Pininfarina

Darcy Foster • Named after company founder Battista Farina, the all-electric Battista is set to launch late in 2020 with a price tag of US$2 million dollars (~$3 million) with 150 units slated for production. Though its body is designed in Italy, the Battista shares its electric powertrain and between 30 and 40 per cent of its components with the Rimac C Two, which calls Croatia home.

The Pininfarina Battista, the first hypercar from the storied design house, has had its front end redesigned before going into production. Pininfarina says it has evolved the "purity and beauty of front surfaces" in response to aerodynamic testing. The automaker claims the revisions provide a "greater visual connection between front and back". The U-shaped element running between the Battista's headlights has been removed, as have the ducts around the headlamps.

VinFast, a new car maker from Vietnam, is hoping to come out in style at the Paris motor show in October. The brand's first crossover and sedan have been designed by Pininfarina, and were actually teased by the design house back in February. VinFast reportedly unveiled 20 concept designs back in October 2017, and asked the public to choose their favourite. After around 62,000 people voted, the most popular sedan and crossover designs were then handed over to Pininfarina for development.

Indian automaker, Mahindra is preparing a new model onslaught in the next three years, with an array of products set to strengthen its lineup in Australia and around the world. The first new product for Mahindra will arrive in the form of a compact SUV to be positioned below the current seven-seat XUV500 and use a platform provided by the Ssangyong Tivoli, set to appear in the next 12 to 18 months.