Automobili Pininfarina has finally announced performance figures for its all-electric Battista hypercar
As first customer deliveries commence, Automobili Pininfarina has revealed final performance figures for its all-electric Battista hypercar. The news follows a two year pandemic-induced delay, with its recent dynamic debut in the Middle East coming over three years since its initial reveal. Just 150 units will be produced in total with pricing starting at around £2m.
The Battista is based on a carbonfibre chassis commissioned from Croatian electric hypercar manufacturer Rimac. The 120kWh battery pack, electric motors and capacitors are also sourced from there, but although the tech is shared, Pininfarina has done lots of work to ensure that its vision of the Battista remained pure. As a result, Pininfarina did significant work on the Battista’s overall proportions, moving the windscreen forward by 180mm, giving it a more traditional Italian mid-engined supercar silhouette.
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Two electric motors are mounted to each axle, each powering a specific wheel and giving the Battista full torque vectoring capability without the need for heavy and complex differentials. Total power is rated at 1873bhp, with a staggering 1697lb ft of torque available at a standstill, enabling the Battista to hit 62mph in 1.86sec and 124mph in just 4.75 – a 62mph to standstill distance of 31m is also a record for a production electric car. Pininfarina quotes an estimated 217mph top speed, some way from the 258mph of Rimac's Nevera.
The battery pack itself is not of the increasingly popular skateboard variety, rather it’s a T-shaped unit that sits behind the driver compartment and runs between the two seats. The main benefit is being able to maintain an ultra-low driving position, as well as keeping more of the mass towards the centre of the car. The 120kWh battery pack should enable a potential range of up to 280 miles from a single charge.
If there is a single element that plays to Pininfarina’s strengths, it is of course the design, and the Battista does not disappoint in this regard. The traditional mid-engined silhouette is present and correct, and is wrapped with a considered, subtle and sophisticated body that is dripping with appeal. The most dynamic and interesting element is the massive delta-wing motif, that runs over the tight rear haunches and informs the rear styling and floating wings that also house the tail lights. This section also holds the Battista’s active rear wing, which is the only piece of active aero on the car.
The interior is dominated by a pair of touchscreens flanking the steering wheel, with designers focusing on a level of symmetry from the driver’s perspective, rather than the interior as a whole. Specific trims and finishes are able to be specified to the owner’s taste, and as suspected, this is a strictly two-seater interior.
Behind the Battista’s development were some big names, with former Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld having put the model through its paces as a development driver, and Mercedes-AMG alumni Rene Wollmann handling the schedule.
When it comes to cost, Automobili Pininfarina is quoting a price for the Battista of around £2m. This price point puts it above potential rivals like the Lotus Evija and Rimac, and straight into the territory of the Bugatti Chiron; a car which not only appeals on design and performance, but heritage.
A special edition Battista Anniversario edition will make up five of the expected 150 unit build run and differs from standard versions by a selection of subtle aesthetic changes – the underlying technical base remaining unchanged. Starting at £2.26 million, the price sees quite an increase from its initial estimate, but seems less substantial when taken in context.
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Keyword: Pininfarina Battista hypercar achieves 1.86sec 0-62mph time