Chinese automaker Luxeed created an awkward little mystery when it claimed its upcoming RX electric SUV had been designed with help from a former Ferrari designer. Considering how strongly the RX appears to borrow from the visual language of Ferrari’s Purosangue, that claim attracted plenty of attention.
Ferrari’s Chinese operation wanted something a little more concrete than a vague reference to an unnamed ex-employee, and according to Sina, Luxeed has now answered the question by identifying Werner Gruber, a designer with genuine Ferrari credentials and some rather serious cars on his résumé.
Gruber previously worked as a senior exterior designer at Ferrari after spending time at Pininfarina. His portfolio includes involvement with the LaFerrari, FXX-K, and Portofino.
That clarification arrives as the RX prepares to become one of Luxeed’s most important new models. The Chery and Huawei-backed brand is positioning it as a low-slung, high-performance electric SUV aimed directly at increasingly sophisticated Chinese rivals.
Werner Gruber Has Serious Ferrari Credentials
Luxeed executive Zhao Changjiang revealed Gruber’s identity in a social media post after previously teasing that the RX had been created with input from a former Ferrari designer. Zhao had initially described the person as a former Ferrari “chief designer,” although Ferrari’s actual Chief Design Officer is Flavio Manzoni.
Gruber’s documented Ferrari position was senior exterior designer, which is still a significant role. He joined Ferrari in 2010 and later moved to Saleen, where regulatory filings have identified him as Vice President of Design.
His Ferrari work also carries some awards credibility. The LaFerrari and FXX-K both received Red Dot recognition, with the FXX-K earning a Best of the Best award.
The Purosangue Similarity Is Hard To Ignore
The controversy became considerably more interesting after images of the Luxeed RX began circulating. Its long hood, low roofline, muscular rear haunches, and overall fastback-SUV stance quickly drew comparisons with the Ferrari Purosangue.
The two vehicles are also surprisingly close in size. The RX measures 197.6 inches long and 79.0 inches wide, with a 118.1-inch wheelbase, while its lowest configuration stands approximately 62.4 inches tall.
Ferrari’s Purosangue is slightly shorter at roughly 195.8 inches and sits on a 118.8-inch wheelbase. That dimensional overlap does not make the RX a copy, although it certainly helps explain why the Ferrari connection attracted so much scrutiny.
Up To 586 HP And Serious Chassis Hardware
Luxeed is giving the RX considerably more substance than dramatic styling alone. Rear-wheel-drive versions use a single 371-horsepower motor, while the dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration produces a combined 586 horsepower.
The chassis specification is equally ambitious. Up front is an aluminum double-wishbone suspension, while the rear uses a five-link layout, with dual-chamber air springs and continuously variable damping also available.
Six-piston fixed front brake calipers provide the stopping power, while staggered tires help manage the available grip. Luxeed has also claimed a 1-millisecond motor torque response from Huawei’s latest DriveOne system.
Zhao says the RX has completed an evasive lane-change maneuver at speeds exceeding 155 mph on a banked proving ground. That claim has not been independently verified, although it illustrates how aggressively the company is pitching the SUV’s dynamic credentials.
European Talent Extends Beyond The Styling
Gruber is apparently not the only well-known European industry veteran involved in the project. Zhao has also said former Aston Martin CEO and former AMG boss Tobias Moers has worked on the RX as Luxeed’s chief dynamic performance advisor.
Former BMW engineers are also said to have contributed to the chassis program. That combination suggests Luxeed is deliberately importing experience from established European performance brands as it attempts to elevate its own image.
The RX also uses an extensive sensor suite that can include four LiDAR units. Its driver-assistance technology remains officially classified as Level 2, meaning the person behind the wheel must remain attentive and ready to take control.
Luxeed Is Taking Aim At China’s Electric SUV Heavyweights
Pre-orders for the RX opened in China in August, with pricing beginning at 299,800 yuan, equivalent to roughly $44,500. That places it above the Xiaomi YU7’s entry price, although it remains inexpensive by Western performance-EV standards.
Battery options include packs of approximately 81 and 100 kWh, with the longest-range configuration claiming up to 529 miles under China’s optimistic CLTC testing cycle. Real-world range would almost certainly be lower.
Ferrari may have forced Luxeed to be clearer about exactly who helped shape the RX, although the answer ended up strengthening the Chinese brand’s story rather than weakening it. Gruber really did work at Maranello, and the fact that his latest project resembles one of Ferrari’s newest models makes the whole episode considerably more interesting.