When Pininfarina SpA, the legendary Italian design house that penned several iconic Ferrari cars over the years, decided to form it's own vehicle division under the ownership of Mahindra, not much was expected of them. While a series of teasers leading up to the 2019 Geneva Motor Show did raise hopes, not many still saw this coming.
But, Automobili Pininfarina stunned the gathered audience when it lifted the curtains off the Battista. Named after the firm's founder Battista Pininfarina, the full electric hypercar is slated to go on sale in limited numbers starting 2020 when Pininfarina celebrates 90 years of existence.
The best part about the Battista is it's stunning design with just the right amount of aero elements all around. It has none of that busy look supercars these days seem to carry. Of course, the Battista doesn't have an internal combustion engine fed by a series of turbochargers to direct air to and from. But, that doesn't take away the fact this is yet another home run for the design house known for cars that stood the test of time like the Ferrari 275 GTB, Testarossa and F40.
The front end is characterized by a thin LED strip that runs the width of the car, connecting the headlights. The roof - along with the cabin that's located more to the front of the car - are shaped aerodynamically and features contrasting paint job. At the rear, distinct split tail fins with thin 'floating' taillight elements look striking with a carbon-fiber panel joining them to form a pop-up spoiler that aids downforce. This is a car that will turn heads wherever you go. Period!
Powering the Battista is a 120 kWh battery pack and four electric motors - one at each wheel - sourced from Rimac. Together, the powerpack delivers an astounding 1,900 horsepower and 2,300 Nm of torque. That's ridiculous, yes, but we aren't kidding!
Riding on 21-inch alloys shod with race-derived Pirelli P Zero tires, the Battista can zoom from 0 to 100 km/h in under 2 seconds. Top speed is claimed to be 350 km/h. For a car capable of such speeds, braking is of paramount importance. In the Battista, that's taken care of by specially-developed six-piston carbon-ceramic brakes from Brembo.
Pininfarina claims a 450 km range on a full charge but expect that to drop drastically under full acceleration.
The cabin is driver-centric with two screens placed on either side of the steering wheel facing the person behind the wheel. While the one on the left controls the dynamics and performance, the screen on the right side controls media and navigation. There is another central screen right in between that keeps the driver updated with the vital stats on the go.
With a price tag expected to top USD 2 Million each and just 150 units planned, this car will be a rarity on the roads. And that's what makes the Pininfarina Battista all the more special, it's crazy power and torque outputs not withstanding!
Thank you Mahindra, the funds infused are being put to good use by your new Italian colleagues.
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