With its Battista Hyper GT, European electric hypercar manufacturer Automobili Pininfarina is shattering global records. The all-electric handmade hypercar set two more world records for quarter- and half-mile sprints in a production vehicle during its inaugural visit to India. It also accomplished other firsts for the nation.
The Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra acquired the Italian auto design company Pininfarina SpA in 2015, and Automobili Pininfarina GmbH is based in Munich. The original Pininfarina, established in 1930 by Battista Pinin Farina, is where the automaker’s Italian heritage originates.
Adding Two New World Records
Autocar India and Automobili Pininfarina conducted the tests at the Natrax facility in Indore, where the team recorded a time of 10.5 seconds for 0-300 km/h (186.4 mph). The on-site times for the all-electric Battista Hyper GT, which adds two new world records to its trophy, were verified using VBox data systems.
With Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires, the Hyper GT achieved quarter-mile sprint times of 8.55 seconds and half-mile sprint times of 13.38 seconds. Before that, the Battista has fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires for a top speed test that resulted in a speed of 358.03 km/h (222.47 mph), surpassing the previous record of 332 km/h to become the fastest speed ever recorded in India.
Hormazd Sorabjee, the editor of Autocar India, reached the peak speed. The peak speed set by his teammate Renuka Kirpalani (shown above), who set a record as the fastest Indian female driver in the world, came next. She clocked in at 357.10 km/h. The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), an FIA affiliate, has previously certified both records.
Creating New Generation Hyper and Luxury Cars
Speaking on the new records achieved, Paolo Dellachà, Automobili Pinifarina’s CEO said the company is very proud to bring Battista to India for the first time, as well as the collaborative events.
“We were very proud to bring Battista to India for the first time. Collaborative events there with our shareholder Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. were delivered at a significant time for Automobili Pininfarina.”
Commenting on the Hyper GT speed recorded Paolo Dellachà pointed out that the firm is committed to creating a new generation of hyper and luxury cars.
“These speed records – and independent tests – have validated our ambition to create a new generation of the hyper and luxury car leading with Battista, whereby electric power delivers performance that is simply unachievable in the world of ICE powertrains.”
“For Hormazd and his Autocar India team to showcase what is possible with Battista in their hands is hugely important. We conceived Battista as a Hyper GT – a special blend of beautiful design and attention to detail synonymous with the Pininfarina brand, allied to extreme electrified performance and a level of vehicle dynamics which sets a new benchmark among hypercars. In these tests Battista has shown that record-breaking performance is there to be enjoyed by every driver on road or track, he added.”
Automobili Pininfarina’s Records
The Battista started series production of its 150 planned units last summer in Cambiano, Italy. Each $2.5 million Battista requires 10 weeks to assemble and up to 1,340 hours of handcrafting to realize each client’s unique vision, which includes 128 million possible configurations of various colours and materials.
The five extremely rare Anniversario versions that have already been sold are not included in that production run; one was given to a fortunate American buyer in October. Automobili Pininfarina brought the Battista Hyper GT to the Middle East for the first time in November 2022, showcasing its 1,900 horsepower and incredible acceleration on a Dubai track.
It was there that the automaker confirmed it had achieved a total of seven world records for the Battista. Among them are world records for a production car, an electric production car and an electric hypercar. And finally, Automobili Pininfarina took the Battista to India for the first time and secured several additional firsts and a couple more world records to boot.
