The Battista Cinquantacinque: Electrifying Tribute to Lancia's Iconic 1955 Concept
Pininfarina, an emblem of automotive design prowess, has taken the wraps off a distinctive iteration of the Battista electric hypercar, crowned the Cinquantacinque. This one-of-a-kind model doesn't just push the boundaries of electric performance; it serves as a heartfelt homage to the venerable 1955 Lancia Florida concept. The name Cinquantacinque, translating to 'fifty-five' in Italian, commemorates the year the iconic concept was unveiled, thus marrying past brilliance with future innovation.
In the 1950s, the automotive landscape was revolutionized by the Lancia Florida concept, a creation that left a lasting imprint on design philosophies. Crafted with an unyielding passion by Pininfarina's founder, Battista Farina, this icon wasn't just a showcase piece but a personal treasure, serving as Farina's daily driver. Today, the Cinquantacinque pays tribute to Farina's masterpiece, adopting the distinctive Blu Savoia Gloss body and Bianco Sestriere Gloss roof that adorned the original show car, a testament to Farina's visionary design ethos.
Echoing a Legacy Through Electric Power
The Battista hypercar, at its core, is a marvel of electric engineering, leveraging a bespoke EV platform developed in collaboration with Rimac. It boasts a formidable T-shaped 120 kWh battery pack, powering four independent electric motors that cumulatively unleash a jaw-dropping 1,874 horsepower. This electrifying powertrain propels the Battista from 0 to 60 mph in a breath-taking sub-two seconds, promising top speeds exceeding 186 mph. Yet, the Cinquantacinque iteration makes no compromises on mechanics, retaining this heart-stopping performance while embracing a design narrative steeped in history.
Leveraging a name that denotes the year of the Lancia concept's debut, the Cinquantacinque features subtle yet striking design cues, including a 'Cinquantacinque 55' script elegantly positioned on the passenger door sill and the underside of the rear wing. These details aren't just aesthetic embellishments but narrative threads that weave through time, connecting the modern electric titan to its historic inspiration.
A Debut and a Testament to Design Evolution
The unveiling of the Cinquantacinque is set against the backdrop of a burgeoning collaboration with Sky Group in Tokyo, marking not just a milestone for Pininfarina but a celebration of design evolution and electric innovation. While details remain shrouded on whether this electrifying homage has been claimed by an aficionado, the Cinquantacinque’s debut is highly anticipated.
Amid the advent of electric mobility, Pininfarina’s design philosophy continues to evolve. Dave Amantea, Pininfarina's design chief, drew inspiration from the 1955 Florida concept while crafting the ‘Pura Vision’, an electric SUV concept that ostensibly sets the direction for Pininfarina’s electric future, spanning sedans, coupes, convertibles, and SUVs. It's clear that the Battista Cinquantacinque is not just a hypercar but a beacon of design legacy and electric prowess, heralding a new era for Pininfarina and the automotive world at large.