THE BATTISTA'S NATURAL FREQUENCIES DON'T readily resonate with those of the petrolhead. We interpret its rakish Pininfarina-penned lines and understand its speed well enough, but we prefer to converse in the relatable century-old language of cubic capacity, cylinders and horsepower, not kilowatt hours, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide batteries and permanent magnet AC synchronous motors.
No matter. These might be uncomfortable times for dyed-in-the-wool car fans, but if you embrace the fact that the EV supercar's job is in part to create a degree of dissonance, then the existential fear fades. Better, when presented with the opportunity to drive one, you're less concerned with the nomenclature and more engrossed in discovering how this new-age exotica speaks to you and works with the road.
As you'd expect from arguably the greatest of all Italian automotive styling houses, the Battista is an immaculate piece of work. Subtle, yes, but in shunning in-yer-face futurism it achieves a more classical elegance. This might seem at odds with the sledgehammer performance promised by its near-1900bhp Rimac-sourced powertrain, but the paradox between explosive pace and visual grace is something Pininfarina has clearly enjoyed exploring.
Indian ownership, Croatian underpinnings and engineering and manufacturing teams divided between Germany and Italy are a curious mix for any car, but Mahindra's discreet stewardship and the largely hidden nature of Rimac's EV hardware ensure the Battista is a cleanskin onto which Pininfarina has imprinted its own identity. And not just in the way the car looks. The extent to which Automobili Pininfarina's engineering input defines the Battista's dynamics shows admirable commitment and deft skill and brings meaningful authenticity to the project.
This story is from the September 2023 edition of Evo UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2023 edition of Evo UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Tiff Needell
From Morris Travellers to McLarens, via Le Mans and F1, television's original Mr Sideways talks about his behind-the-wheel highlights
Aston Martin DB12 Volante
The drop-top version of Aston Martin's super tourer’ has arrived, complete with the same 6/lbhp V8 and 202mph top speed. But the need for a calmer soul lingers
BEST BUYS
Sam Jenkins
THE ANATOMY OF A PENSKE 123 INDYCAR
For a while in the '90s, IndyCar challenged Formula 1 as the premier form of motorsport; we look under the skin of a Penske PC23 from the series' golden era
TECHNOLOGY OVERLOAD?
Do today's car interfaces ask too much of the driver? And how can they be improved? We get an Airbus pilot's expert opinion
ARCH RIVALS
Audi's RS4 is going out on a high with the Competition version; Alfa Romeo's Giulia Quadrifoglio fights on with a new facelift. The two meet for a shootout
BLUE FUNDAY
The road-going Maserati MC20 was evo Car of the Year 2022, so great things are expected of the GT2 race version. We head for the Autodromo di Modena to find out if it delivers
Vredestein Ultrac Pro
New high performance tyre claims unique blend of grip and ride comfort. We put it to the test
Virtual sanity
Can sophisticated driving simulators replace costly, physical prototypes? We visit the new £4m Horiba MIRA simulator complex to take a digital drive
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
A package of updates for 2024 ensures the Giulia's sister car remains the most super of super-SUVs