A tribute to 95 years of design history
Pininfarina presents a special collaboration with the British fashion designer Magnus Walker: It focuses on the creative connection between Walker and Dave Amantea, Chief Design Officer of Automobili Pininfarina. Together they have designed an exclusive special edition model of the Pininfarina Battista – a unique work of art on four wheels that combines Walker's distinctive style with Amantea's outstanding design expertise. Their first official meeting took place at a vehicle presentation in Monterey, California: Magnus was in the audience while Dave (already a longtime admirer of Magnus) took the stage to present. An amusing coincidence: That evening, Dave happened to be wearing a pair of sneakers designed by Magnus himself. After the presentation, the two got talking, exchanged ideas about shoes and design, and immediately felt a special connection. Their shared passion for authenticity, automotive culture and design ultimately formed the basis for their creative collaboration. “Magnus believes ‘You should build a car you love, not one, others think you should’ and this perfectly aligns with Automobili Pininfarina’s own philosophy. We have unrivalled heritage as an Italian coachbuilder, creating bespoke, handcrafted pieces of automotive art that push at the boundaries of performance and design. Cars are more than just possessions but are living embodiments of their owner’s individuality and passion. Our collaboration with Magnus Walker is an exciting opportunity to show the world what this looks like through the eyes of a design icon”, added Dave Amantea. Pininfarina’s goal with this project is clear: to shape a visionary luxury brand built for the future. The jointly designed Battista is both a tribute to 95 years of design history and a bold statement for the next 100 years of automotive culture under the Pininfarina legacy. The use of the Pininfarina label on the hood for the first time is particularly symbolic. The exclusive vehicle represents a fusion of emotional design, artistic expression, and automotive innovation, far removed from conventional industrial projects and instead defined by personality, passion, and creative freedom.
From skeptic to fan: Magnus Walker and the Battista
Originally, Magnus Walker was rather reserved about electric cars. But his opinion changed when he tested the all-electric Pininfarina Battista on the famous The Crest mountain road in November 2023. With almost 2,000 PS, instant acceleration, and impressive driving stability, he reached his personal record of 142 mph. “That’s when I kind of fell in love”, he said about the unexpectedly emotional driving experience. Shortly afterwards, Walker met Amantea for drinks in L.A., and a life-size design model soon appeared in Walker’s garage. This moment sparked the idea of creating a truly unique vehicle that blends art, design, and electric mobility. “Ever since I was a young boy it has been a dream of mine to design cars, so it was a real honor and pleasure to work with Dave and the team at Automobili Pininfarina to develop this car. It was the perfect blank canvas to express my artistic creativity and personality at this moment in time: I took inspiration from the '70s and '80s to create this color blocking and strobe effect and turn it into something signature, bespoke and unique that I believe will be distinctive and alluring for decades to come”, Magnus Walker explained about the design process.
Color blocking for less than 2 seconds
Magnus Walker was heavily inspired by the motorsport of the 1960s and 1970s when designing the special model – an era that he considers to be the “glory days”. His personal signature was incorporated: striking color blocking, graphic lines, and an organic look that deliberately differs from his well-known “277” designs. Rather than designing digitally, he applied tape directly to the car, capturing his concepts in photos, and sending them to head designer Dave Amantea. The exclusive model combines bespoke luxury with artistic flair. The backrests of the seats in particular stand out with their sculptural layout and are reminiscent of exclusive fashion designs. Lovingly integrated details are hidden throughout the vehicle. Automobili Pininfarina even developed a completely new textile for this car. True to the brand’s philosophy, customers can play an active role in the design process, with personalization options extending even to bespoke requests like an open-top version of the hypercar. The Battista is the most powerful vehicle ever designed and manufactured in Italy and sets new standards among road-legal super sports cars. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under 2 s, outpacing modern Formula 1 cars and setting an unrivaled benchmark in acceleration. It offers 1,900 PS, a 120-kWh battery for four motors (one per wheel), and a range of up to 476 km (WLTP). A total of just 150 units of the Battista will be produced worldwide, meticulously handcrafted at the Pininfarina Atelier in Cambiano, Italy.
