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Ferrari goes electric with new car but promises same driving thrills

Italy: By now, it's common for almost every traditional car brand to have some sort of offering in the electric car market in Australia.

While EVs make up just 10 per cent of all new car sales, and growing slowly, the introduction of an electric model can bring new customers to a brand and create a new experience for existing owners.

However, many people might be shocked to hear that Ferrari is launching their own full electric car next year.

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Ferrari's chief product development officer Gianmaria Fulgenzi stressed the importance of the announcement.

Far from a traditional new car launch, Ferrari's gathering of the world's media at their factory in Maranello, Italy revealed only the direction the company was taking as well as the raw and bare underpinnings of the future electric car – the chassis.

The first of three steps toward revealing the car itself somewhere mid-way through next year, today's event was about setting a benchmark for what to expect, and also creating some certainty for fans of the brand that this new EV would indeed be every bit as Ferrari.

Speaking exclusively to 9News, Ferrari's chief product development officer Gianmaria Fulgenzi stressed the importance of this announcement, saying "it's a new chapter of our history".

"It's a very important day for us," Fulgenzi said.

"Let me say an historic day, because we wanted to continue our electrification journey starting many years ago."

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Ferrari revealed only the direction the company was taking as well as the raw and bare underpinnings of the future electric car.

That journey, as he outlines, took the company from their electrified Formula One cars, into road cars like the LaFerrari, SF90 and others which feature hybrid electrified powertrains to today.

"We wanted to complete this electrification journey to develop a completely new car," Fulgenzi said.

"Also to enlarge the customer base for our car."

There is no question, though, that petrol-powered internal combustion engines will continue to be part of the Ferrari line-up for a long time to come.

As Fulgenzi put it, Ferraris will be "not all electric, but also electric".

While announcing this Ferrari Elettrica, the company was at pains to point out its deep knowledge of what makes a car feel great to drive – what it is that creates the thrill of driving that Ferraris are known for.

In fact, they know it, and spell it out well: sound, gear change, braking, lateral and longitudinal acceleration.

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The car itself will be revealed somewhere mid-way through next year.

So can an electric car replicate all these sensations?

Fulgenzi says: "It's not only an electric car, it's a Ferrari."

Simple as that.

"First of all. First and foremost, it's a Ferrari.

"What does it mean? What does it mean that the car that has an electric powertrain, but that creates the same emotion of the other Ferrari cars."

There's a real emotive sense to Fulgenzi's passion for this brand and this upcoming car, based around that driving experience.

"Driving thrills are something that starts in the brain, explode in the heart, creating butterflies in the stomach, and create a very big smile in the face when you drive the car and push you and your companion or your family to use the car massively every day, every moment, because using the car, you enjoy yourself."

Like other Ferraris before it, over decades, the all-electric Ferrari will be born in Maranello, Fulgenzi pointing out the significance of this.

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The announcement created some certainty for fans of the brand that this new EV would indeed be every bit as Ferrari.

"We are very proud to say that every core components are thought, developed and produced in-house," he said.

"Because like we have done in the last 78 years for the internal combustion engine that we produce, we think, we develop, we test our internal combustion engine in-house – and also for the electric components.

"For the inverter, for the battery system these components, the key components for the electric cars.

"So we want strongly to develop them in-house and to keep them in-house, to pursue the excellence and also to guarantee the usability for the car also for the future."

I witnessed the very factory floor where the battery is being assembled from raw battery cells, where electric motors are built, paired with gearing and placed into assemblies forged within a few kilometre radius of each other – all by Ferrari.

We won't see this new electric car until half-way through next year, but here's what we can surmise based on what we've heard thus far.

The Ferrari Elettrica will be a new model and carry a new name.

It will also be an SUV body shape, perhaps similar to the Purosangue which is on the roads today.

And it will be fast, very fast.

A top speed of 310km/h, accelerating from zero to 100km/h in just 2.5 seconds.

A 122kWh battery will provide at least 530km of range and four motors will power each of the wheels independently, each of which can also steer with the front wheels able to be disconnected from the drivetrain in search of range on open highway driving.

The specifications look fantastic, and if the company can deliver on the exterior design in the same way they have the underlying technology, then we're in for something very special.

Trevor Long travelled to Italy as a guest of Ferrari Australia.

Mushroom killer was handed ‘inappropriate’ prison term, prosecutors say

Prosecutors have lodged an appeal against mushroom killer Erin Patterson's sentence on the grounds the judge "erred" when he considered the triple murderer's time in solitary confinement.

The Office Of Public Prosecutions Victoria on Monday filed an appeal against Patterson's prison sentence handed down last month.

Patterson was handed three life sentences for the murders of Heather Wilkinson, Don Patterson and Gail Patterson, and 25 years for the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, with a 33-year non-parole period.

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Erin Patterson

Prosecutors have lodged an appeal on the basis there was an error in the sentence imposed and that it was "manifestly inadequate".

"The sentencing judge erred in finding that there was a 'substantial chance' the respondent would be held in 'solitary confinement for years to come' when such a finding was not open on the evidence, and that finding infected his assessment of the respondent's likely future conditions in custody and his decision to fix a non-parole period," the appeal filing notes.

The filing also stated it was inappropriate for the judge to fix a non-parole period.

Patterson is also expected to appeal her convictions.

The 51-year-old's appeal period was due to expire at 11.59pm today, but during the hearing last Thursday, Justice Christopher Beale cited a new court practice note directing applications for appeal extensions of 28 days or fewer to be granted automatically.

Patterson's defence had not given any indication of an intention to appeal during her sentencing last month.

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Erin Patterson arrives at the Supreme Court for her sentencing.

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To appeal her sentence or convictions, Patterson's defence team need to provide specific grounds for the appeal, such as errors of law, an unreasonable verdict, or a miscarriage of justice.

If the appeal grounds are valid, Patterson's case would be heard by judges in the Court of Appeal.

These judges have the ability to overturn sentences or convictions if they find grounds to.

If an appeal against a sentence is allowed, the Court of Appeal could reduce or increase the sentence.

If the Court of Appeal decides there was no legal error, the appeal will be dismissed and the original sentence will stand.

A breakdown of Patterson's prison sentence

Patterson was last month sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years, meaning she will remain behind bars for at least that long.

Assuming it is not successfully appealed, Patterson's sentence, which includes the 676 days she served in pre-sentence detention, would see her eligible for release on parole in 2056 at the age of 81.

Beale sentenced Patterson to four separate sentences, all to be served concurrently:

  • For the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Patterson was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
  • For the murder of Heather Wilkinson, she was sentenced to life in prison.
  • For the murder of Don Patterson, life in prison.
  • For the murder of Gail Patterson, life in prison.

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Trump says Israel and Hamas agree to ‘first phase’ of Gaza peace deal

A peace deal between Israel and Hamas has received cautious bipartisan support in Australia after US President Donald Trump announced a hostage release would be the "first phase" of a historic peace plan.

Hamas is expected to release all living Israeli hostages in the coming days, Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social.

"I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan," he wrote on Truth Social.

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"This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed hope for the end of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in a statement today.

"In the Middle East, the past two years have been full of dark days but today we see a ray of light. Today, the world has cause for real hope," Albanese said.

"Hope for the families of the hostages who have kept a two-year vigil, that must have felt like an eternity.

"Hope for the people of Gaza who have endured suffering beyond imagining."

The Coalition also backed Trump's peace plan.

"Careful diplomacy delivers results," Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said.

"All fair-minded Australians will welcome it and we remain hopeful today's announcement will be borne out over the coming days."

Trump has also revealed plans to travel to Israel, after he was invited to address the Knesset, the country's parliament.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Trump after the announcement, and they congratulated each other on an agreement to release all the hostages which Netanyahu's office described as a "historic achievement".

According to a statement from the prime minister's office, the conversation was "warm and moving".

Netanyahu thanked Trump for his "efforts and global leadership", while Trump praised Netanyahu's "determined leadership and the actions he led".

  1. Trump said after the call he was likely to travel to Israel in the coming days, according to a CNN reporter he spoke to.

"They want me to give a speech at the Knesset and I will definitely do that if they want me to," he said.

"It is a great day for Israel and for the world.

"My call with Bibi was great. He is so happy. He should be.

"It is a great achievement.

"The whole world has come together to reach this deal, including countries that were enemies."

The agreement will head to the Israeli cabinet later today for its approval, and once that occurs, Israeli forces will begin withdrawing to the agreed upon boundary, according to a senior White House official.

That should take less than 24 hours, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss planning.

Hamas then has 72 hours to release hostages, and the White House believes they will begin being released on Monday, the official said, but other sources have suggested the living hostages will be released on the weekend.

The deceased hostages will come out in a later stage in phases, people familiar with the matter told the Associated Press.

The Israel army will move out of 70 per cent of the area, they said.

Hamas said that it has provided lists of Palestinian prisoners to be released as part of the Gaza ceasefire plan agreement.

Hamas "affirms that it has handed over lists of Palestinian prisoners in accordance with the criteria agreed as part of the arrangement", senior official Zaher Jabarin said in a statement.

A final agreement on names was "pending", Jabarin said.

Earlier, another Hamas official, Taher Al Nunu, said Hamas and Israel had already exchanged a list of hostages and prisoners to be released.

Note that prompted Truth Social post

The announcement came after Trump, at a round table in the White House, received a note and spoke briefly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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"I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying they're very close to a deal in the Middle East and they're going to need me pretty quickly, so I'll take a couple more questions," he said.

The note, on White House stationery, read: "You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first."

Netanyahu said all the hostages would return home "with God's help" and said today was a "great day" for Israel.

He will convene the Israeli government today to ratify the agreement.

It's unknown how Netanyahu's shaky coalition, including right-wing factions staunchly opposed to ending the war, will react.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in Jerusalem, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP)

Hamas also responded, thanking mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as well as Trump, for the agreement.

The group said the agreement stipulated "an end to the war on Gaza, the occupation's withdrawal from it, the entry of aid, and a prisoner exchange".

Hamas also urged mediators to ensure Israel "fully implement the agreement's requirements and not allow it to evade or delay the implementation of what has been agreed upon".

The United Nations said in a statement it would fully support the implementation of the agreement's terms.

"I urge all concerned to abide fully by the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured," Secretary General Antonio Gutterres said.

"The fighting must stop once and for all. Immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial materials into Gaza must be ensured. The suffering must end."

The Trump plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and release of the 48 hostages that militants in Gaza still hold from their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, that started the war and triggered Israel's devastating retaliation.

Around 20 of the hostages are believed to still be alive.

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The families of the hostages have welcomed the agreement.

"This marks an important and meaningful step toward bringing everyone back, yet our struggle is not over and will not end until the last hostage returns home," the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.

It envisions Israel withdrawing its troops from Gaza after Hamas disarms, and an international security force moving in.

The territory would be placed under international governance, with Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair overseeing it.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said recently in televised comments that the negotiations so far "were very encouraging".

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Gaza City

In a statement on Tuesday, Hamas reiterated its longstanding demands for a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, but said nothing about disarmament, a step it has long resisted.

Hamas has also spoken against the idea of international rule, though it has agreed it will have no role in governing post-war Gaza.

Speaking in Sharm el-Sheikh, Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas' top negotiator, told Egypt's Qahera TV that the group wanted solid guarantees from Trump and mediators that the war "will not return".

It appeared to be his first public appearance since an Israeli strike targeting him and other top Hamas leaders in Qatar last month killed six people, including his son and office manager.

In January, the two sides had a ceasefire that brought the release of some Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Under the agreement – which Trump and US special envoy Steve Witkoff played a major role in brokering – the two sides were then supposed to enter negotiations over a long-term truce, an Israeli withdrawal and a full hostage release.

But Israel broke the ceasefire in March, resuming its campaign of bombardment and offensives, saying it aimed to pressure Hamas for the remaining hostage releases.

Past rounds of negotiations have frequently fallen apart over the same obstacle, with Hamas demanding assurances of the war's end and Netanyahu vowing to keep fighting until the group is destroyed.

The Trump plan attempts to resolve all the issues at once, by laying out Hamas disarmament and a post-war scenario for governing the territory with provisions for a major reconstruction campaign.

– Reported with Associated Press and CNN.

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Do you have what it takes? Experts reveal what Mars astronauts need

Putting astronauts on Mars is one of the next big goals for humans in space. But who will those astronauts be?

Missions to Mars are likely to last up to three years, with astronauts enduring prolonged confinement, limited living spaces, and – to put it mildly – high levels of mutual responsibility.

In such an environment, you might think a singular kind of person was needed – a Rambo, or a Sarah Connor, somebody diligent, determined, and mission-focused.

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That's not entirely wrong – but it's not the whole story.

In fact, according to new research, putting together a whole team of people who think and act exactly the same way is a swift recipe for disaster.

Iser Pena and Hao Chen of the Stevens Univeristy of Technology in the US say in their new study that diverse personalities are the key to space-based success.

"The absence of personal space and privacy exacerbates stress levels, potentially affecting team cohesion and performance," the authors said in a release.

"Understanding and optimising team dynamics under these extreme conditions is crucial, as effective collaboration, stress management, and psychological support systems are essential for the success of long-duration space missions."

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Using advanced methodology and psychological knowledge, the researchers modelled how five personality traits – openness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness – matched mission roles such as engineer, medic, or pilot.

Diverse teams performed generally better than teams composed of similar personality types, they found.

They showed lower stress levels, improved performance, cohesion, and health.

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NASA's Mars rover Perseverance has uncovered rocks in a dry river channel that may hold potential signs of ancient microscopic life, scientists reported on Wednesday.

This suggested that a broader mix of coping styles and interpersonal dynamics might help teams maintain stability over time.

"For the first time, we've combined psychological insights with a computer simulation to model a 500-day mission to Mars," the authors said.

"This new approach lets us explore how different astronaut personalities and team roles might affect a crew's stress and performance, and it gives us a glimpse of the human challenges astronauts could face on these long journeys into deep space."

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