Zero-emissions mobility marks a crucial milestone as Automobili Pininfarina has finally lifted the veil off its first Pininfarina-badged model - the Battista electric Hyper GT; to go on sale in 2020.
Ever since the world caught the first design glimpse of Pininfarina's electric hypercar, way back in August 2018, the collective motoring industry has been holding its breath, waiting for this car to debut. What makes the Battista all the more special is the fact that despite being a pure-electric vehicle, it will be pegged as a competitor to the mighty Bugatti Chiron. Now though, the wait has come to an end as a trio of Battista models will be on display at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS).
When it arrives in 2020, the Battista will become the most powerful road-legal car to be designed and produced in Italy. Powered by a 120 kWh Lithium-ion battery, the Battista brings to the table some unmatched performance figures. For example, the Battista can do its 0-100km/h run within two seconds, which is faster than the current F1 cars. Further, it produces a staggering 1,877bhp and 2,300Nm of torque. To put the figures into perspective, the Chiron, from its 8.0-litre W16 engine, produces 1,479bhp and 1,600Nm of torque. However, for us, the most staggering figure is the Battista's claimed driving range of 450km! While the driving range and the corresponding performance figures may be hard to digest for most, seeing that Rimac has been at the helm of Battista's drivetrain and battery tech, these figures might just be achievable in real conditions!
While a full carbon-fibre monocoque ensures that the Battista weighs below the two-tonne mark, the job is only half-done if the car is unable to put down all the power effectively. And, seeing that the Battista has plenty of it, engineers have given it an All-Wheel-Drive setup wherein individual motors power each wheel and the drivetrain is also equipped with a clever torque-vectoring system. The AWD system is further supported by bespoke Pirelli P-Zero tyres which sit on 21-inch wheels. Braking duties on the Battista are taken care of by 390mm carbon-ceramic discs (front and rear) shod with Brembo 6-piston callipers.
Sharing his thoughts on the Battista's debut, Michael Perschke, CEO of Automobili Pininfarina said, 'This is the most authentic and exciting automotive story imaginable. The Battista is the hypercar of the future, inspired by a legendary past. It combines true inspiration and innovation in its technical achievement and emotional appeal. Electrification unlocks the door to a new level of performance and a zero-emissions future, whilst a passion and respect for automotive history will define how this landmark car looks and feels. We aim for the Battista to be a future classic and automotive icon, writing its own page in automotive history books.'
Developed as a bespoke piece of automotive perfection, only 150 units of the Battista will ever see the light of day. As each car will be made to order, customers can fully personalise their Battista at Pininfarina SpA's Cambiano headquarters.
Michael Perschke provided us with some additional insight during a meeting at the company’s headquarters in Munich in late 2018. The Battista, of course, will put Pininfarina on the map as a manufacturer, but this only the first in a range of EVs planned by Automobili Pininfarina. Perschke says that the Battista doesn’t necessarily compete with Ferrari – incidentally, Pininfarina has designed some of its most evocative models over the years – but actually complements Ferrari. He also claims that about 50% of the 150 units of this 2-million Euro hyper-EV have already been spoken for by collectors, investors and technology connoisseurs the world over.
The second model from Automobili Pininfarina is likely to be a more attainable electric luxury SUV that will give Tesla owners something to aspire towards. Automobili Pininfarina aims to bring emotion and Italian craftsmanship to the EV world, and it’s starting with a machine that’s like nothing else available in the world today.
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