The Pininfarina Battista is more than just an electric car; it’s a sensory experience. Its carbon-fiber bodywork literally vibrates, a unique sensation attributed to the “E-Heart” system. This innovative feature utilizes speakers to transmit audible pulses, creating a palpable connection between the driver and the vehicle’s actions. Complementing these vibrations are flickering LEDs within the Pininfarina logo, enhancing the car’s dynamic presence even when stationary. As Chief Product and Engineering Officer Paolo Dellacha suggests, this sound design aims to forge a direct link with the car’s performance and character.
Pininfarina, a design house with a storied history of styling 64 Ferraris, has channeled its expertise into its first ground-up automobile. The Battista, named after the company’s founder, Battista “Pinin” Farina, is a production realization of a concept first unveiled in 2018. This venture was made possible by the investment from Mahindra, an Indian conglomerate.
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Engineering and Performance Prowess
Developing a vehicle from scratch presents a significant undertaking, even for established automotive giants. Recognizing this, Pininfarina collaborated with Rimac, a leader in electric vehicle technology, for the powertrain and carbon-fiber structure. Automobili Pininfarina CEO Per Svantesson emphasizes that while sharing underpinnings with Rimac, the Battista boasts unique tuning and delivers a distinct driving experience.
The heart of the Battista’s performance lies in its formidable mechanicals. A T-shaped battery pack, accounting for approximately one-third of the vehicle’s 4400-pound curb weight, houses 6960 lithium-ion cells. This configuration provides a total gross capacity of 120 kWh, with Pininfarina claiming 97 percent (116 kWh) of this capacity will be usable—a notably higher percentage than typically found in EVs. Power is delivered to all four wheels via four electric motors. Pininfarina estimates a range of 310 miles on the European cycle, with a U.S. EPA estimated range of around 230 miles. However, for Battista customers, performance is likely the primary draw. The brand claims a 0-to-60 mph acceleration time of a mere 1.8 seconds, with 186 mph achievable in under 12 seconds. Peak acceleration exerts a force of 1.4 g’s, pressing occupants firmly into their seats. The top speed is electronically limited to 217 mph. Regarding charging, Pininfarina states that an 80 percent charge can be achieved in 25 minutes using a 180-kW DC connection. This rate, while seemingly modest compared to the latest fast-charging technology, is a deliberate choice by Pininfarina to optimize battery longevity.
Interior Design and Driving Experience
The Battista’s dihedral doors open to reveal a driver-centric cabin dominated by three screens. Two tablet-style touchscreens flank a central display that shows speed. Annoyingly, adjusting seating and steering wheel positions requires navigating a menu on the left touchscreen. Once set, the view over the low, sloping hood offers excellent forward visibility. However, the high rear haunches and active rear spoiler necessitate reliance on the mirrors and rear window for situational awareness.
Driving modes, including the mildest “Calma” mode, are selected via a rotary dial crafted from milled and anodized aluminum. This dial provides a reassuringly precise and tactile experience, reminiscent of controls found in premium aircraft cockpits. In “Calma” mode, the Battista offers a refined, almost serene driving experience, befitting its eco-conscious materials like olive-leaf-tanned leather and carpets made from reclaimed fishing nets. For those seeking exhilaration, sportier modes transform the Battista into a wickedly fast machine.
On public roads, the Battista’s extraordinary performance was managed by following a pace car, with chassis and vehicle dynamics guru Georgios Syropoulos setting the tempo in a Tesla Model 3. Syropoulos’s background includes developing chassis for high-performance Teslas, such as the Model 3 and Model S P85D, as well as a planned Tesla “supersport” model. His experience also spans work with Lotus on the Evora GT4 race program, contributing to the Battista’s ability to carve smooth arcs through corners. Even at this elevated pace, the Battista exhibits composure, aided by its wide track, low center of gravity, and staggered Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires. The adaptive KW dampers automatically adjust stiffness, providing a smooth and controllable ride even in the most aggressive settings, with steering that leans towards a grand tourer rather than a hypercar.
Unleashing the Beast on Track
It’s on the racetrack, specifically at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, that the Battista’s full potential is unleashed. In its most aggressive “Furiosa” mode, even moderate throttle input delivers a surge of acceleration, with the Michelin tires desperately seeking grip. The instantaneous response of the accelerator pedal is addictive, providing immediate thrust without the delay of turbo spooling or transmission downshifts. This relentless acceleration demands early braking, where the carbon-ceramic brakes perform admirably, though some pedal travel and vibration were noted during hard applications.
In “Furiosa” mode, the stability control is disengaged, and while Pininfarina is still fine-tuning the torque-vectoring system, the chassis demonstrates balance and stability, with a slight bias towards understeer. Unlike the closely related Rimac Nevera, the Battista’s tuning prioritizes balanced handling and lateral dynamics over extreme, tire-shredding performance, eschewing a dedicated drift mode.
Final tuning is ongoing before customer deliveries commence in the first quarter of 2022, with the Battista starting at $2.2 million. While an electric vehicle may not replicate the visceral soul of a Ferrari V-12, the thrumming bodywork and astonishing acceleration of the Battista signify Pininfarina’s commitment to infusing its electric creations with a captivating sense of life and excitement.