All posts in “Pininfarina Battista”

Pininfarina Battista Edizione Nino Farina honors the first F1 champion

Design house-turned-carmaker Pininfarina took a trip to the heritage well to create its latest limited-edition model. Named after Giuseppe Farina, the first Formula One champion, the Battista Edizione Nino Farina stands out with several edition-specific styling cues inside and out.

Giuseppe “Nino” Farina’s ties to the Italian automotive industry aren’t limited to winning the first Formula One Driver’s Championship in 1950. He’s also the nephew of Battista “Pinin” Farina, who founded the design house that bears his name. Pininfarina honored the driver by giving the Battista edition-specific Rosso Nino paint with contrasting Bianco Sestriere and Iconica Blu accents, wheels finished in Glorioso Gold, and “01” graphics on both sides. The Furiosa Pack, which adds carbon fiber exterior trim pieces, comes standard.

The interior is characterized by a two-tone design. The driver’s seat is upholstered in black leather and has the “01” logo embroidered into the headrest. The passenger’s seat gets beige leather and the Pininfarina logo embroidered into the headrest. Production is limited to five examples, and each one will receive a specific aluminum door sill plate engraved with a date that commemorates Farina’s life and career; 1906 celebrates the year he was born, for example, and 1950 corresponds to the year he won the Formula One Driver’s Championship.

Mechanically, the Edizione Nino Farina is identical to the regular Battista, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing; few could argue that it needs a higher output. Power comes from four electric motors (one per wheel) that jointly develop 1,900 horsepower and 1,726 pound-feet of torque. The company quotes a zero-to-62-mph time of 1.86 seconds, a top speed of 217 mph, and up to 300 miles of driving range.

Pininfarina will present the Battista Edizione Nino Farina at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed that opens in England on July 13. Pricing information hasn’t been announced, but keep in mind that the standard Battista (which is limited to 150 units) starts at about $2.2 million.

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Pininfarina Battista hypercar’s output specified at 1,873 horsepower

Even in a galaxy far, far away, the Pininfarina Battista would stand out.

After a delay of about three years, the official specifications of the all-electric hypercar have been revealed:

  • Full power is rated at 1,873 horsepower, outputting 1,697 foot-pounds of torque.
  • Sixty-two miles per hour arrives in 1.86 seconds, with 124 mph coming in 4.75 seconds.
  • 217 mph is the estimated top speed. (The Rimac Nevera recently hit 258.)
  • The 120kWh battery pack should enable a range of about 280 miles from a single charge.

A pair of electric motors are mounted to each axle, each motor powering a specific wheel and giving the Battista full torque vectoring capability.

Pricing — and this is one of those cars that, if one has to ask, just move on — is about $2.2 million, which places it in the territory of the Bugatti Chiron. For those customers considering an upsell, a limited “anniversario” edition will comprise five of the expected 150-unit build run. It differs from the standard version by some cosmetic alterations, which lifts the price by some $70,000-plus. 0r you could buy a BMW M3 as a chase car.

The two-seater Battista is named for Battista “Pinin” Farina, who founded Carrozzeria Pininfarina in 1930. A lot of its battery, carbon-fiber chassis and motor components come from Rimac, the nascent Croatian electric supercar maker that recently paired with Porsche to take over Bugatti

Many more details about the car’s development, several photos and our driving impressions can be found in this Autoblog post from August.

Pininfarina Battista First Drive: Meet the 1,900-hp electric hypercar

MALIBU, Calif. — The all-electric Pininfarina Battista throws around some impressive numbers. Power output in the 1,900-horsepower neighborhood. A 0-to-60 time of less than 2 seconds. A range estimated to be 300 miles. A starting price of $2.2 million. All of that might invite the names hypercar or supercar, but that would imply it’s harsh and unforgiving. Instead, Pininfarina defines the Battista as a hyper GT, giving it the otherworldly power and performance of a hypercar while remaining comfortable enough to take on a road trip.

That’s a tall order for any vehicle, let alone the first car produced by a new manufacturer. After spending an afternoon with the Battista on some of our favorite roads above Malibu, we can definitively say that their boldness has paid off.

Automobili Pininfarina is the new manufacturing offshoot of the Carrozzeria Pininfarina design firm that has penned some of the most iconic cars in history. These include the 1947 Cisitalia 202, which is regarded as the first car that integrated fenders into the rest of the bodywork. Then there are icons such as the Fiat and Alfa Romeo Spiders (above right) along with the nouveau-classic Cadillac Allante. But it’s Pininfarina’s association with Ferrari that is most notable, including most of the 250 GT line (above left), Daytona, 512 BB, and wild 1980s Testarossa.

The Battista is named for Battista “Pinin” Farina, who founded Carrozzeria Pininfarina in 1930. A lot of its battery, chassis and motor componentry comes from Rimac, the nascent Croatian electric supercar maker that recently paired with Porsche to take over Bugatti.

The Battista’s exterior styling certainly has echoes of Ferrari, and really, can you think of a better compliment? As an all-electric vehicle, it doesn’t have the same kind of cooling and air intake needs as the gasoline-powered Ferraris and results in a cleaner and more elemental shape. The design is still aggressive as hell, but less shouty, and that plays well with the hyper GT positioning.

Once you pop the dihedral driver’s door, you’re greeted by a rather narrow passage between the dash and seat. Getting in takes a bit more stooping and maneuvering compared to conventional sports cars, but there are certainly exotics that are more difficult to access. Pulling the door down doesn’t take much effort, but you have to give it a strong slam to get it to fully shut, making it a strong candidate for soft-close doors.

The seats are firm and have excellent side bolstering to keep you in place when cornering. There are also more aggressive racing shell-type seats available, but in our estimation, unnecessary. Your feet can extend mostly straight ahead since front wheelwell intrusion is minimized. We haven’t even moved yet and the Battista is already fulfilling part of its hyper GT promise.

The cockpit is modern and minimal, with two horizontal touchscreens flanking the steering wheel and a phone-like display in the middle that displays speed and other primary information. Off to the sides, at the 5- and 7-o’clock positions, are two dials. The left selects drive modes and the right is the start button and gear selector. The cabin is cozy but not confining, and has a good amount of lateral space.

The Battista is already activated as we get in, a fact indicated by the subtle high-pitched whine and fan noises, much like a jetliner running on its auxiliary power unit as you find your seat. Foot on the brake and a quick spin of the right dial puts it in drive. A little pressure on the throttle and the Battista starts to roll forward on the gravel valet circle. Once on the broad, sweeping roads in the Santa Monica Mountains, it’s striking how well-mannered a 1,900-hp car can be.

We’re in the Pura (Pure) drive mode, which seems equivalent to a default comfort mode. It’s easy to drive, with no fear that you’ll accidentally overdo it and spin into a ditch. At the same time, it’s way more potent than most drivers will ever need. In this way, it’s as approachable as a 911 Carrrera 4S and we fantasize about an alternate reality where this is our daily driver.

The ride is stiff, but not punishing. There’s a lot of jostling over the pavement’s undulations, but the smart suspension keeps potholes from sending sharp jolts into your backside. You also hear every tire impact and slap over seams, along with the frequent ricochets of pebbles and debris off the undertray. There’s just enough harshness to remind you of its sporting potential and just enough compliance to consider driving it six hours somewhere.

Now that we’re acclimated, it’s time to turn up the performance. We skip the Calma (Calm) and Carattere (Character) drive modes, which equate to eco and individual modes, respectively. The Energica (Energetic) mode is what can be considered the sport mode. The ride gets firmer, the throttle response more immediate and the steering seems livelier. The synthetic driveline noises also get louder as you muster enough courage to give that pedal a proper stomp.

The Battista instantaneously obeys, launching forward with unstoppable determination. In a time when sub 3-second acceleration to 60 mph is considered increasingly normal, the all-wheel-drive Pininfarina still manages to impress as it’s estimated to hit 60 a whole second earlier. On the rougher sections of winding pavement, the suspension is just a bit too stiff. Mid-corner bumps will keep you alert and the larger whoops will have you thanking your racing school coaches.

Selecting Furiosa activates an equivalent race or track mode, unleashing the full power output and relaxing the driver assists. It’s every driving trope wrapped up in one. It goes to 11; face-warping acceleration; you’ll see the grim reaper and he’ll give you a thumbs up; pick your favorite exaggeration and it applies here. Off the line, the Battista launches hard enough that your vision gets blurry. There’s a slight side-to-side squirm that also indicates you have indeed found a limit and you should proceed at your own peril. It’s unyielding and unforgiving when provoked, and that’s precisely what we wanted on the high end.

The range of comfort and performance afforded by these drive modes is vast. The Battista does indeed warrant the new hyper GT classification. But it’s also so much more. The details could keep us yammering on for days, but we’ll try to pare it down to a few paragraphs.

The interior features an abundance of impeccable leather surfaces, and those hides are sourced close to the Cambiano, Italy, factory. They’re tanned using more environmentally friendly methods that somehow involve local olive leaves. There aren’t any vegan alternatives as Pininfarina says production of those materials have their own chemical drawbacks. The aluminum trim elements aren’t cast, they’re machined from solid billets. They’re attractive while not going as over-the-top as in a Pagani.

On the outside, the charge port is at the center of the tail, a move that Chief Design Officer Dave Amantea lobbied for and won. It keeps charging cables from being draped over the carbon fiber bodywork and is easily accessible. A Pf logo between that port and the trunk (yes, there’s a trunk) illuminates when charging and the outer frame of the badge shows the charge state so you can know with a quick glance how much juice is left.

The glass trunk lid is power deployed and closed. Its stepped floor makes it difficult to load even a paper bag full of groceries, but Pinifarina offers a custom set of luggage that fits perfectly and can be upholstered to match the rest of the cabin. The price? Try $20,000, or the equivalent of a new Nissan Sentra.

There’s even a pragmatic side to the Battista, as you can add a five- or 10-year maintenance program and extend the warranty coverage for the massive 120-kilowatt-hour battery pack to 10 years. Then there’s the Eterna program that offers a replacement body parts kit that is painted at the same time as your Battista. Take a moment to let that soak in because we’re already imagining the most amazing garage wall art.

As Paolo Dellachà, Pininfarina’s Chief Product and Engineering Officer was eager to point out, these programs enhance the ownership experience and also increase the value of the Battista. Considering production is capped at 150 examples and no two will be allowed to be identical (unless, we suppose, you buy two!), there’s no doubt it’s an instant collectible that should only increase in price. As a fully electric hyper GT, may also be more future proof than the current raft of internal-combustion supercars.

Trying to remain impartial and objective during this review is a challenge, but with a sub-orbital price of $2.2 million, most normal sensibilities are obliterated. This is one of those cars that have you questioning past life choices or pondering how much you could sell a kidney for (you can’t, it turns out). The few nitpicks are limited to the hard-to-shut doors, a distracting reflection from the dash top in the windshield, and the tedious infotainment screens that you have to use to even adjust the seats. These drawbacks are as easily dispatched as any vehicle trying to keep up with the Battista.

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Automobili Pininfarina Battista Is “Hyper GT of the Year”

Automobili Pininfarina’s pure-electric Battista was awarded the ‘Hyper GT of the Year’ at the 2021 TopGear.com awards. The title’s expert panel of writers chose this year’s winners, and the judges were all praises for the Battista for its exhilarating performance and gorgeous design.

The ‘Hyper GT of the Year’ is the latest accolade it has received after just being awarded the prestigious Design Award at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in October. A production-ready hyper GT with a unique specification made its debut at Lake Como in Italy for the exclusive event. The example had an exquisite Verde Paradiso finish matched with a tan leather interior.

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Top Gear magazine editor Jack Rix stated, “The Battista is a triumph given what it set out to achieve. It’s beautiful inside and out, and violently fast. Mark my words, you will never get used to the Battista’s club-round-the-head acceleration, because the human body is simply not equipped to. At this stratospheric performance level, it’s all about conjuring up an experience that lodges in your brain and gets the adrenaline flowing. And it is impossible to drive this car and not be mesmerized.”

“The Automobili Pininfarina family is honored that the Battista has been named ‘Hyper GT of the Year,’ by Top Gear. It’s an award that captures exactly what the Battista is about: the very pinnacle of sustainable luxury and electrified performance combined with sensational design,” Automobili Pininfarina Chief Executive Officer Per Svantesson added. “We are now ready to begin handcrafting customer cars at the Battista Atelier in Cambiano, Italy. Every Battista will be bespoke to the taste of its owner, yet each will offer the sublime blend of exquisite design and incredible performance that are now recognized by the BBC Top Gear team. This award is a perfect reward for the team that has worked so hard to bring Battista to life.”

There will only be a maximum of 150 hand-built Battistas that will be produced and this already includes the five extremely exclusive Battista Anniversario models. The Battista already made its debut in the US and Europe and the powerful 1,900 hp and 2,360 Nm torque hypercar blew the clients away with its performance in a series of test events held weeks afterwards.

The Battista is nearing its final phase of development with customer deliveries expected in the near horizon – around early 2022. Since the start of the Battista development program, the engineers of Automobili Pininfarina worked hand in hand with former Formula One and Formula E driver Nick Heidfeld. The Automobili Pininfarina Test and Development Driver recently talked about the most powerful Italian sports car ever created both on the road and on track.

Nick Heidfeld driving the Battista

“It has been a real privilege to play a part in developing Battista, which represents a significant evolution in the world of hyper and luxury cars. From the first time I experienced Battista’s performance in 2019 in an advanced simulator, to today on road and track, I believe the Automobili Pininfarina team has successfully developed a unique hyper GT that is enormous fun, as well as incredibly fast.” Heidfeld shared.

Throughout the development process, engineering excellence has been of paramount importance as the Battista is currently the most powerful Italian production car. The advanced e-powertrain and bespoke driving dynamics gives the Battista its tailored driving experience which has impressed Heidfeld during the whole process.

In the Furiosa mode, you’ll experience the full 1,900 hp of the Battista as it also uses the full torque available from the four independent electric motors. The Battista can go from 0 to 100 kph in less than two seconds and it also has a recorded top speed of 350 kph. The original projection of the Battista was that it will be able to produce 2,300 Nm of torque, but in reality the great engineers were able to increase it to 2,360 Nm. The power comes from the two 250 kW and two 450 kW motors from the front and rear, respectively. Each front motor has 280 Nm of torque while the rear motors have 900 Nm.

Pininfarina Battista
Photo: James Lipman

“In this test I was able to drive Battista with full power available. The effect under acceleration is completely mind-bending – drivers will never bore of the experience, no matter how many times they feel it. This road car sprints faster than a Formula 1 car, and in Furiosa mode, I was left with a huge grin on my face every time. Every client that experienced Battista with me was positively overwhelmed by the experience – there is simply nothing like it.”

Heidfeld continued, “Battista is a beautiful piece of design, and its formidable presence is now enhanced by its unique exterior sound. With Battista in Furiosa mode, the exterior sound is at its most audible setting and it instantly made me smile on approach. You hear Battista before you see it – the car appears ‘alive’, and it helps develop an emotional connection that I honestly did not expect. The team had a tough target to hit here, and I believe this strategy is now proving a success.”

Using the Battista’s advanced torque vectoring system, the four independent high-performance electric permanent-magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) independently share the power to each wheel. This allows the Battista to deliver accurate and efficient shift of torque compared to torque vectoring by braking.

A beautiful rotary dial provides control of the driving experience. It is placed strategically next to the driver to easily allow for quick changes between driving modes settings namely: Pura, Energica, Calma, Crattere, and Furiosa. Each of them gives a unique character to the Battista’s drive, adapting perfectly to a variety of driving conditions.

“The handling on open roads – even on unpredictable surfaces – proved Battista to be beautifully balanced. Just how a hyper GT should feel. Battista’s performance on track had already surprised and impressed me after I experienced it in Nardo earlier this year, so my expectations on this occasion were set high. This test however confirmed that the team has achieved its target of creating a new type of hyper GT which is rewarding on all surfaces. The ride quality and damping both feel excellent, and the steering feels natural and the perfect fit for what we want to achieve in Battista. I am very sensitive to steering feel as a racing driver, and the sweet spot here is for it to feel light yet connected, and direct yet smooth,” Heidfeld shared.

The Battista went though thousands of miles of software simulation for calibration before it was even introduced to development. The driving modes enable the driver to fine-tune the driving experience and to unleash the full potential of the advanced torque vectoring system as well as the hyper GT characteristics of the Battista.

“Our cooperation with Nick Heidfeld started in 2019, when he participated in the first physical ergonomic test of the Battista interior model; evaluating the driving position and the proposed HMI system. This was followed by him ‘virtually’ testing Battista in an advanced driving simulator where we started to tune the hyper GT’s bespoke chassis dynamics set-up. Nick has been a brilliant partner throughout the whole development program, not only for his driving skills and unique experience in both Formula 1 and Formula E, but also for his ability to evaluate and improve the program in its various stages of development by delivering the anticipated view of our customers,” shared Automobili Pininfarina Chief Product and Engineering Officer Paolo Dellacha.

“This input was essential as we aimed to combine the extreme performance of a hypercar with a much wider spectra of usability in Battista, where outstanding power and torque are always accessible, safe and enjoyable on roads every day. Battista now has incredibly refined body and axle balance, perfect integration of e-powertrain and chassis domain controls, and optimum specific calibrations of its five Drive Modes. Coupled with its highly-connected User Interface and unique Sound Experience, Battista is now redefining the essence of Granturismo.”

BATTISTA TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

PERFORMANCE
• Range: up to 500 km
• Acceleration 0-100 km/h: Under 2.0 seconds
• Acceleration 0-300 km/h: Under 12.0 seconds
• Power output: 1,900 hp
• torque: 2,360 Nm
• Top speed: 350 km/h
• Drive: All-wheel drive with full torque vectoring
• Driving modes:
o Calma
o Pura
o Energica
o Furiosa
o Carattere (The option drivers may select to modify Battista performance and dynamics to their own preference)
BRAKES
• Brembo CCMR carbon-ceramic 390 mm discs with six-piston calipers front and rear
WHEELS
• Standard: 20-inch forged aluminium front and rear ‘Prezioso’ wheels, or:
• Optional: 20-inch front and 21-inch rear forged aluminium ‘Impulso’ wheels
TIRES
• Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R
BODY
• Full-carbon fiber monocoque with carbon fiber body panels Aluminium crash structure front and rear
BATTERY PACK
• Layout: T-shaped liquid-cooled lithium-ion
• Supplier: Rimac Automobili
• Battery energy: 120 kWh
CHARGING
• DC fast charging capability at up to 250 kW

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Gives Coveted Design Award To The Pure-Electric Battista

At the 2021 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the production ready Automobili Pininfarina Battista had an award-winning European debut bagging the event’s most coveted Design Award.

In Monterey Car Week, the pure-electric hyper GT already made its appearance in an unseen specification. It was in August when it made its successful world premiere joining the exclusive Battista Anniversario to celebrate the example’s debut in the US.

On October 1-3, the Battista made its first public debut as a bespoke specification of the pure electric hyper GT. At Villa d’Este, on the shores of Lake Como, just a few hours away from the Cambiano production facility of Automobili Pininfarina, the Battista was given the Design Award.

Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi
Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi

Automobili Pininfarina Chief Design Officer Luca Borgogno shared, “We took a unique Battista to Villa d’Este to showcase the diverse colour and material choices that our discerning clients can choose from when personalising their vehicle. To win the Design Award is a fantastic way for us to begin the countdown to making our first customer deliveries later this year. It’s always exciting for us to show new bespoke combinations of the Battista in different parts of the world, but especially so in our home country alongside other legendary classic Pininfarina-designed masterpieces.”

The prestigious Design Award given at Villa d’Este, which came from votes by event guests is another laurel given to the pure-electric masterpiece. It has been given GC’s Electric Hypercar of the Year award, and Electrifying.com’s Electric Dream award under the Concept Cars & Prototypes category.

Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi
Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi

Gorgeous Finish

Automobili Pininfarina unveiled a truly distinct and sophisticated version of the typical color combination at Villa d’Este. The finish brought the beautiful proportions and elegant design of the Battista in a completely different level.

The Battista was hand-finished in a striking Verde Paradiso metallic paint. Its front nose and rear wing were given the Carbon Accent Pack on the rear diffuser and lower body. The Black Exposed Signature Carbon elements were paired with a Nero finish to give it the trademark ‘Goccia roof’. The Exterior Jewelry Pack gave it its anodized aluminum accents.

Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi
Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi

Complementing the exterior color scheme is the precision-polished forged aluminum Impulso Gloss Black alloy wheels that had brushed anodized aluminum center-lock rings, with the brake calipers painted in simple silver.

The interior is decked in sustainable Tan leather upholstery with quilting to give it an even more luxurious atmosphere. The GT seats were given matching Tan seatbelts, with the Black Exposed Signature Carbon detail giving a great contrast. The Interior Jewelry Pack gave it brushed anodized aluminum detailing, matched with a black finish for the steering wheel and floor mats.

Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi
Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi

Final Stage of Development

The European debut of the production-ready Battista came just after a highly successful world premiere in California at the Monterey Car Week.

It was the first time that US clients were able to experience the production-specification Battista on the road. Only a limited run of a maximum of 150 units of Battistas will be produced. During the event, it was displayed beside an even more exclusive Battista Anniversario, of which only five units will be made.

The production of the pre-series Battista is now complete, so the first clients can expect their pure-electric Hyper GT to be delivered around the end of the year.

Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi
Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi Verde Paradiso Battista © Eros Maggi

Magic at Monterey thanks to Automobili Pininfarina

We already published our article on the Automobili Pininfarina Battista making her dynamic debut on the streets of California only days before the start of Monterey Car Week, but it turned out this wasn’t the only Hyper GT Pininfarina was bringing to the US this time, they also unveiled the one of five Battista Anniversario for the first time to the public at The Quail and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Per Svantesson, CEO of Automobili Pininfarina, said: “The first production-specification Battista hit the ground running on its arrival in the US, not only with the overwhelmingly positive reactions from our clients, who were impressed by the exquisite and intricate detailing of the hyper GT, but quite literally as the car made its dynamic debut on the beautiful Californian roads. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved here in the US, honoring Pininfarina’s rich history, and Automobili Pininfarina’s bright, exciting future. We’re looking forward to making the first deliveries later this year, where our clients will enjoy the definitive expression of sustainability, luxury, and exclusivity.”

And while the normal production version of the Battista was already seen on the open road in California, the Black Exposed Signature Carbon body on this Hyper GT was combined with Impulso forged alloys and a stunning black leather with quilted Iconica Blu Alcantara on optional Pilota seats … and she looked amazing, but let’s emphasize the fact Automobili Pininfarina’s recently announced their bespoke personalization service, which will make sure no two Battista will be the same by the time they start delivering this amazing beauty.

During its stay in the United States, the Pininfarina Battista will be made available to a very select group of clients that can get a stint behind the steering wheel of this production-ready car, which is referenced to as the most powerful road-legal Italian car ever built both on track and on the road with 1,900hp.

While I personally love a clear carbon fiber body car like the Battista, I have to admit the bi-color tinted Furiosa Pack as seen on the limited edition Battista Anniversario looks amazing too, this pack comprises of a front splitter, side blades and rear diffuser, and surely drew a lot of attention during Monterey Car Week as a showcase of the modern interpretation and the result of Pininfarina’s heritage and innovation, this specific model was unveiled at the exclusive The Quail event and at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

As we all know, Automobili Pininfarina has a long history when it comes to designing cars, and lined up alongside the Battista were a number of stunning historic Pininfarina-designed icons to celebrate over 90 years of design heritage, and several of these cars took home the winning title during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

The very nice and elegant looking, pre-war Italian 1938 Lancia Astura Pinin Farina Cabriolet took first place in the ‘Pinin Farina Prewar’ category, while a 1953 Lancia Aurelia Pinin Farina PF200 C Spider took the same honor in the ‘Pininfarina Postwar’ class with its iconic pronounced oval grille. There was a special ‘Pinin Farina Ferrari Early’ class that was won by a 1953 Ferrari 375 America Pinin Farina Coupe, while the 1966 Ferrari 365 P Pininfarina Berlinetta Speciale, Ferrari’s first mid-engined V12 presented by Pininfarina, took first place in the ‘Pininfarina Ferrari Late’ category, this latter was even listed as one of three ‘2021 Best of Show Nominees’.

Battista hits the open road

We already mentioned the Automobili Pininfarina Battista would be present at the upcoming Monterey Car Week in California, but it seems they just couldn’t wait and took this impressive all-electric hypercar onto the open road when it arrived in the United States, as a dynamic debut before the official unveiling this weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

The Automobili Pininfarina Battista is the first in the world of electric Hyper GT cars, and the car seen on the streets of California is actually the final production form, marking the Battista’s first road outing and the beginning of a new chapter in the story of Automobili Pininfarina and it will give US clients the chance to experience her 1,900 hp performance and admire the stunning ‘Black Exposed Signature Carbon’ bodywork, made at the Automobili Pininfarina’s manufacturing facility in Cambiano, Italy.

The exposed bodywork and precision polished Impulso forged aluminium alloy wheels are complemented by an exquisitely tailored interior featuring optional Pilota seats finished in sustainable black leather and quilted Iconica Blu Alcantara upholstery, with Iconica Blu contrast stitching, complemented by the Interior Jewellery Pack finished in brushed aluminium anodised in black.

Paolo Dellachà, Chief Product and Engineering Officer, Automobili Pininfarina, said: “The Battista will provide a thrilling all-round experience on road and track – in the city and on the open road. To see the first production-intent example of our pure-electric hyper GT on the highways of California signals the beginning of an exciting new chapter in its development. This is a significant landmark and hugely rewarding moment as we count down towards making the first client deliveries later this year.”

At the upcoming Monterey Car Week event, we will also see be able to admire the even more exclusive Battista Anniversario, a limited edition version of only five units for the entire world, a tribute model to the life and work of design icon Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, this version will come with bespoke aerodynamics and special details only available on this Anniversario edition, that will be limited to only 5 units worldwide, all in a unique Automobili Pininfarina-designed livery and bi-color tinted Furiosa Pack consisting of a front splitter, side blades and rear diffuser, with outer carbon parts finished in black exposed signature carbon while the inner parts will be made in exposed carbon fiber tinted in Iconica Blu.

Both vehicles’ presence at Monterey Car Week signals the first opportunity for clients to experience the 1,900 hp Battista, both on the roads and on the lawn of The Quail. At the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance the pure-electric hyper GT will be displayed alongside an exclusively curated selection of classic Pininfarina designs from the company’s 91-year history.

THE SOUND OF BATTISTA

The arrival of the first production-specification vehicle also gives clients a chance to hear Battista for the first time, showcasing the unique soundscape that is currently in development for the world’s first pure-electric hyper GT. The individual sound is being tuned to create an emotional reaction for occupants and onlookers, ensuring Battista will deliver an intoxicating experience for all the senses.

Following Automobili Pininfarina’s ‘Pure Sound’ philosophy, the soundscape has a core frequency of 54 Hz, an organic frequency that is a multiple of 432 Hz – known as ‘Verdi’s A,’ conceived by famous Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. The distinctive aural signature is tailored for the most powerful road-legal Italian sports car ever produced.

René Wollmann, Product Platform Director Sports Cars, Automobili Pininfarina, said: “Every driver has an emotional bond with a car and the sound of Battista will nurture this connection, not by replicating a familiar car sound, but with one that radiates the beauty of Battista’s design both inside and out. This way, the Battista will not only impress with its aesthetic appeal and performance, but also on a new emotional level enhanced through the sound. We look forward to the input we will receive from clients in the US as we fine-tune Battista’s sonic experience.”

According to music theory, 432 Hz is mathematically consistent with the universe. Music tuned to 432 Hz is said to be a pure sound – complementing the Battista’s pure design – while providing greater clarity, and is easier on the ears. As a multiple of 432 Hz, Automobili Pininfarina’s engineers have chosen 54 Hz as the core frequency for Battista, delivering a distinctive and recognisable aural signature that will generate the kind of emotional reaction clients expect from a 1,900 hp hyper GT.

From this starting point, the frequency will rise in multiples of 54Hz with new sound layers added as the speed of the vehicle increases. The seamlessly responsive acoustics will reflect the pure-electric performance of Battista combining rich bass tones to create a signature sound.

The Automobili Pininfarina Battista is named after Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, the founder of the Carrozzeria Pininfarina coachbuilding company, which he established in 1930. The hyper GT is the realisation of Battista’s dream to see a car produced wearing the Pininfarina name with the first vehicles due to be delivered to customers later this year.

Pininfarina Battista production car revealed to kick off Monterey Car Week

The Pininfarina Battista is officially here in production form. Pininfarina released the first images and video of the production car today, tooling around Southern California roads ahead of it being displayed during Monterey Car Week.

There are no additional specs or figures available beyond what has already been announced. The Battista will produce 1,900 horsepower from its four electric motors, have a range of about 280 miles on a full charge and hit 60 mph in “under 2 seconds.” Those in Monterey will have a chance to see the exposed carbon bodywork in person for the first time. Plus, potential clients will be provided the opportunity to go for a ride.

It’s not just this single Battista that will be shown, either. Pininfarina says it will also be debuting a Battista Anniversario. This special edition of the Battista will have “aerodynamic enhancements and tailored detailing producing a uniquely dynamic personality.” It will also be limited to just five total vehicles worldwide. Seeing it at Monterey may be the first and last chance you get to ever lay eyes on one.

The one nugget of information Pininfarina gave us today besides the new photos is detail on the Battista’s sound. It takes after a sound philosophy conceived by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. Any multiple of 432 Hz is said to be a “pure sound” according to Verdi, so Pininfarina used 54 Hz (a multiplier of 432) as the core frequency of noise for the Battista. As you accelerate, the frequency will continue to increase in multiples of 54 Hz to keep the in-cabin sound pure and consistent with Verdi’s principles. How very Italian.

“Every driver has an emotional bond with a car, and the sound of Battista will nurture this connection, not by replicating a familiar car sound, but with one that radiates the beauty of Battista’s design both inside and out,” says René Wollmann, product platform director for sports cars at Automobili Pininfarina. “This way, the Battista will not only impress with its aesthetic appeal and performance, but also on a new emotional level enhanced through the sound. We look forward to the input we will receive from clients in the U.S. as we fine-tune Battista’s sonic experience.”

We’ll look forward to hearing the sound ourselves one day. For now, the wait is on to see the ultra-exclusive Battista Anniversario. Look out for more Pininfarina news soon as Monterey Car Week revs up.

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The Battista at Monterey Car Week

If you are dreaming about a clear carbon fiber, all-electric hypercar with an amazing pedigree from a famous Italian automotive design firm, you can now feel comfortable as Automobili Pininfarina is about to unveil the Battista, this Hyper GT will make her US debut at The Quail and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance during the 2021 edition of the famous Monterey Car Week, this will consequently also be the world première of this car to the public.

And Automobili Pininfarina will bring another, even more special, car to Monterey this year, the Battista Anniversario, a tribute model to the life and work of design icon Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, this version will come with bespoke aerodynamics and special details only available on this Anniversario edition, that will be limited to only 5 units worldwide, all in a unique Automobili Pininfarina-designed livery and bi-color tinted Furiosa Pack consisting of a front splitter, side blades and rear diffuser, with outer carbon parts finished in black exposed signature carbon while the inner parts will be made in exposed carbon fiber tinted in Iconica Blu.

But back to the ‘regular’ Automobili Pininfarina Battista, the show car for Monterey Car Week will be finished in their signature black exposed carbon fiber for the entire body while the interior comes with Iconica Blu details, many electric cars have hints of blue usually, this specific Battista is actually a production prototype, the car is ready for production as we speak.

During Monterey Car Week, none other than Luca Borgogno, Chief Design Officer at Automobili Pininfarina, will be part of the judges’ panel at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where a fleet of iconic Pininfarina-designed vehicles will gather to celebrate over 90 years of design excellence by Pininfarina.

Per Svantesson, CEO of Automobili Pininfarina, said: “The premiere of the first production-specification Battista in the US marks the beginning of another significant chapter in the Automobili Pininfarina story. We are excited to showcase the beautiful and sustainable future of luxury to our clients while celebrating more than 90 years of Pininfarina design heritage during Monterey Car Week. We look forward to our clients in the US experiencing the immense dynamic performance and personalized luxury of Battista for the first time.”

And while the clear carbon fiber exterior of this show car might attract a lot of attention, the interior is just as amazing, with black sustainable leather combined with Iconica Blu contrast stitching and quilted Pilota seats themselves also finished in Iconica Blu Alcantara while also featuring Pilota Carbon Components finished in the same black exposed carbon fiber as the body of this Hyper GT.

This is the first time the 1,900 hp hypercar from Pininfarina will be shown to the public as a production-ready vehicle, this hypercar will be able to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from standing still in less than 2 seconds, priced at $2,200,000 each there will be only 150 units available for the entire world, while the battery can come with a warranty up to 10 years into the future.

If you are interested in one of these 150 Automobili Pininfarina Battista you can turn to a global network of selected salespoints, for the USA these are located in San Fransisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, New York, and Miami, further up north, you are also able to buy this car in either Toronto or Vancouver … but why not visit their stand at the Monterey Car Week on August 13 to get an impression of this amazing hypercar first hand.

Automobili Pininfarina debuts their Battista hyper GT

The Center stage at the Electric Avenue exhibition space during the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed will be taken by the brand new Battista GT, the all-electric hypercar created by Automobili Pininfarina in their attempt to lead the current automotive movement into the sustainable cars, be it high-speed supercars, hypercar, or luxury cars, as Bentley is also heavily investing in the latter category, Pininfarina took on the hypercar segment first with their impressive Battista GT which will be shown to the public at this year’s Goodwood FOS for the first time.

Automobili Pininfarina brings over 90 years of Italian icons in their legacy, some of the most beautiful, and fast Italian cars found their origin in this world-renowned design house, now they are getting ready to unveil the pinnacle of EV in the form of a luxurious car made from sustainable materials that boasts an amazing design while housing a pure-electric powertrain so there is zero emission from this Italian beauty.

Per Svantesson, Chief Executive Officer, Automobili Pininfarina, said: “We are excited to bring Battista to the iconic Goodwood Festival of Speed for the first time. This hyper GT and our future portfolio of luxury electric cars will offer the beautiful design and personalization opportunities one expects from Automobili Pininfarina, with thrilling performance enabled by zero-emissions powertrain technology and an array of sustainably sourced design features and finishes. Goodwood’s Electric Avenue is a perfect showcase for this vision of future luxury.”

The Battista GT prototype has been out on the harshest track throughout Europe during final testing, the unveiling of this stylish hypercar at Goodwood is a prelude to actual clients receiving their car later this year, Jardine Motors Group will be the London and southern UK retailer for the exclusive new model, customers will be able to get their Automobili Pininfarina Battista GT built to their exact specifications, both for exterior and interior finish.

The official debut of the Battista GT at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed comes after being selected for the Electric Dream award from the expert judges at Electrifying.com earlier this year and the Electric Hypercar of the Year prize at last year’s GQ Car of the Year awards, the Battista GT will be the most powerful car ever built in Italy, power output is listed at 1,900 hp with a torque figure of 2,300 Nm, this new road-legal hypercar is quicker than a Formula One car, 0 to 100 km/h takes less than 2 seconds, figures that are remarkably similar to the Rimac Nevera, which packs 1,914 hp and a massive 2,360 Nm of torque.

Similar to the €2,000,000 limited production Rimac Nevera, only 150 units of the Battista GT will be built, but the latter will come from the Automobili Pininfarina SpA atelier in Cambiano, Italy, thanks to a 120 kWh battery pack, this intimidating electric hypercar comes with a 500 km (310 miles) range between charges, and while the Rimac Nevera lists a top speed of 412 km/h (258 mph), Automobili Pininfarina just lists ‘over 350 km/h)

Pininfarina Battista gets a small redesign, still looks the business

The Pininfarina Battista may be the wildest car revealed this year. It’s an all-electric supercar with 1,900 horsepower that promises a 0-60 mph time of under 2 seconds. Piloting one sounds akin to a jump to hyperspace. The only bad thing we can say about it now is that you can’t buy one yet — even so, a small redesign was revealed at the Turin Motor Show. None of the performance specs have budged, but there are a few styling elements that have been tweaked.

Pininfarina justifies the changes in the name of aerodynamics. Testing done after the car’s initial debut in Geneva showed that things could be improved, so Pininfarina set out to do so. The lower front grille area has been massaged with some reshaping. Additional elements have been added inside the front opening with a couple extra slats framing the honeycomb grille. Also, the side mirrors have been drastically redone, looking far more exotic and slippery than before. It’s safe to say that all these noticeable changes don’t do anything to change our opinion about how fantastic it looks.

Here’s a comparison — the redesigned Battista in blue is on top, the original is below in white.

Pininfarina Battista updateBattista old front end

We’re told to expect the next stages of wind tunnel and road testing to take place this summer in Italy. Will there be further changes to the design after this? Who knows. We do know that the plan for making just 150 of them hasn’t changed, though. The latest from Pininfarina says to expect a driving range of about 280 miles and a top speed of 217 mph. A 0-180 mph time of 12 seconds is quoted as an official acceleration figure, too. Production is supposed to begin in 2020, and we expect that to go on for some time after in order to build all 150 cars.

The Pininfarina Battista Gets a Design Update

A New Face for a Car That Will Rip Your Face Off

The Turin Auto Show in Italy is in for a treat. The Pininfarina Battista will be there sporting some design updates. A concept version of the car appeared at the Geneva Motor Show, and the one at the Turin Auto Show will be an updated design, featuring a new face for the car

The car gets a single wide, low piece up front instead of the dual-fin setup that was on the concept. It’s actually a much more attractive car. It will be shown in a gorgeous new color, Blu Iconica (blue). The new look comes after extensive aerodynamic testing was performed on the car. Luca Borgogno, the car’s designer seemed pleased with the finished result. He also sounded thrilled with the ability to showcase the next stages of the vehicle.

Since its debut at this year’s Geneva auto show, the Battista has stunned audiences all around the world with its beauty and purity of design. I am pleased to be presenting it with these latest masterstrokes that make the form of the car even more beautiful and elegant, and true to Pininfarina’s design principles.

The Battista features a four electric motor powertrain setup. The car offers 1,877 horsepower and 1,696 pound-feet of torque. That translates to a 0-60 mph time of two seconds and a top speed of 217 mph. Pininfarina will build only 150 of the cars and they will each cost $2.26 million. 

Pininfarina All-Electric Battista

Pininfarina has unveiled its all-electric ride, called the Pininfarina Battista. Launching in 2020, the Battista is poised to be the most formidable road-legal EV.

Boasting 1,900 ponies, the Battista rages from zero to 60 in less than two seconds, and is offers a top speed of over 217mph. That effectively makes it one of the fastests electric cars on the planet. Just quick enough to beat Ferrari’s own hypercar, and perhaps just as fast, if not faster than the Ferrari F1.

To make the all-electric powertrain possible, Pininfarina worked with Rimac. The result? A beastly 120 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that trails 279 miles easy in just a single charge. These are mind-boggling specs, especially for an EV. It blows any other car out of the road, without even using a drop of gas.

The car also boasts an all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring and carbon ceramic six-piston brakes. Custom Pirelli tires with 21-inch wheels prop everything up, coupled with a full carbon fiber monocoque structure for some flair.

Pininfarina will only produce 150 Battista units globally. Each will be developed, hand-crafted and manufactured in Turin, Italy. Yes, the country that gave birth to two of the most famous companies people associate with hypercars.

The release date is still a ways to go, of course, but that doesn’t keep us from being thoroughly impressed with Pininfarina’s first car. From now to 2020, however, it’s entirely possible something will come out that eclipses Battista’s numbers. The silver lining is that, if such ever happens, the ride’s price will likely drop. A win-win for consumers.

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Photos courtesy of Pininfarina

Automobili Pininfarina to Bring 3 Battista Hypercars to Geneva

A Trio of Electric Hypercars

Prepare yourself for the Geneva Motor Show. It’s going to be full of unique and crazy advanced cars. Among all of the vehicles we’ve recently reported on, Automobili Pininfarina will unveil the Battista hypercar. With that said, the company will not just bring one car to the show. It will bring three.

In a recent press release, the company shared that it would bring three of the new Battista electric hypercars to the show. The models are set to make their debut on March 4. At this time, most of the details are still shrouded in secrecy but some of the goodies were included in the company’s release.

One of the cars will come with Grigio Luserna exterior. It will feature Blu Iconica accents and anodized aluminum details. The interior for that car will be black and tan. The second car will have a Blu Iconica exterior, front and rear wings, and special carbon fiber on the hood and mirrors. The third car will come with a Bianco Sestriere exterior and include red aluminum accents. 

Automobili Pininfarina Formula EAutomobili Pininfarina Formula E
Image from Automobili Pininfarina

In addition to the three Battista hypercars, Pininfarina will showcase a Battista-inspired Formula-E car (shown above) built specifically for Mahindra Racing. The cars actually look nothing alike, but Pininfarina said that the involvement in Formula-E helped with the Battista’s development and testing.

The Battista will come with an electric powertrain capable of 1,874 hp and 1,696 lb-ft of torque. Those power numbers, and it’s overall light weight mean it’ll do 0-62 mph in fewer than two seconds. The car can then go on to hit 182 mph in less than 12 seconds. It’s supposed to be able to do 280 miles per charge. That’s one seriously fast EV with a good range.