Automobili Pininfarina has introduced the new B95 at the Monterey Car Week, and it says it’s the world’s first pure-electric, open top hyper Barchetta.
The luxury EV manufacturer, headquartered in Munich, with ties to the historic Italian design firm Pininfarina SpA , said that the B95 is named as such to celebrate the 95th anniversary of its parent house, now owned by Indian multinational giant Mahindra, in 2025 when the models start rolling out.
The B, if you hadn’t guessed, stands for Barchetta, Italian for ‘little boat’ but used to imply an open-top car. Brilliant for jaunts along the Italian coastline; maybe not so practical for the British weather (unless you plan on taking things too literally…).
The car is going to be a rare one though — the Automobili Pininfarina has confirmed there will be only ten models produced, with each one meticulously curated between the design team in Cambiano and individual clients, ensuring “complete exclusivity as no two will be the same”.
It also marks the “most exciting chapter” for the EV manufacturers, with the introduction of the Pininfarina B95 reportedly the “third of three essential building blocks” this summer for the brand.
The company has already introduced the Battista Edizione Nino Farina, which debuted at Goodwood Festival of Speed in July and is an exclusive celebration of Pininfarina’s racing son – also the first Formula 1 World Champion. And then came the PURA Vision design concept, unlocking a new design philosophy for all future models from the brand.
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Paolo Dellachà, Chief Executive Officer, Automobili Pininfarina, said: “Our new Barchetta shows how these design principles can be applied – with a retro-futuristic vision fusing classic motorsport themes with the latest technological innovations, materials and processes.
“B95 delivers the power of Battista and yet creates a new dimension of driving experience, redefining the very joy of driving. It is the first of a new kind, an object of desire that introduces the thrill of exceptional, electrified performance in stunning open-top form.
“Our collaboration with Pininfarina SpA – a design house with decades of experience crafting one-off cars for the world’s most prestigious luxury brands – ensures exceptional quality in execution and we look forward to continuing our close strategic partnership in future.”
Pininfarina, in its years of designing cars at the highest echelons of the automotive industry, has racked up some of the biggest of the big names, including Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Fiat, GM, Lancia, and Maserati.
The design of B95 is exemplified by full-width enveloping bodywork which wraps around into the front fenders. The high swage line gives the outer body a stunning muscular appearance. From within the cabin, it provides a feeling of safety and comfort while connecting occupants with their surroundings.
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Dave Amantea, Chief Design Officer, Automobili Pininfarina, said: “Our PURA design philosophy has purity at its heart, a hallmark of the timeless designs of iconic vehicles from Pininfarina’s past. The Barchetta silhouette is instantly recognisable, but it was our job to make it beautiful. The mixture of classic proportions and exquisite detailing have allowed us to create something truly special. We’re allowing customers to drive a dream with B95 – something that defines the brand moving forward.”
The B95 is powered by the same state-of-the-art powertrain that delivers breath-taking performance in the Battista hyper GT, but with a unique tune for such a unique vehicle. Accelerating from 0-60mph in less than 2 seconds, B95 has a top speed of more than 300km/h.
This hyper Barchetta features a high-capacity 120 kWh lithium-ion battery generating peak power of 1400 kW (1900 PS). The T-shaped battery pack, which is liquid-cooled, is protected within a strong and lightweight carbon fibre housing and can be charged using DC fast chargers up to 270kW – for a 20 to 80 per cent top up in as little as 25 mins. Not Nyobolt EV levels of fast-charging, but still that’s quick.
And there’s even a choice of five driving modes to tailor the driving dynamics, which are activated via a tactile, sporty rotary selector, located next to the steering wheel.
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Andrea Crespi, Chief Technical Officer, Automobili Pininfarina, said: “The Automobili Pininfarina B95 could have been created simply as an all-electric hyper Barchetta, however we wanted to make it so much more than that. We’ve selected the latest technology to make it a vehicle people desire to own, as well as a thrilling place to be.
“The application of technology to create our adjustable aero screens is inspired by two-wheel motor racing – ensuring this is a pioneering road car. This patented new technology enables the pure thrill of open-top driving, yet in comfort even at the high speed that the B95 is capable to reach.”
While the open-top design may plaster a veneer of simplicity, the details into the technical exquisiteness and the sheer impressive machinery under the hood make it a classic racer. The ten people to get their hands will be lucky.
