Before Ferrari's Luce, Mazda's Legacy
In the evolving automotive landscape, the resurgence of classic names for contemporary vehicles is a prevalent trend, aiming to evoke a sense of nostalgia. While this practice often results in new iterations bearing little resemblance to their predecessors, Ferrari's upcoming electric vehicle, christened 'Luce,' surprisingly revives a name with a rich, albeit separate, history. This name, meaning 'light' or 'illumination' in Italian, was first prominently featured by Japanese automaker Mazda over half a century ago. This exploration delves into Mazda's extensive 'Luce' series, tracing its journey from a design icon to a diverse family of vehicles, long before its modern-day adoption by the Italian marque.
The Enduring Legacy of Mazda's Luce Series
In a significant historical moment on August 20, 1966, Mazda introduced its premier model, the Luce, a sophisticated rear-wheel-drive sedan that captured attention with its elegant design by the renowned Giorgetto Giugiaro of Bertone. This initial model laid the groundwork for a series that would span decades. A notable evolution occurred in October 1969 with the debut of the Luce Rotary Coupe, a breathtaking front-wheel-drive variant powered by a distinctive rotary engine. This particular configuration, while pioneering, was a singular instance for the brand, as subsequent rotary applications, such as in the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, saw the rotary engine function primarily as a generator rather than a direct power source for the wheels.
Throughout its production, the Mazda Luce adopted various names for export markets, including the 929 and RX-4, showcasing its global presence. The model also saw collaborations, notably a rebadged version for the South Korean market under the Kia Potentia name. The Luce series culminated in 1991 with the discontinuation of the HC generation, which notably featured Mazda's inaugural V6 engine. Following its retirement, the Eunos luxury brand, a Mazda subsidiary, launched the Cosmo and the Sentia, a direct successor to the Luce, which also found a counterpart in the Kia Enterprise for the Korean market. Today, over three decades since Mazda retired the name, Ferrari is poised to introduce its first electric vehicle, also named Luce, signaling both a nod to the past and a new direction for the iconic Italian brand's future models, with plans for 20 new vehicles by the decade's end.
The automotive industry frequently reuses names, and Ferrari's choice of 'Luce' for its upcoming electric vehicle, a name previously associated with Mazda, is unlikely to stir controversy. Historically, luxury brands have shared nomenclature without incident. Instances like the Ferrari 250/750 Monza and the Chevrolet Monza, or the Ferrari California and Volkswagen California, demonstrate that name overlaps are not uncommon. Common suffixes such as GT, GTA, GTC, GTS, and Spider have also been widely adopted across various automotive brands, suggesting that the spirit of innovation and design triumphs over mere naming conventions.