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NARDO, Italy, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- Ex-Formula 1 and Formula E racer Nick Heidfeld brings his expertise to the

test programme of the Battista pure-electric hyper GT

- Heidfeld joins Vehicle Development team at Nardò Technical Center in Italy

for his debut Battista test, as engineers fine-tune its bespoke dynamics package

- Heidfeld said: "What really surprised me was how natural the Battista feels

on the track. We are creating a hyper GT to be enjoyed at all speeds, yet here

in Nardò the cornering control and speed we achieved were exceptional."

- Track testing enables ongoing refinement and modification of elements

including tailored chassis settings, aerodynamics package, torque vectoring and

five selectable driving modes

- Watch Nick Heidfeld on his debut test of the Battista hyper GT prototype

here: youtube.com/watch?v=jyY95MUhBa4

Legendary racer and Automobili Pininfarina Test and Development Driver Nick

Heidfeld has taken the new Battista hyper GT on track for the first time as

part of the ongoing prototype development at the Nardò Technical Center in

Italy.

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1431630/Automobili_Pininfarina.mp4

Photo -

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1431494/Automobili_Pininfarina_Nick_Heidfeld.jpg

Photo -

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Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1316779/Automobili_Pininfarina_Logo.jpg

Heidfeld has played a key role in the development of Battista from the

inception of the project. In 2019 he joined Automobili Pininfarina designers

and engineers to provide ergonomics feedback on a physical -- rather than

virtual -- prototype for the first time. Soon after, Nick was in the seat of an

advanced dynamic simulator in Italy, with the brief to support dynamic set-up

of the 1,900 PS, all-wheel drive electric hyper GT.

His unparalleled knowledge and more than 25 years of experience in high

performance motorsport continue to support refinement of Battista's bespoke

chassis settings and software calibration, ahead of the hyper GT entering

production in Italy in the summer of 2021.

Nick Heidfeld said: "It has been really special to experience the Battista on

the track for the first time. With the prototype at an advanced stage of

development, we are testing Battista with around 80 per cent of its potential

power, the performance and acceleration is already beyond anything I could

imagine."

"What really surprised me was how natural the Battista feels on the track. We

are creating a hyper GT to be enjoyed at all speeds, yet here in Nardò the

cornering control and speed we achieved were exceptional. Minimal traction

control and torque vectoring are active at this stage of prototype development,

yet there is so much grip to exploit."

"It was my first time driving on the Nardò handling circuit, so I spent some

time looking at films of onboard laps online to familiarise myself with the

layout. I quickly realised they would be of little use, because the

acceleration of Battista is on another level to even the world's fastest road

cars."

"To meet our aim of delivering a hyper GT, a car that can be enjoyed anywhere

and in all conditions, we are developing Battista with two tyre combinations.

The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R is our preferred performance tyre and combined

with lightweight 'Impulso' wheels it provides an outstanding combination of

maximum grip and feel, a perfect fit for a race circuit."

"I have to say, that very honestly, driving the Battista prototype far exceeded

my expectations. It's like nothing I have experienced ever before. I can't wait

to try the Battista away from the track, chasing corners on mountain roads."

The Automobili Pininfarina Battista is the most powerful road-legal car ever

designed and built in Italy. No more than 150 Battistas will be individually

hand-crafted at the Pininfarina SpA atelier in Turin, Italy, with the first

cars set to be delivered to clients later this year.

For more information, visit automobili-pininfarina.com/media-zone

EDITOR'S NOTES

ABOUT AUTOMOBILI PININFARINA

Automobili Pininfarina is based in operational headquarters in Munich, Germany,

with a team of experienced automotive executives from luxury and premium car

brands. Designed, engineered and produced by hand in Italy, the Battista hyper

GT and all future models will be sold and serviced in all major global markets

under the brand name Pininfarina. The new company aims to be the most

sustainable luxury car brand in the world.

The company is a 100 per cent Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd investment and has been

named Automobili Pininfarina following the signing of a trademark licence

agreement between Pininfarina S.p.A. and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Pininfarina

S.p.A. will take an influential role in supporting design and production

capacities based on their unique 90-year experience of producing many of the

world's most iconic cars.

ABOUT NICK HEIDFELD

Starting his motorsport career in 1994 by racing in the German Formula Ford

race series, Nick Heidfeld (43) would go on to race in various competitions

before making his debut in Formula 1 in 2000. After more than 10 years at the

pinnacle of motorsport, he became the first driver to make the move across to

the pinnacle of electrified motorsport, when he entered his first race in

Formula E in 2014. With unrivalled expertise in developing and honing the

characteristics of performance vehicles, Brand Ambassador Nick has been part of

the Automobili Pininfarina Vehicle Development team since the beginning of the

Battista programme and played a key role in simulation testing of the

pure-electric hyper GT.

SOURCE: Automobili Pininfarina