New Models
New Models

Automobili Pininfarina to launch electric hypercar in 2020

Report indicates its platform will be co-developed with Rimac


Under the aegis of parent Mahindra, Pininfarina, the famed automotive design and engineering studio, has confirmed that it will launch its own electric car brand.

Its first car will be a hypercar due to go on sale in 2020.

Mahindra says Automobili Pininfarina will be based in Europe, and will "design, engineer and manufacture high technology, extreme performance, luxury electric vehicles for the most discerning global customers".

The new standalone marque will be headed up by Michael Perschke, formerly the head of Audi India.

"[Automobili Pininfarina] will combine 88 years of iconic design heritage with leading edge electric vehicle competence of the Mahindra Group and Mahindra Formula E racing. It's a powerful combination," Perschke said at Automobili Pininfarina's official launch.


From left to right: Michael Perschke, Anand Mahindra, Paolo Pininfarina, and Pawan Goenka.

A report by Autocar claims Pininfarina's new hypercar will use a modular architecture co-developed with Mahindra's Formula E racing team and Rimac, the Croatian electric supercar manufacturer.

The power output for Automobili Pininfarina's first car is said to at least rival the Bugatti Chiron, which cranks out 1103kW of power and 1600Nm of torque from its quad-turbo W16 engine.


Above: Rimac C_Two.

For reference, Rimac's recently revealed C_Two has an electric motor at each wheel, and a claimed total of 1408kW and 2300Nm.

With its carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, the C_Two is said to be able to race to 100km/h in 1.97 seconds, and hit a top speed of 412km/h. Its 120kWh lithium-ion battery pack is reportedly good for a driving range up to 650 kilometres.


Above: Second-generation Mahindra Formula E race car.

According to the British magazine, Pininfarina also plans to launch three electric SUVs based on the hypercar's underpinnings.

In 2015 Mahindra, the Indian conglomerate, bought just over 70 per cent of Pininfarina for a reported $255 million. In addition to making and selling cars under its own brand, Mahindra also controls SUV specialist Ssangyong.

Prior to its purchase by Mahindra, Pininfarina had suffered almost an entire decade of losses, thanks primarily to its contract manufacturing division.

Chat with us!







Chat with Agent