“It’s advisable to commence from a complete stop,” suggested the engineer seated in the passenger side. Hands positioned at nine and three, take a deep breath and exhale fully. “All clear,” exclaimed the professional Italian race car driver through the walkie-talkie.
Navigating an undulating road in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California, the sheer power of the all-electric, 1,900 hp Pininfarina Battista is a breathtaking and exhilarating experience, causing the cheeks to flap. The initial encounter feels surreal. Even after grasping the concept of Battista’s one motor per wheel (enabling a top speed of 217 mph), comprehending a statistic like accelerating from 0-60 mph in 1.79 seconds is markedly different when experienced in real time.
Named after the founder of the company, Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, this hypercar represents the Italian design studio’s inaugural in-house production vehicle in its 93-year history. While presently owned by India’s Mahindra Group, Pininfarina historically collaborated on exterior bodywork and styling with renowned brands such as Ferrari (288 GTO), Alfa Romeo (Giulietta Spider), and Maserati (GranTurismo) throughout the 20th century.
For its eponymous debut, the company collaborated with Rimac on the carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, while retaining proprietary rights to its exterior design styling. As anticipated, Battista showcases a refined, well-composed set of lines, commencing from the U-shaped nose, encircling the exposed carbon-fiber underbelly, and concluding at the active rear wing. No unnecessary embellishments are present.
The all-wheel-drive vehicle is equipped with a double-wishbone suspension and semi-active dampers. Battista can seamlessly transition between five customizable drive modes (ordered by intensity: Calma, Pura, Energica, Furiosa, or the customizable Carattere) without compromising power or control.
According to the company, the 120 kWh lithium-ion battery can recharge from 20% to 80% in 25 minutes (depending on the charger). It boasts a 300-mile range under conservative driving conditions.
