Automobili Pininfarina offers glimpse of PF0 electric hypercar

Automobili Pininfarina has released the first official image of the PF0 electric hypercar concept model following a programme of private viewings in Pebble Beach during the Monterey Car Week in California, August 23-26. The image reveals only the rear of the car, which is cue enough to tell the PF0 has some very unique and interesting design elements. Taking centre stage is a split rear spoiler, with the centre of the car swooping down towards the tail in a smooth, flowing design.

The management team at Automobili Pininfarina now returns to their German and Italian headquarters to plan the PF0 concept model’s European and Middle East private preview events.

Automobili Pininfarina CEO, Michael Perschke and design director, Luca Borgogno arrived in New York in mid-July to begin a six-week US launch programme to present the PF0 and Automobili Pininfarina’s long-term business plans to luxury car retailers and first customers. The US launch activity culminated last weekend in a successful introduction of the PF0 concept model to invited guests in Pebble Beach – vital for the new car brand as the US will be its strongest market given the demand for electric cars, performance cars and, historically, Pininfarina-styled cars.

Luca Borgogno, Head of Design at Automobili Pininfarina, said, "The design of the PF0 is very special, with lots of unique design touches like the split tail that gives the car a special identity."

According to Michael Perschke, CEO, Automobili Pininfarina, "The PF0 will look like it has been designed with just a few strokes of the pen, and what it stands for is purity of design and purity of emissions."

Perschke confirmed that production of the PF0 will be limited to 150 units. “We will make 50 units a year and are aiming for model years 2020, 2021 and 2022,” said Perschke.

Perschke added, “For a new car company, this US launch programme was hugely challenging, exciting and ultimately rewarding. Our guests in Pebble Beach were classic and performance car aficionados and judged that the PF0 design delivered the right balance of beauty and functional performance visuals. They came to see classic Pininfarina and weren’t disappointed.

“Most importantly, we have some great feedback from clients who have owned numerous Pininfarina-styled supercars. We know we are on the right track and we will now return to Europe to deliver on our aim of producing the world’s most beautiful, innovative and rare hypercar.”

Anand Mahindra, executive chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra, which owns Pininfarina, said, "We do believe the PF0 is, in every sense of the term, a halo car. What we want now is both the qualities of purity and design – which Pininfarina represents – to give a halo to everything Mahindra does. Design, of course, not only in the conventional combustion-engined cars, but also in renewable energy."

Automobili Pininfarina has confirmed that the PF0 will have a power output of 1,900hp, which should give it Bugatti Chiron-crushing performance. Pininfarina claims the PF0 will be capable of going from standstill to 100kph in "less than two seconds" and will go on to crack the 400kph barrier. As Autocar India had reported earlier, it will use modular underpinnings co-developed by Croatian electric supercar maker Rimac Automobili. Pininfarina will also utilise the know-how of Mahindra's Formula E racing team to develop the PF0's powertrain.

The PF0, expected to cost $2 million (approximately Rs 14 crore, excluding taxes), will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019, and deliveries are expected to commence by the end of 2019. Unfortunately, the PF0 will not make it to India as it will be manufactured in left-hand-drive form only.