Crazy Pininfarina Battista hypercar makes public driving debut

The most powerful Italian sports car in history, Pininfarina Battista, has made its public driving debut on the roads of California.

Captured in a video embedded below, the production-spec Battista was formally launched at this month’s Monterey Car Festival.

It is the production version of the Battista that has been undergoing testing and development publicly since 2020.

Just 150 Battistas are expected to be built and no more than four have been allocated for sale in Australia and New Zealand at a price expected to top $3 million.

The Battista is one of number of pure electric hypercars set to hit the world’s roads soon. Others include the Rimac Nevera and the Lotus Evija. There’s more coming: Ferrari has committed to an EV as has rival Lamborghini.

First sighted as a concept at the 2019 Geneva motor show, the Battista is the product of a new vehicle manufacturer that sits alongside the famed 90 year-old design house of the same name.

A 100 per cent Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd investment, the new business was named Automobili Pininfarina following the signing of a trademark licence agreement between Pininfarina S.p.A. and Mahindra & Mahindra.

Battista is named after Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, the founder of the Carrozzeria Pininfarina coachbuilding company established in 1930. 

Capable of accelerating faster to 100km/h than a current Formula 1 racer in less than two seconds, the Battista is powered by four electric motors – one at each wheel – that combine to make 1400kW and 2300Nm.

Electrical energy comes from a 120kWh battery with a simulated WLTP range of over 500km on a single charge. 

“The Battista will provide a thrilling all-round experience on road and track – in the city and on the open road,” said Paolo Dellachà, Chief Product and Engineering Officer, Automobili Pininfarina

“To see the first production-intent example of our pure-electric hyper GT on the highways of California signals the beginning of an exciting new chapter in its development.

“This is a significant landmark and hugely rewarding moment as we count down towards making the first client deliveries later this year.”

Both the ‘standard’ Battista and the Anniversario Limited – of which just five will be built – appeared in Monterey.

The Battista’s dynamic debut delivered the chance to hear the soundtrack Pininfarina is developing to go with it.

Dubbed ‘Pure Sound’, it has a core frequency of 54Hz, an organic frequency that is a multiple of 432Hz – known as ‘Verdi’s A,’ conceived by famous Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. 

Automobili Pininfarina’s engineers say 54Hz delivers “a distinctive and recognisable aural signature that will generate the kind of emotional reaction clients expect from a [1400kW] hyper GT”.

The frequency will rise in multiples of 54Hz with new sound layers added as the speed of the vehicle increases.

“Every driver has an emotional bond with a car and the sound of Battista will nurture this connection, not by replicating a familiar car sound, but with one that radiates the beauty of Battista’s design both inside and out,” said René Wollmann, Product Platform Director Sports Cars, Automobili Pininfarina.