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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 4 / B2
Published
Title
Ferrari Shows Its First Electric Car
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-06-01-ferrari-shows-its-first-electric-car/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?

a) Some people like Ferrari’s new electric car, but others do not.

b) Ferrari says its new electric car is cheap and simple.

c) Ferrari says it will only make electric cars in the future.

A car on a city street.
Ferrari's Luce.

Ask: (1) List all the carmakers that you can think of. (2) Would you rather buy a petrol, hybrid, or electric car? Why?

VOCAB LIST

reveal (v.) — To show something publicly for the first time.
brand (n.) — The name and public image of a company or product.
luxury (adj.) — Very expensive and high in quality.
demand (n.) — The level of interest from people who want to buy something.
divide (v.) — To make people have different opinions about something.
hybrid (adj.) — Using two different types of power, especially petrol and electricity.
praise (v.) — To say that something is very good.
competition (n.) — A situation in which people or companies try to be more successful than others.
investor (n.) — A person or group that puts money into a business to make a profit.
identity (n.) — The qualities that make a person, company, or thing what it is.

Reading

Ferrari has revealed its first fully electric car, the Luce, a luxury sports car expected to cost about $640,000. The name means “light” in Italian. The car is unusual for Ferrari because it is also the company’s first five-seater.

The Luce looks very different from a traditional Ferrari. Its design has divided opinion online. Some people praised it as a brave and modern step forward. Others said the company had made a serious mistake and moved too far away from the classic Ferrari style.

Investors also seemed worried. After the launch, Ferrari’s share price fell in both Italy and the United States. This suggests that some people are unsure whether an electric Ferrari can protect the company’s powerful brand image.

Ferrari says the car took about five years to develop. It has one electric motor on each wheel and can reach 60 mph, or 96 km/h, in about 2.5 seconds. The company says it makes the main parts itself, which should make repairs easier in the future and help protect the car’s resale value.

The launch comes at a difficult time for electric vehicles. Some major carmakers have slowed their EV plans because demand has been weaker than expected. Several luxury car brands are now focusing more on hybrid cars, which use both petrol and electricity.

Another challenge is competition from Chinese carmakers, which can often build electric vehicles faster and more cheaply.

Ferrari says it will continue to make petrol and hybrid cars as well as electric ones. The Luce shows that Ferrari wants to join the electric future, but it must do this without losing the identity that made the brand famous.

Ferrari Shows Its First Electric Car

Level 4 Source: bbc.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A car on a city street.
Ferrari's Luce.

Ferrari has revealed its first fully electric car, the Luce, a luxury sports car expected to cost about $640,000. The name means “light” in Italian. The car is unusual for Ferrari because it is also the company’s first five-seater.

The Luce looks very different from a traditional Ferrari. Its design has divided opinion online. Some people praised it as a brave and modern step forward. Others said the company had made a serious mistake and moved too far away from the classic Ferrari style.

Investors also seemed worried. After the launch, Ferrari’s share price fell in both Italy and the United States. This suggests that some people are unsure whether an electric Ferrari can protect the company’s powerful brand image.

Ferrari says the car took about five years to develop. It has one electric motor on each wheel and can reach 60 mph, or 96 km/h, in about 2.5 seconds. The company says it makes the main parts itself, which should make repairs easier in the future and help protect the car’s resale value.

The launch comes at a difficult time for electric vehicles. Some major carmakers have slowed their EV plans because demand has been weaker than expected. Several luxury car brands are now focusing more on hybrid cars, which use both petrol and electricity.

Another challenge is competition from Chinese carmakers, which can often build electric vehicles faster and more cheaply.

Ferrari says it will continue to make petrol and hybrid cars as well as electric ones. The Luce shows that Ferrari wants to join the electric future, but it must do this without losing the identity that made the brand famous.

Speaker: Australian Male  Duration: 2:00  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Ferrari has revealed its first fully electric car, the Luce, a (1) sports car expected to cost about $640,000. The name means “light” in Italian. The car is unusual for Ferrari because it is also the company’s first five-seater.

The Luce looks very different from a traditional Ferrari. Its design has (2) opinion online. Some people praised it as a brave and modern step forward. Others said the company had made a serious mistake and moved too far away from the classic Ferrari style.

Investors also seemed worried. After the launch, Ferrari’s share price fell in both Italy and the United States. This suggests that some people are unsure whether an electric Ferrari can protect the company’s powerful (3) image.

Ferrari says the car took about five years to develop. It has one electric motor on each wheel and can reach 60 mph, or 96 km/h, in about 2.5 seconds. The company says it makes the main parts itself, which should make (4) easier in the future and help protect the car’s resale value.

The launch comes at a difficult time for electric vehicles. Some major carmakers have slowed their EV plans because (5) has been weaker than expected. Several luxury car brands are now focusing more on hybrid cars, which use both petrol and electricity.

Another challenge is (6) from Chinese carmakers, which can often build electric vehicles faster and more cheaply.

Ferrari says it will continue to make petrol and hybrid cars as well as electric ones. The Luce shows that Ferrari wants to join the electric future, but it must do this without losing the (7) that made the brand famous.

Main Idea

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Main Idea

Choose one:

  • Ferrari is trying to enter the electric future without losing the identity that made its brand famous. Correct answer
  • Ferrari’s first electric car shows that luxury carmakers are now fully ready to leave petrol cars behind.
  • Ferrari’s new electric car is mainly important because it is faster and cheaper than its rivals.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • The Luce is Ferrari’s first five-seater.
    The first paragraph says the Luce is unusual for Ferrari because it is the company’s first five-seater.
  • Ferrari’s share price rose after the launch of the Luce.
    The third paragraph says Ferrari’s share price fell in both Italy and the United States after the launch.
  • Some luxury car brands are focusing more on hybrid cars because electric vehicle demand has been weaker than expected.
    The fifth paragraph says several luxury car brands are now focusing more on hybrid cars because EV demand has been weaker than expected.

True or False

1. The Luce is Ferrari’s first five-seater. TRUEFALSE True

2. Ferrari’s share price rose after the launch of the Luce. TRUEFALSE False

3. Some luxury car brands are focusing more on hybrid cars because electric vehicle demand has been weaker than expected. TRUEFALSE True

Multiple Choice

1. Why is the Luce unusual for Ferrari?

   a) It is the company’s first five-seater.Correct

   b) It is Ferrari’s least expensive sports car.

   c) It is Ferrari’s first hybrid model.

   d) It was developed in less than three years.

2. What did the fall in Ferrari’s share price suggest?

   a) Investors believed the car would quickly become Ferrari’s best-selling model.

   b) Some investors were unsure an electric Ferrari could protect the brand’s image.Correct

   c) The company had built the car too cheaply.

   d) Customers thought the car was not fast enough.

3. According to Ferrari, why could making the main parts itself be useful?

   a) It could make the car look more traditional.

   b) It could reduce competition from Chinese carmakers.

   c) It could make repairs easier and help protect resale value.Correct

   d) It could allow Ferrari to stop making hybrid cars.

4. What wider challenge for electric vehicles does the article mention?

   a) Chinese carmakers are finding it difficult to make electric cars cheaply.

   b) Investors are mainly interested in five-seater luxury sports cars.

   c) Luxury brands are selling electric cars faster than they can produce them.

   d) Demand is weaker than expected, while Chinese rivals can build EVs quickly and cheaply.Correct

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. Revealh) a new model

2. Divideg) opinion

3. Protectf) brand image

4. Makee) repairs easier

5. Slowd) EV plans

6. Focus onc) hybrid cars

7. Joinb) the electric future

8. Losea) its identity

a) its identity

b) the electric future

c) hybrid cars

d) EV plans

e) repairs easier

f) brand image

g) opinion

h) a new model

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Ferrari took a real risk, but it had to try something new at some point.

    If you ask me, / For example, / Because of that, / But,

    If you ask me, Ferrari took a real risk, but it had to try something new at some point.

  2. Many carmakers are pushing hybrids right now EV demand is still weak.

    and / because / but / so

    Many carmakers are pushing hybrids right now because EV demand is still weak.

  3. A company can modernize over time. it still needs a clear identity that people recognize.

    Also, / That said, / For example, / Because of that,

    A company can modernize over time. That said, it still needs a clear identity that people recognize.

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. almost as much as B. quality C. good design D. does. E. For expensive products, F. matters

    For expensive products, good design matters almost as much as quality does.

  2. A. felt truly B. the car C. unique. D. if E. price F. that kind of G. I would only pay

    I would only pay that kind of price if the car felt truly unique.

  3. A. more special B. but C. still feel D. petrol sports cars E. people like them, F. I get why G. to me.

    I get why people like them, but petrol sports cars still feel more special to me.

Discussion Questions

  1. What was your first reaction to Ferrari’s electric car?
  2. Do you think Ferrari made a brave decision or a mistake with the Luce?
  3. How important is design when people buy expensive products?
  4. Why do you think some carmakers are focusing more on hybrids right now?
  5. How serious is competition from Chinese carmakers for older for older carmakers?
  6. Can a company modernize without losing what made it famous?
  7. Would you ever pay a very high price for a car? Why or why not?
  8. Do electric cars feel exciting to you, or do they feel less special than petrol sports cars?
  9. What products in your country have a strong brand image?
  10. What makes a car brand feel special to people?

Answers Ferrari Shows Its First Electric Car / Level 4

Think Ahead: a

Listening: (1) luxury, (2) divided, (3) brand, (4) repairs, (5) demand, (6) competition, (7) identity

Main Idea: Ferrari is trying to enter the electric future without losing the identity that made its brand famous.

True or False:

  1. True. The first paragraph says the Luce is unusual for Ferrari because it is the company’s first five-seater.
  2. False. The third paragraph says Ferrari’s share price fell in both Italy and the United States after the launch.
  3. True. The fifth paragraph says several luxury car brands are now focusing more on hybrid cars because EV demand has been weaker than expected.

Multiple Choice: a, b, c, d

Vocabulary:

  1. Reveal: a new model
  2. Divide: opinion
  3. Protect: brand image
  4. Make: repairs easier
  1. Slow: EV plans
  2. Focus on: hybrid cars
  3. Join: the electric future
  4. Lose: its identity

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Opinion. 2) Reason. 3) Contrast.

  1. If you ask me,
  2. because
  3. That said,

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. For expensive products, good design matters almost as much as quality does.
  2. I would only pay that kind of price if the car felt truly unique.
  3. I get why people like them, but petrol sports cars still feel more special to me.

eslnewsstories.com