I’m not sure if you saw the news, but the Ferrari Luce didn’t exactly receive a warm reception when it was unveiled to the world earlier this week. The less-than-stellar public reaction had less to do with the fact that it was Ferrari’s first electric vehicle and more to do with the idea that it’s a bit, well, bizarre-looking. It’s very not Ferrari, and that’s because it wasn’t designed in-house or by its former longtime collaborator, Pininfarina. It was designed, instead, by Jony Ive — most famous for his work on things like Apple iPod, iPhone and the original iMac. Any way you slice it, he’s very much not a car designer, and neither is his partner, Marc Newson. The new Luce feels like the Apple Car we never got. That idea is what led me to today’s question.
I want to know which non-car company you think should take a crack at designing an EV. What company that has never bothered to build a car would probably be pretty good at it if they gave it a go? Since I’m not a stickler, I won’t just limit your answer to just tech companies, either. It can be any company of your choosing, just so long as it’s not involved in the automotive world.
Of course, other non-car companies have already done stuff like this, especially in China. Xiaomi, which is primarily a cellphone company, makes some really great vehicles. Sony even tried to do it by teaming up with Honda to create the Afeela, but we all know how that turned out.
My choice
It breaks my heart, because it’ll never happen, but I think it would be so sick if Dyson were to make a car. Hell, it actually tried to at one point. Dyson already makes some of the best cleaning products, fans and other home appliances in the business, and they also just so happen to be beautifully designed.
If Dyson were to build a car — especially an EV — there would be nothing else like it on the market. It would also be one of the rare British automakers that (I believe) wouldn’t fall apart the second it was left to its own devices. After all, it would have its incredibly successful Suck and Blow department to fall back on.
That’s enough out of me, though. I’d say it’s just about time for you all to drop down below and let your fellow Jalops know what non-car companies should design and build an EV. As always, I’ll be giving away cash prizes to those of you who explain your answers.
