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Pininfarina Battista: Electric GT hypercar outsprints F1 machines to claim ultimate Italian sportscar title

■ An aerial view of the Nardo Technical Center and its 7.8-mile circle track

■ By Glynn Williams MBE, Motoring Correspondent

ANATIONnever coy about car performance claims, an Italian company has taken the wraps of what it says will be the most powerful Italian sports- car ever produced – the all-electric new hypercar called the Automobili Pininfarina Battista. How powerful is most powerful? How about combining 1,900 PS and 2,300 Nm of torque. And for practicality, how about over 300 miles range on a charge. When the first cars are deliv- ered to clients next year, Battista will accelerate from 0-62mph in sub two-seconds – faster than a current Formula 1 car. It will also sprint from 0-186mph (0-300kph) in less than 12sec and have a top speed of 217mph (350kph). It has now completed its first high speed and handling tests at the Nardò Technical Center in southern Italy, a unique test complex built and owned by Fiat in 1975 but acquired in 2012 by Porsche who renamed it the Nardò Technical Centrе and

spent €35 million resurfacing and upgrading it. Originally called the Nardò Ring, a lap of the circular proving ground for cars and motorcycles is 7.8 miles, with banking so that drivers do not need to turn the steering wheel. It was there that Automobili Pininfarina reached the landmark moment in the development of its new Battista, as the pure electric hyper GT completed its first high speed test programme. The successful test marks the beginning of the next chapter in the development programme. This will see nine test and vali- dation versions of the pure-elec- tric Battista driven on public roads and in private test facilities to fine-tune, validate and homolo- gate its bespoke chassis settings, advanced torque vectoring system and unique sound experience. The Battista is named after Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, the founder of the Carrozzeria Pininfarina coachbuilding company, which he established in 1930. The pure electric hyper GT is the realisation of Battista’s dream to see a car produced wearing the Pininfarina name and the first

vehicles will be delivered to cus- tomers next year. No more than 150 will be cre- ated, by hand, in Cambiano, Italy, providing a unique combination of legendary design DNA and electri- fied technology. Test driver and vehicle dynam- ics manager Georgios Syropoulos concluded dynamic tests at the world-famous proving ground, including sprints around the circu- lar banking of the 12.6 km Nardò- ring and laps of the twisting 6.2 km handling track. Pininfarina chief product and engineering officer Paolo Dellachà said: “This test is an exciting moment for our clients and the team at Automobili Pininfarina as we complete another phase In the development of the most powerful Italian sports car ever made. “We have undertaken extensive development using advanced sim- ulation technology, and we can now fine-tune the calibration of Battista’s bespoke chassis and pio- neering four-motor torque vector- ing system on road and track.” The Battista’s 120 kWh battery provides power to four electric motors – one at each wheel – for a combined power output of 1,900

PS and maximum torque of 2,300 Nm. Its advanced powertrain is able to intelligently distribute power between all four wheels for opti- mised traction in all conditions and allows customers to tailor the driv- ing experience to suit their per- sonal tastes using five unique driv- ing modes - Calma, Pura, Energica, Furiosa and Carattere. Syropoulos said: “The phenom- enal performance potential of the Battista is clear. Our clients will never have experienced acceler- ation like this before, yet giving them the opportunity to tailor their experience using a range of drive modes means this hypercar offers much more than just speed thrills. “With a zero-emissions range of 500kms and sophisticated all- wheel drive technology, every drive in Battista will be a pleasure.” The prototype Battista testing at the Nardò Technical Centre is not a stripped-out development mule. Beneath its elegant carbon fibre skin, a fully finished interior complete with luxuriously exe- cuted detailing, gave engineers the opportunity to assess every ele- ment of the new hyper GT.

Bespoke chassis settings will ensure the Battista hyper GT deliv- ers a unique dynamic experience that can be tailored to suit every trip. This test phase has allowed Automobili Pininfarina’s engineers to develop and fine-tune a range of technologies to optimise the driving dynamics. These include brake tuning, with Battista the first electric hypercar to feature advanced racing-in- spired Brembo CCMR carbon-ce- ramic brake technology. Work will focus on blending their operation with the high speed aerobrake and energy recuperation system, for optimum performance and driver confidence. Four-motor torque vectoring will be uniquely tuned to suit the bespoke hyper GT characteristics of the Battista, delivering incredi- ble traction and driver confidence in all conditions. Energy-neutral torque vectoring will be optimised to recuperate and shift electrical energy seamlessly for enhanced range and efficiency. After around 1,000 of hours of virtual dynamic testing; dou- ble-wishbone suspension compo- nents, forged aluminium wheels, torsion bars and elasto-kinematics

will be evaluated and fine-tuned, taking maximum advantage of the Battista’s ultra-stiff carbon fibre monocoque to perfect the driving experience. Customers will have a choice of 20-inch forged aluminium front and rear Prezioso wheels and 20-inch front and 21-inch rear forged aluminium Impulso wheels, with a saving of 8.9kg in unsprung mass across all wheels. These will be shod with corre- sponding high performance tyres the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R or Pirelli P Zero. Engineers will optimise the chassis settings to suit each application during the dynamic test phase. Following simulation and wind tunnel testing, the unique exterior design and active aerodynamics of the Battista will be fine-tuned during track testing to ensure the sculpted bodyworks delivers the refinement, aerodynamic stability and performance expected from a luxurious hyper GT. Sound is a key ingredient to occupant appreciation of any ultra high performance car and Pininfarina promises Battista will deliver a unique driving experi- ence in every sense, with dynamic

development enabling techni- cians to evolve in-car and external soundscapes to suit the hyper GT’s DNA in all driving environments. The luxurious hyper GT will com- bine blistering performance with seamless global roaming thanks to a partnership with integrated communications leader, Deutsche Telekom to ensure Battista cus- tomers enjoy online connectivity worldwide without interruption or additional charges. The advanced connectivity sup- ports Over-The-Air technology, capable of remotely updating soft- ware for 26 individual control mod- ules on the Battista, encompassing everything from the pure-electric powertrain to the infotainment. Smart Diagnostics technology will also monitor the hyper GT to spot potential issues before they arise. The suite of customer-friendly digital services offered with every Battista also includes complimen- tary charging in partnership with ChargePoint and the availability of a Pininfarina SpA-designed wallbox in the same colour as the hypercar ■

(pictures: Porsche Engineering Group)

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