Two weeks ago, I visited Automobili Pininfarina for a pre-release look at their new Battista Anniversario. Limited to 5 cars, this edition celebrates 90 years of design house and coach builder Pininfarina's existence. As you would expect from the designers of the most popular Ferraris of the past 40 years, the looks of the Anniversario do not leave one indifferent. But while its aggressive road presence speaks for itself, the numbers and philosophy behind the car are even more impressive.

Let's have a look at these numbers:

• 100% electric
• 1900 horsepower (!)
• 2300 Nm of torque
• 0 to 100 km/h in under 2 seconds
• 0 to 300 km/h in under 12 seconds - faster than the acceleration of an F-16 fighter jet!
• An electronically-limited top speed of 350 km/h

I have yet to drive it (I am impatiently waiting for the invite to come through) so I can't even fathom what this next level of hyper-performance will feel like. Ex-Formula One driver Nick Heidfield has tested the car and is apparently very impressed. Did I forget to mention the price tag? A cool €2.6 million.

So what's the story behind this hyper-EV? 

As some of you will know, Pininfarina SpA and the rights to the Pininfarina name were acquired in 2015 by Indian automotive giant Mahindra Group (US$15 billion in revenues in 2019). A few years later, it was revealed that the group would start its own EV project with Michael Perschke, former director at Audi India, at its head. They decided to enter the highest segment of the luxury EV market, so choosing the prestigious Pininfarina name from among the brands in their portfolio was a natural choice.

Automobili Pininfarina was born and is headquartered in Munich, Germany, with an office in Turin, Italy, where the HQ of Pininfarina SpA (the original design house) is located as well. It was founded on an eco-conscious philosophy that is not only reflected in the fact that all of their cars will be pure-electric, but also in the decision to use as many ecologically sustainable materials as possible, such as:

• Olive leaf tanned, rather than chemically tanned leather
• A variety of wood veneers
• A host of upcycled materials such as salvaged aluminium scraps

In addition, the team is always working on finding new creative ways to make production as eco-friendly as possible.

The original Battista was presented at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2019. Exactly one year later, this 5-car Anniversario edition was revealed. It features a heritage-inspired livery, aerodynamic improvements, "Anniversario" and "Pininfarina 90" signatures, and the use of Iconica Blu throughout (including a beautiful Iconica Blu tinted carbon fibre).

The Battista Anniversario is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Whether you are looking at it from the inside or from the outside, you get the distinct feeling that you are witnessing the next level of hypercar and of mankind's technical capabilities. The lucky few who will be able to afford the Anniversario will own a piece of history, an important link in the chain of automotive evolution.