Automobili Pininfarina made headlines back in 2019 with the unveiling of the Battista, the first Pininfarina-branded car, and one of the most exciting electric hypercars around. Though we’re only barely into its lifespan, Automobili Pininfarina has made a handful of special editions of it, and recently, there’s a new addition to the family – the Battista Targamerica. This is significant, as it’s technically the world’s first-ever coach-built electric hypercar, and it also makes this the first one-off model that Automobili Pininfarina has delivered to a client. Being electric, it’s not really something that tickles my pickles, but it’s no less impressive to see what it’s capable of.
It’s worth starting with the name, ‘Targamerica’, which is fitting given its open-top body style, and that it has since been shipped to its new home, the good-old US-of-A. Speaking of, it made its world debut at The Quail, the prestigious and superbly posh gathering for pretty expensive cars, which is a fitting backdrop for it, I’m sure. With that in mind, the Battista Targamerica is rather similar to the ‘regular’ Battista. Underneath, you get a potent quad-motor powertrain, good for a mind-blowing 1,900 hp and an eye-watering 2,340Nm. It has a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration of less than two seconds, and a top speed of more than 300km/h.
A Futuristic Tribute To Pininfarina’s Past
However, aside from its beating heart, the Battista Targamerica has plenty of unique touches that you can only get if you’re a distinguished client. The most noteworthy for me is the really striking Argento Liquido Gloss paint finish, further accented by Iconica Blu Gloss details along the bodywork and aero bits. It’s a lovely combination, and for those who don’t speak Italian, it pays tribute to the legendary 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spider, another one-off car designed by Pininfarina. To showcase the sheer craftsmanship that Automobili Pininfarina is all about, the rear underwing features Iconica Blu pinstripes that were hand-painted by an artisan.
Given the bottomless budget for a one-off car like the Battista Targamerica, it also comes with a set of one-off, ceramic-polished five-spoke alloys, in addition to some bespoke door plates. If you look closely, you might also notice the brushed and anodized jewellery pack, adding more sheen and special-ness to an already distinct car. Of course, the highlight of this new Battista Targamerica, which gave it its name, is the open-top experience. Automobili Pininfarina gave the Battista a redesigned body to accommodate the roofless design, featuring a lot of carbon fibre. This ought to offer ample structural integrity, in keeping with its hypercar roots.
Meticulous Attention To Detail, Inside & Out
What Automobili Pininfarina was able to do showcase is their engineering prowess, and I find it mightily impressive that they’re able to pair it with old-school craftsmanship. The new Battista Targamerica was hand-built by their ateliers in Cambiano, Italy, which took them a whole year from conception to delivery. It was a pretty painstaking process, with the car moving between more than 100 skilled artisans, embodying the dying art of Italian coach-building, one which I hope we could see more of in the future. Having said this, I’d be remiss to not also mention the Battista Targamerica’s bespoke, one-off interior, which looks equally fetching!
Obviously, it’d be hard to move past all that supple, Italian tan leather, with contrasting black leather on the steering wheel and dashboard. And, since it was made in collaboration with its very lucky client, a few personalised touches were included. Namely, it features a custom-built cigar holder and humidor, made from aluminium and glass, and it’s neatly tucked between the two seats. It’s even back-lit, and it’ll illuminate based on the different drive modes. Plus, just in case the owner of this very special car wants to go grand-touring, it even comes with bespoke luggage, finished in that same tan leather we saw earlier, and a silhouette of the actual car.
