Pininfarina Battista Anniversario

Last year, Automobili Pininfarina, the new subsidiary of the design house Pininfarina, presented the new electric hypercar Battista as a near-series concept car at the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS). This year’s GIMS edition should have seen the premiere of the series version, but this had to be postponed due to the cancellation of the show. Instead, as with many other brands, the presentation is now exclusively online. In addition to the normal version, the total edition of 150 copies also includes five slots for the Anniversario special edition. Various detail improvements, especially in aerodynamics, help the Battista to achieve even better performance.

The special edition is called Anniversario, because exactly 90 years ago Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina founded the coachbuilder and design company Pininfarina. All 150 copies of the Battista will be handcrafted in a new manufactory in Cambiano near Turin. For the anniversary model, the designers created a three-colored special paint in the colors ‘Bianco Sestriere’, ‘Grigio Antonelliano’ and ‘Iconica Blu’. The painting process takes several weeks per car, as the bodywork is assembled and disassembled several times to apply pinstripes at various parts by hand. A specially shaped rear wing, air deflectors at the rear and a few other details distinguish the special model from the production car. The Anniversario also comes with the new ‘Furiosa’ package, which generates more downforce through a modified front spoiler, revised side skirts and a larger rear diffuser. While this package is also available as an option for the normal Battista, the special livery in bare carbon and blue tinted carbon is exclusively available for the Anniversario.

Compared to the normal Pininfarina Battista, the Anniversario’s total weight has been reduced by almost ten kilograms. This was achieved by a light-alloy wheel set with 20-inch rims at the front and 21-inch at the rear, each with central locking. For this, Pininfarina developed new high-performance tires together with Pirelli, which helped to increase the topspeed to 350 kph (217 mph). This allows the four electric motors with a combined 1,900 hp and 2,300 newtonmeters of torque to show even better what they are capable of. They are able to distribute their power infinitely between all four wheels thanks to the latest Torque Vectoring System. It takes less than two seconds to sprint from a standing start to 62 mph, which means that the Battista accelerates faster than current Formula 1 racing cars. It takes less than 12 seconds to reach 186 mph. The carbon monocoque hasn’t been changed, nor has the 120 kWh battery, which is installed deep down in the T-shaped carbon frame and is supposed to provide a range of more than 500 kilometers.

For the interior, Automobili Pininfarina uses sustainably manufactured, black dyed leather and black Alcantara. As further distinguishing features in comparison to the normal Battista, the special model has ‘Anniversario’ lettering, for example engraved above the headlights or as a logo on the fenders. On the door sill panels there is a black anodised sign with a reference to the company’s foundation in 1930.

Various prototypes of the Pininfarina Battista are currently undergoing driving tests. In initial dynamic tests, they have already achieved 80 percent of the desired performance. Among others, former Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld, who now is a development driver for Automobili Pininfarina, is at the wheel. In the summer of 2020, a few selected VIP customers will be able to experience the Battista’s performance live, before deliveries begin at the end of the year. Pininfarina is calling for 2.6 million euros for each of the five copies of the Anniversario.

Images: Automobili Pininfarina