by Wallace Wyss –
I respect Ferrari was stunned after they relegated Carrozzeri Pininfarina from their major design house and coachbuilder to a bidder against other firms. They shoulda figured Pininfarina would eventually figure out how to build an anti-Ferrari.
At first it was only a concept but now it appears to be closer to reality, and it will be the fastest car in Italy. The chassis is carbon fiber, a monocoque with a carbon fiber body.
They promise staggering performance for a road car: power and torque of 1,900 hp and 2,300 Nm, providing acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in less than two seconds (faster than a current Formula 1 car), 300 km/h in less than 12 seconds and the ability to run all the way up to up to 350 km/h.
The cars will be allocated equally between the regions of North America, Europe, and the Middle East/Asia. There will be retail stores from Los Angeles to London to Tokyo. Plans are in place for the opportunity to fully personalize each car at Pininfarina SpA’s Cambiano headquarters.
You have to admire Pininfarina’s chutzpah, making an end run around their famous client Ferrari. Ferrari hasn’t announced an all electric car yet and only has some hybrids which can go just a few miles in electric mode only power. Pininfarina figures this car to be the halo model for a range of luxury electric cars from Automobili Pininfarina, announcing “It is more than simply a new car reveal, but a pivotal moment in time for the new automotive environment: the first zero-emissions, Italian luxury car.”
I agree with their ambition and here’s my take on the car.
The Man in White Opinionates: A Design Critique
FRONT Very Ferrari-ish. Only thing that sets is it apart is the lit up tube of light at the bottom edge of the front boot lid.
SIDE Again very much like Ferrari, Bugatti, Lamborghini. You wonder why do they need big side scoops when there’s no engine to cool through radiators?
REAR Very Ferrari-ish, McLarenish, you wonder what’s the scientific advantage of splitting the rear spoiler.
IN SUM Though it presents nothing new in design, overall it has the ambiance of a mid-engined hypercar.
This car could be Ferrari’s worse nightmare if it catches on, and it will be much easier to certify for US importation because of zero emissions. You wonder if some other automakers with existing showrooms will negotiate this car into their showrooms. I think Tesla should look at it. Their latest roadster was promised more than five years ago and is already old before it hits the showroom. But maybe it’s price is where Tesla wouldn’t want to go–back in 2020, Pininfarina was talking $2.5 million for each Battista…
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss, the author of 18 car books, has been a guest lecturer at the Art Center College of Design. As a fine artist he portrays the great Italian classics. For a list of works available write malibucarart@gmail.com
Range? Probably just enough to drive from the transporter to the Sheikh’s car collection.
According to Automobile magazine 280 mile range, of course depending on how fast you drive. And I was wrong about the radiator air intakes, according to Automobile magazine , “it needs five radiators, radiators located around the car to help manage the temperatures of the 120-kWh,T-shaped lithium-manganese-nickel battery pack, as well as the four liquid-cooled Rimac synchronous permanent magnet electric motors.”
So here I thought we were done with radiators with the switchover to electrics but some electric cars need a lot of them..
Just where could you drive these rockets ? Maybe in Germany’s autobahns where there is no speed limit . Five radiators to replace when they reach their use by date , plus the four liquid- cooled motors .