Automobili Pininfarina has curated a unique Battista commission as a fitting tribute to the 1955 Lancia Florida – a vehicle designed and loved by Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina
The Lancia Florida was penned by Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina in the early fifties. It was renowned as a rolling sculpture which inspired new design perspectives. Pinin’s personal Florida, which can be admired as part of the Pininfarina SpA Collection in Cambiano (Torino), was the daily driver of Carrozzeria Pininfarina’s founder throughout his career. The Battista Cinquantacinque hyper GT pays homage to this unique heritage.
Its exterior is finished in a Blu Savoia Gloss paint, contrasted by the Bianco Sestriere Gloss roof and completed by the elegant Brushed Anodised jewellery pack. Inside, it is upholstered in Mahagoni (Poltrona Frau Heritage Leather). The livery and name Cinquantacinque, translating to ’55’ in Italian, honours the iconic, classic 1955 Lancia Florida, styled by Carrozzeria Pininfarina.
The Cinquantacinque model features a number of unique inscriptions that point to its heritage and provenance. The passenger door plate as well as the underside of the active rear wing both feature the ‘Cinquantacinque 55’ signature.
A statement from Automobil Pinnifara said; “The Battista is the most powerful car ever designed and built in Italy.
“It delivers a level of performance that is unachievable today in any road-legal sports car featuring internal combustion engine technology. Faster than a current Formula 1 race car in its 0-100 km/h sub-two second sprint, and with 1,900 hp and 2,340 Nm torque on tap, the Battista will combine extreme engineering and technology in a zero emissions package.
The Battista Cinquantacinque will make its public debut in Tokyo, Japan, when it is introduced to clients in the region, alongside retail partner, SKY GROUP, as part of Automobili Pininfarina’s continued global expansion. Clients in the region will get to see Automobili Pininfarina’s promise of ‘Dream Cars. Made Real.’ first-hand, providing a personalised client experience and ensuring every hand-crafted vehicle to leave the Atelier facility in Cambiano destined for Japan is a unique expression of each client’s personality.
Dave Amantea, Chief Design Officer at Automobili Pininfarina, said: “This was a truly special and unique opportunity to design a car that plays homage to Pininfarina SpA’s heritage. The colour combination of the Battista Cinquantacinque is incredible and shows the vision Battista Farina had when he designed the Lancia Florida back in the early fifties. Not only that, but that very same model helped guide me when creating the PURA Vision design concept, a truly unique vehicle that sets the template for future models from Automobili Pininfarina.”
The Lancia Florida sedan not only inspired the Cinquantacinque Battista, but also some of the key design elements of the PURA Vision design concept, a vehicle which sets the template for all future Automobili Pininfarina models.
The 50s sedan has rear-opening doors and no B pillar, which directly translated to the Lounge Doors on the PURA Vision. They hinge dramatically upwards and, in combination with the pillarless opening and rear-hinged back doors, provide unrestricted access to the design concept’s spacious 2+2 seating.
No more than 150 examples of Battista will be individually hand-crafted at the Pininfarina SpA atelier in Cambiano, Italy. Each vehicle is described as “a unique, hand-crafted masterpiece and a reflection of the client’s personality with inspiration from Automobili Pininfarina’s artisans.”