Joining the exotic and very expensive supercars and concept cars like the Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider and Audi Skysphere in the Monterey Car Week in California is the first production-spec Pininfarina Battista. Laying claim as the world’s first pure-electric hyper GT, the Battista first road outing on California’s roads marks the beginning of a new chapter in the story of the company (owned by the Mahindra Group since 2015).
Customers in the USA have a first chance to view the car which is finished in Black on exposed signature carbonfibre bodywork. The exposed bodywork and precision polished Impulso forged aluminium alloy wheels are complemented by an exquisitely tailored interior featuring optional Pilota seats finished in sustainable black leather and quilted Iconica Blu Alcantara upholstery, with Iconica Blu contrast stitching, complemented by the Interior Jewellery Pack finished in brushed aluminium anodised in black.
The Battista is claimed to be the most powerful car ever designed and built in Italy, with the promise of delivering a level of performance that is unachievable today in any road-legal sportscar using internal combustion engine technology. It will be quicker than a current Formula 1 car with a claimed 0 – 100 km/h time of less than 2 seconds, and with 1,900 ps/2,300 Nm output from 4 electric motors. Operating with zero emissions, the Battista’s 120 kWh battery pack is expected to provide a range of over 500 kms when fully charged.
The sound of the Battista
The physical presence of the hypercar also allows the Battista to be heard for the first time. It has a unique soundscape tuned to create an emotional reaction for occupants and onlookers. Following Automobili Pininfarina’s ‘Pure Sound’ philosophy, the soundscape has a core frequency of 54 Hz, an organic frequency that is a multiple of 432 Hz – known as ‘Verdi’s A,’ conceived by famous Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi.
According to music theory, 432 Hz is mathematically consistent with the universe. Music tuned to 432 Hz is said to be a pure sound while providing greater clarity, and is easier on the ears. From this starting point, the frequency will rise in multiples of 54 Hz with new sound layers added as the speed of the car increases. The seamlessly responsive acoustics will reflect the pure-electric performance of Battista combining rich bass tones to create a signature sound.
Commenting on the distinctive aural signature, Rene Wollmann, Product Platform Director Sports Cars at Automobili Pininfarina, said: “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. This way, the Battista will not only impress with its aesthetic appeal and performance, but also on a new emotional level enhanced through the sound. We look forward to the input we will receive from clients in the US as we fine-tune Battista’s sonic experience.”
Connected – from anywhere in the world
A special provision made in the car is to be able to access online services consistently and reliably when crossing different countries. Automobili Pininfarina and Deutsche Telekom have come up with a way for Battista owners to do so in more than 50 countries worldwide – a first in the world of hypercars.
Every one of the 150 Battistas (to cost no less than US$2.5 million or around RM10.3 million) will come with an embedded SIM card and roaming technology for optimised connectivity worldwide. Using these components, Deutsche Telekom’s roaming partner network and roaming traffic steering logic enables the vehicle to search for the strongest network, so owners don’t find themselves in communication blackspots even as they cross international borders.
This superior connectivity also means greater convenience for owners to receive Over-The-Air (OTA) updates, the latest thing in the industry. By sending software updates online, the vehicle’s systems or devices will always be up-to-date and perform at their best. The system will be able to remotely update 26 individual electronic control modules in the Battista across functions covering the powertrain, safety and driving dynamics systems, vehicle control, infotainment as well as digital services.
The more exclusive Anniversario edition
As for the even more exclusive Battista Anniversario, the bodywork will have one of the most complex paint finishes in the world, with the process of creating akin to a great artist completing an Old Master painting. Skilled artisans will take several weeks to paint each car, building up the finish layer-by-layer and colour-by-colour – all by hand. The body is disassembled and reassembled three times so pinstripes in the three separate colours can be hand-painted directly onto the body.
The Battista Anniversario is also equipped with the ‘Furiosa’ package, comprising a revised carbonfibre front splitter, side blades and rear diffuser. Exclusively on the Anniversario, these parts are finished in a two-tone combination of exposed signature carbonfibre and carbonfibre tinted in Iconica Blu with pin stripes in Bianco Sestriere.
Besides the exclusive livery, a bespoke rear wing, rear aero fins and other bespoke details are unique to the Battista Anniversario. The aerodynamic enhancements enabled by the Furiosa exterior changes deliver increased downforce and greater stability at higher cornering speeds and a more dynamic balance to the car.
