Turns out limited-production hypercars aren’t necessarily great moneymakers, even when they cost more than $2 million. Automobili Pininfarina shocked audiences at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show with the Battista, an all-electric hyper-GT with nearly 1,900 hp and 1,700 lb-ft of torque. The car’s incredible design and projected performance figures may justify its price tag, but the brand is still looking at ways to improve its revenue stream by carrying the Battista’s momentum into an expanded product lineup.
“It’s our clear strategic intent is to become a significant player in the hypercar and super-luxury segment,” CEO Michael Perschke said to Automotive News Europe. “We have a very clear intent to not remain a one-hit wonder.” As such, Automobili Pininfarina aims to bring a sedan and SUV to the market in the next few years.
The plan would start by partnering with an established automotive supplier to co-develop an electric vehicle platform. This platform would take a similar approach to Tesla by positioning a flat battery pack low between the wheels, allowing different body styles to be mounted on top of it. The batteries would provide up to 125 kWh, enabling range of about 370 miles, and performance becoming of the brand’s high-end intentions.
Automobili Pininfarina has a long history of design studies to draw upon as bases. Along with showing a more production-ready Battista at this year’s upcoming Monterey Car Week extravaganza, it will meet with potential clients in ultra-exclusive focus groups to discuss designs and features. Feedback from these customers will dictate the order in which the new models are released, and also influence their design. The end products could range in price from about $200,000 to $450,000—a relative bargain compared with the Battista.
As celebrated and impressive vehicles from niche manufacturers like Automobili Pininfarina are, they often work better to generate attention than actual profits. Perschke says the brand will be open to selling or licensing its platform to other manufacturers to help cover development costs. We’ve also heard rumors of marques like Bugatti or Koenigsegg exploring ways to expand their lineups or move down-market to attract more customers. Such products would benefit from the cachet created by the top-end models, but fears of brand dilution have kept ultra-premium automakers cautious.
Source: Automotive News Europe (Subscription required)
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