SILENT FLIGHT
Autocar UK|August 09, 2023
Richard Lane explores the madness of Pininfarina's 1876bhp fighter jet on wheels and visits the atelier' behind the world's first electric supercar to market
Richard Lane
SILENT FLIGHT

I turn to Loris. From across an intimate cockpit, immaculately trimmed, the man who started his career as an errand boy for Bob Wallace in Lamborghini's R&D department yet went on to help develop many of the world's groundbreaking supercars, starting with the quad-turbo Bugatti EB110, looks back.

Thing is, Loris Bicocchi wasn't involved in the development of this groundbreaking supercar. How groundbreaking are we talking? Pure-electric, Bugatti Chironeviscerating pace, Apple CarPlay, at least 222mph, homologated worldwide... Serious, then. But only recently has Bicocchi become involved, mainly to help owners get to grips with their new toy. It means that when I ask him what he thinks will happen if I bury the throttle in Furiosa mode, with the traction control tentatively set to Sport (to cut the powertrain some slack), the silver-haired Italian offers only an apologetic smile, then says he's not entirely sure.

Having massaged as much temperature into the 1876bhp Automobili Pininfarina Battista's Michelins as we're ever going to get on an overcast day in the Langhe, south of Turin, it's time to find out. As ever when attempting anything so absurdly far beyond the scope of one's experience, some trepidation is to be expected - nay, welcome. Cars with a quarter of this power can get lairy if you nail it in second gear on roads smoother than the one we're on (incidentally, lined with the hazelnut trees that helped launch the Ferrero dynasty, according to tour guide Bicocchi).

This story is from the August 09, 2023 edition of Autocar UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 09, 2023 edition of Autocar UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM AUTOCAR UKView All
The venomous nature of the Cobra
Autocar UK

The venomous nature of the Cobra

Last week, Matt Prior drove a totally new kind of AC Cobra. This is a car with one of the strongest allures of all - but also an incredibly complex and controversial history.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 23, 2024
SKODA KAMIQ
Autocar UK

SKODA KAMIQ

A long getting-to-know-you trip to Spain reveals all

time-read
2 mins  |
October 23, 2024
THE SEVEN-YEAR TITCH
Autocar UK

THE SEVEN-YEAR TITCH

Outgoing baby Jag is plush, practical and now eminently affordable

time-read
2 mins  |
October 23, 2024
'Our time has come'
Autocar UK

'Our time has come'

Honda may be late to the EV party, but a barrage of bold new battery-powered cars is on the way. JAMES ATTWOOD speaks to boss Toshihiro Mibe at its R&D base to find out what's in store

time-read
8 mins  |
October 23, 2024
Lion kings
Autocar UK

Lion kings

Plush, powerful four-door cars are an endangered species - and now Peugeot has called time on its latest, the 508 PSE. STEPHEN DOBIE compares it with its most significant ancestor, the 505 GTI

time-read
6 mins  |
October 23, 2024
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
Autocar UK

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

Wolfsburg gives the lesser-known Golf PHEV a big-impact refresh

time-read
7 mins  |
October 23, 2024
PORSCHE PANAMERA GTS
Autocar UK

PORSCHE PANAMERA GTS

Stuttgart's latest 'bahnstormer targets driver appeal over outright punch

time-read
2 mins  |
October 23, 2024
MERCEDES-AMG GT 63 PRO
Autocar UK

MERCEDES-AMG GT 63 PRO

Hardcore variant of V8 sports car engineered with track days in mind

time-read
3 mins  |
October 23, 2024
TESLA REVEALS ROBOTAXI
Autocar UK

TESLA REVEALS ROBOTAXI

Firm unveils Cybercab coupé and 20-seat Robovan in autonomy push

time-read
2 mins  |
October 23, 2024
DACIA PLOTS AMBITIOUS EXPANDED EURO LINE-UP
Autocar UK

DACIA PLOTS AMBITIOUS EXPANDED EURO LINE-UP

Firm teases something different’ ahead of impending C-segment reveal

time-read
2 mins  |
October 23, 2024