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Italian Lightning Strikes Twice, 2019 Pininfarina Battista

3 min read

When Pininfarina announced they would build their own car for the first time in their 90-year history, the automotive world held its breath. This wasn’t just another electric hypercar entering an increasingly crowded field; this was the legendary Italian design house putting their reputation on the line with a machine that promised to redefine what luxury performance could be in the electric age.

The Battista represents more than just Pininfarina’s automotive debut. Named after the company’s founder, Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, this hypercar carries the weight of nearly a century of automotive artistry, from the Ferrari 250 GT to the Sergio concept.

Electric Fury Wrapped in Italian Silk

Beneath the Battista’s achingly beautiful carbon fiber bodywork lies the most powerful car ever designed and built in Italy. Four electric motors, one at each wheel, combine to produce an otherworldly 1,900 horsepower and 1,696 lb-ft of torque. These aren’t just impressive numbers on paper; they translate to performance that redefines what’s possible from a road car.

The acceleration is beyond violent. Zero to 62 mph disappears in less than 2 seconds, making it quicker than a Formula 1 car off the line. The quarter-mile passes in under 9 seconds, and if you have the space and courage, the Battista will continue accelerating to its 217 mph top speed with the relentless determination of a guided missile.

But raw speed is only part of the story. The four-motor setup provides torque vectoring capabilities that border on telepathic, allowing the Battista to rotate into corners with precision that defies its 4,850-pound curb weight. The active aerodynamics and adaptive suspension work in harmony to provide both track-focused aggression and grand touring refinement.

Artistry in Motion

What truly sets the Battista apart isn’t just its performance, but how it delivers that performance wrapped in unmistakably Italian style. Every surface has been crafted with the same attention to detail that Pininfarina brought to their greatest coachbuilt masterpieces. The active aerodynamic elements are integrated so seamlessly into the design that they enhance rather than compromise the car’s elegant proportions.

The interior continues this theme of understated luxury. Rather than overwhelming the driver with Tesla-style screens or gaming features, Pininfarina has focused on premium materials, perfect ergonomics, and intuitive controls. The carbon fiber steering wheel, leather-wrapped surfaces, and bespoke switchgear all speak to the car’s handcrafted heritage.

With only 150 examples planned for production worldwide, each Battista is essentially a bespoke creation. Pininfarina’s customization program allows owners to specify everything from unique paint colors mixed specifically for their car to personalized interior treatments that rival the finest luxury goods.

The Future of Automotive Luxury

Driving the Battista feels like piloting a piece of automotive history into the future. The instant torque delivery creates an almost supernatural connection between thought and motion, while the sophisticated chassis dynamics provide feedback and engagement that many electric vehicles sacrifice in pursuit of efficiency.

The 120 kWh battery pack provides approximately 280 miles of range in normal driving, though few owners will likely resist the temptation to explore the car’s performance capabilities regularly. When charging is needed, the 800-volt architecture enables rapid DC charging that can replenish the battery in under 40 minutes.

Electric Vehicles

2019 Pininfarina Battista

Quad Motor AWD Electric Hypercar

MSRP: $2,200,000

0-60 MPH1.9s
Range280mi
Power1900hp
DC Charge270kW

Powertrain

Motors4x Permanent Magnet
Battery120 kWh Lithium-Ion
Architecture800V
Peak Power1900 hp
Peak Torque1696 lb-ft

Transmission

TypeSingle-Speed Direct Drive
DriveAWD
Torque VectoringIndividual Motor Control

Dimensions & Weight

Length183.7 in
Width78.0 in
Height47.6 in
Weight4,850 lbs

Range & Charging

EPA Range280 miles
DC Fast Charging270 kW
10-80% Charge Time25 minutes
Home Charging22 kW AC

Our Ratings

Performance

10

Handling

9

Daily Usability

6

Value

7

Sound

5

Character

10

The Pininfarina Battista succeeds where many electric supercars fail: it doesn’t just deliver shocking performance, it wraps it in genuine soul and artistry. This is what happens when nearly a century of design excellence meets cutting-edge electric technology, creating something that feels both timeless and revolutionary. At $2.2 million, it’s not just a car; it’s a rolling masterpiece that happens to be the most powerful vehicle Italy has ever produced.

3 thoughts on “Italian Lightning Strikes Twice, 2019 Pininfarina Battista”

  1. cool car for sure but tbh im more interested in what the real ownership costs look like on these things – like what’s the battery degradation after 5 years and can you even find a mechanic who knows how to work on it? pininfarina makes beautiful stuff but when youre dropping that kind of money id want way more reliability data than we have on electric hypercars lol, seems risky compared to what your actual resale value would be down the line.

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  2. ngl this thing is an audio installers nightmare but also like dream material – 1900hp means the power distribution setup would be insane to tap into for a proper system. the battista interior looks so clean and minimal tho, which is actually perfect for custom speaker placement without cluttering up that gorgeous design. bet the cabin acoustics are insane with all that carbon fiber and leather, would barely need subwoofer output to fill it. anyone know if these come with their factory system already dialed in or is there headroom for upgrades?

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    • yeah dude the power architecture on these electrics is actually perfect for powering custom amps without the parasitic drain you get on gas cars, but you’re right about finding someone qualified lol. id be way more worried about damaging those fancy battery management systems than anything else tbh, like one wrong wire and you might brick the whole thing. theres gotta be some insane potential for a custom install tho if you know what you’re doing – the electrical infrastructure these cars have built in would make a traditional car builders job look ancient.

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