The new Pininfarina Battista is an electric hypercar, named after the founder of the famous Italian design and engineering firm. The Battista is the first car that is sold under Pininfarnina’s own name. The company became famous by its design work for others. Some of their most notable designs are the 1966 Alfa Romeo Spider, the 1971 Fiat 130 Coupé, the 1983 Peugeot 205, and the 1984 Ferrari Testarossa, to name just a few. Sadly, in the 2000’s the firm got into financial trouble and was ultimately taken over by India’s Mahindra Group. Since then, Pininfarina hasn’t done much work for other car makers, focusing instead on its own vehicle program, of which the Battista is the first fruit.
The Pininfarina Battista was developed in cooperation with Croatian electric supercar maker Rimac, which developed the platform, powertrain and the battery. The Battista is indeed closely related to the Rimac C2. Much of the manufacturing is outsourced to Rimac as well, only the body panels and the interior are fitted at Pininfarina’s Italian base. But no matter where and how it is build, the Battista is a truly fast machine. The car is fitted with four individual electric motors, one at each wheel. Total output is a staggering 1900 hp and 2300 Nm of torque. The motors are mated to a high-power 120 kWh battery pack. Pininfarina claims a top speed of 350 kilometers per hour, a 0-100 in 2.0 seconds, and a 0-300 in 12 seconds. Range is 500 kilometers if you drive it gently, but much less if you go lunatic.
The Pininfarina Battista is fitted with Brembo CCM-R ultra light carbon ceramic brake discs measuring 390 millimeter in diameter at the front and rear. The Brembo B-M6 brake calipers are made using a casting process with 4D technology, making them much stronger and resistant to much higher temperatures than traditional calipers. Each caliper works with six opposed pistons, essentially a set up for racing cars, resulting in a very high brake torque. To make it stop even better; the movable wing at the back doubles as an air brake.
Brembo B-M6 brake caliper.
The Battista with the air brake in its highest position. Pininfarina will only sell 150 examples of the Battista for about $2.2 million per unit. As per moment of writing it isn’t sold out yet. Next up for Pininfarina is a track-only version of the Battista, which will be lighter and even more powerful.