Production of the Battista*, said to be the world’s first pure-electric hyper GT, has begun in a dedicated new Atelier space in Cambiano, Italy, Automobili Pininfarina** said today. Located in the Piemonte region of Italy, this is a milestone in the tale of new Italian luxury carmaker. Battista is now being hand-crafted by a team of artisans in the bespoke 2,300 square-meter facility, with no more than 150 to be built over its lifecycle. Owners of Battista can look forward to “world-class customer service “through 25 experienced luxury partners in the Automobili Pininfarina global retailer network, as well its own team of Client Relations specialists.
During summer of 2021, the Battista Anniversario made its physical world premiere appearance during Monterey Car Week. All five models were sold during the event for the “world’s first pure-electric luxury car company,” as Automobili Pininfarina bills itself. (AutoInformed: Automobili Pininfarina Adds Dealers in North America)
“Since launching Automobili Pininfarina in Rome in 2018, we have developed a team of 118 experts, drawn from 20 nations worldwide. This diverse ‘family’ is now established in both our Munich Headquarters and in our northern Italy home where a growing team of designers, engineers and vehicle development specialists envision ground-breaking vehicles of the future,” said Per Svantesson, Automobili Pininfarina CEO.
The pure-electric Battista hyper GT, the most powerful Italian car ever made, originally was scheduled with the first client deliveries set to commence in first half of 2022. With a total of 128 million interior combinations, and up to 13.9 quintillion exterior combinations the new hyper ~$2.9 million GT has complex levels of customization. Retailers will assist clients as they personalize the Battista to suit individual tastes. No more than 150 will be made during its lifecycle.
The Battista Atelier has 14 production and quality assurance zones. Using newer technologies – such as multiple new, mounting mounting rigs across the Atelier – and more traditional processes and tools, such as pneumatic screwdrivers recommissioned for detailed fittings for Battista, the construction process “respects the facility’s coachbuilding heritage.”
From start to finish, assembly of each Battista takes 10 weeks, while the hand-painted finish of the Battista Anniversario requires an extended 18-week schedule. Each individual Battista is assembled by 10 craftspeople, taking more than 1,250 hours. The bespoke design features and finish of the exclusive Battista Anniversario extends this up to 1,340 hours.
The Battista’s rolling chassis, comprising electric powertrain, T-shaped battery, carbon-fiber monocoque and all electrical systems, enters the first zone for evaluation against Automobili Pininfarina’s quality standards. Its status is recorded here. This is the first of many electronically managed gates Battista must pass through as it makes its way through Cambiano.
The Battista begins to take shape as the primed Body-in-White is then bonded with the monocoque. With its ‘Goccia’ roof enclosing the cabin, the Battista gains structural strength and rigidity. Mounted on another bespoke rig, this two-day process measures and records every dimension and parameter to the finest tolerances in a measurement area that has featured in the successful creation of special vehicles for 20 years in the center of the facility. The body is then dismounted from the chassis in preparation to move to a dedicated paint facility.
The standard paint cycle takes three to four weeks, using a new paint compound with a multi-layer metallic finish, in one of 28 colors inspired by the Piemonte region of Italy, the home of Automobili Pininfarina. Each panel is fitted to another rig to ensure perfect color matching. While the exterior paintwork is perfected, the dashboard and interior elements are fitted.
In the fifth zone, 80% of the vehicle is assembled, taking two days. An ergonomic lift helps the craftsmen and women achieve the tight tolerances required for elements such as the wheel arches and flat underfloor. The complex butterfly doors – sophisticated in design and integral to the vehicle structure – are also fitted at this stage, over two days, using another unique piece of mounting equipment that can support the weight of the doors and tilt in multiple directions to ensure alignment.
The first end-of-line checks are undertaken next, with software and tooling used to check all standards are being met with the vehicle in Plant Mode. It is then switched to Customer Mode to ensure real-life functions work as they should, including charging the battery, infotainment and the unique Automobili Pininfarina SUONO PURO (Pure Sound) signature.
The final physical workstation in the Atelier sees the Battista raised on another lift for 24 hours to complete a thorough wheel and steering alignment. Each vehicle is then checked to confirm water cannot get into the vehicle, regardless of its intensity, before final sign-off and completion of its digital log.
End-of-line quality checks are completed by specialists, which also includes functional tests, a thorough aesthetic evaluation in the light tunnel and on-road testing. This GT testing program is completed on a custom route designed to assess each Battista in a way that replicates how owners will use their vehicles across a varied route of road types and surfaces. Each Battista is verified by the same test driver in exceptional detail, before returning to Cambiano where the protective wrap is removed ahead of a final aesthetic check, to be ready for client deliveries.
*Battista is a girls and boys name in Italian. Battista is “baptizer” associated with John the Baptist. It’s used in countries with a Roman Catholic tradition. Children are frequently given a two-part name, say, Giovanni or Gian Battista.
**The company is a 100% Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd investment and has been named Automobili Pininfarina following the signing of a trademark license agreement between Pininfarina S.p.A. and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Pininfarina S.p.A. is an influential role in supporting design and production capacities based on their unique 90-year experience of producing many of the world’s most, well, iconic or exotic cars.
Automobili Pininfarina: Battista Hyper GT Starts Production
During summer of 2021, the Battista Anniversario made its physical world premiere appearance during Monterey Car Week. All five models were sold during the event for the “world’s first pure-electric luxury car company,” as Automobili Pininfarina bills itself. (AutoInformed: Automobili Pininfarina Adds Dealers in North America)
“Since launching Automobili Pininfarina in Rome in 2018, we have developed a team of 118 experts, drawn from 20 nations worldwide. This diverse ‘family’ is now established in both our Munich Headquarters and in our northern Italy home where a growing team of designers, engineers and vehicle development specialists envision ground-breaking vehicles of the future,” said Per Svantesson, Automobili Pininfarina CEO.
The pure-electric Battista hyper GT, the most powerful Italian car ever made, originally was scheduled with the first client deliveries set to commence in first half of 2022. With a total of 128 million interior combinations, and up to 13.9 quintillion exterior combinations the new hyper ~$2.9 million GT has complex levels of customization. Retailers will assist clients as they personalize the Battista to suit individual tastes. No more than 150 will be made during its lifecycle.
The Battista Atelier has 14 production and quality assurance zones. Using newer technologies – such as multiple new, mounting mounting rigs across the Atelier – and more traditional processes and tools, such as pneumatic screwdrivers recommissioned for detailed fittings for Battista, the construction process “respects the facility’s coachbuilding heritage.”
From start to finish, assembly of each Battista takes 10 weeks, while the hand-painted finish of the Battista Anniversario requires an extended 18-week schedule. Each individual Battista is assembled by 10 craftspeople, taking more than 1,250 hours. The bespoke design features and finish of the exclusive Battista Anniversario extends this up to 1,340 hours.
The Battista’s rolling chassis, comprising electric powertrain, T-shaped battery, carbon-fiber monocoque and all electrical systems, enters the first zone for evaluation against Automobili Pininfarina’s quality standards. Its status is recorded here. This is the first of many electronically managed gates Battista must pass through as it makes its way through Cambiano.
The Battista begins to take shape as the primed Body-in-White is then bonded with the monocoque. With its ‘Goccia’ roof enclosing the cabin, the Battista gains structural strength and rigidity. Mounted on another bespoke rig, this two-day process measures and records every dimension and parameter to the finest tolerances in a measurement area that has featured in the successful creation of special vehicles for 20 years in the center of the facility. The body is then dismounted from the chassis in preparation to move to a dedicated paint facility.
The standard paint cycle takes three to four weeks, using a new paint compound with a multi-layer metallic finish, in one of 28 colors inspired by the Piemonte region of Italy, the home of Automobili Pininfarina. Each panel is fitted to another rig to ensure perfect color matching. While the exterior paintwork is perfected, the dashboard and interior elements are fitted.
In the fifth zone, 80% of the vehicle is assembled, taking two days. An ergonomic lift helps the craftsmen and women achieve the tight tolerances required for elements such as the wheel arches and flat underfloor. The complex butterfly doors – sophisticated in design and integral to the vehicle structure – are also fitted at this stage, over two days, using another unique piece of mounting equipment that can support the weight of the doors and tilt in multiple directions to ensure alignment.
The first end-of-line checks are undertaken next, with software and tooling used to check all standards are being met with the vehicle in Plant Mode. It is then switched to Customer Mode to ensure real-life functions work as they should, including charging the battery, infotainment and the unique Automobili Pininfarina SUONO PURO (Pure Sound) signature.
The final physical workstation in the Atelier sees the Battista raised on another lift for 24 hours to complete a thorough wheel and steering alignment. Each vehicle is then checked to confirm water cannot get into the vehicle, regardless of its intensity, before final sign-off and completion of its digital log.
End-of-line quality checks are completed by specialists, which also includes functional tests, a thorough aesthetic evaluation in the light tunnel and on-road testing. This GT testing program is completed on a custom route designed to assess each Battista in a way that replicates how owners will use their vehicles across a varied route of road types and surfaces. Each Battista is verified by the same test driver in exceptional detail, before returning to Cambiano where the protective wrap is removed ahead of a final aesthetic check, to be ready for client deliveries.
*Battista is a girls and boys name in Italian. Battista is “baptizer” associated with John the Baptist. It’s used in countries with a Roman Catholic tradition. Children are frequently given a two-part name, say, Giovanni or Gian Battista.
**The company is a 100% Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd investment and has been named Automobili Pininfarina following the signing of a trademark license agreement between Pininfarina S.p.A. and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Pininfarina S.p.A. is an influential role in supporting design and production capacities based on their unique 90-year experience of producing many of the world’s most, well, iconic or exotic cars.