheby’s had initially valued the car at more than $1.1 million, meaning the final price dramatically exceeded expectations. Ferrari has said the proceeds will support educational initiatives through The Ferrari Foundation, giving the record breaking transaction a charitable dimension beyond its significance to the luxury automobile market.

The Luce represents a significant turning point for Ferrari, whose reputation has traditionally been built around high performance combustion engine cars. Its transition to a fully electric model has attracted both interest and criticism from enthusiasts, particularly over the vehicle’s design and departure from Ferrari’s conventional power train identity. However, the unprecedented auction result demonstrates the continued strength of Ferrari’s brand among collectors and provides an early indication of the premium attached to historically significant examples of the company’s new electric era. The $40 million sale, however, should be viewed in the context of a one off charity auction rather than as an indication of the normal retail value of the Luce.