Pininfarina PFO to outpace Bugatti Chiron

ITALIAN car design and coach-building firm Pininfarina is gearing up to launch its first model in 2020, a luxury electric hypercar currently dubbed PFO that is aiming for a zero to 100km/h acceleration time in less than 2.0 seconds.

 

The ambitious sprint time would make the PFO quicker than the Bugatti Chiron (2.4s), Koenigsegg Agera (2.8s), Porsche 911 Turbo S (2.9s) and Nissan GT-R Nismo (2.7s), but could keep pace with the reborn Tesla Roadster announced late last year that its maker claims will have a 0-60mph (97km/h) time of 1.9s.

 

Pininfarina is yet to reveal details of the powertrain, but expect to have at least two electric motors for each axle for all-wheel grip that takes advantage of the instant torque available off the line, while top speed is expected to be in excess of 400km/h.

 

Pininfarina is also aiming for an emissions-free driving range of over 480km on a single charge, although battery capacity and recharging times are still unknown.

 

Revealed with three design sketches, the PFO looks to be sporting the hunkered-down and sleek aesthetic of cars it has designed in the past including the Ferrari 458 and Maserati GranTurismo.

 

However, the PFO will wear prominent muscular rear haunches, a centrally positioned cabin and aggressive front bodywork to stand out from the hypercar crowd.

 

Automobili Pininfarina design director Luca Borgogno said: “Pininfarina has an unprecedented heritage of delivering cars that are both beautiful to look at and technically innovative.

 

“Creating this combination in the first Pininfarina-branded road car is a dream come true,” he said.

 

“The design of PFO will espouse purity, beauty and innovation. Working closely with Pininfarina SpA we have created three new images that give prospective owners an exciting preview of the design features we will introduce on this incredible hypercar.”

 

Now owned by Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group, which also controls South Korean car-maker SsangYong, Automobili Pininfarina CEO Michael Perschke also revealed plans for former Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld to spearhead the PFO’s dynamic tuning.

 

“We have a specific strategy in place to develop road car technology inspired by motorsport,” he said.

 

“Nick Heidfeld has more experience racing Formula E than any other driver and we are delighted that from next year he will help deliver race-bred, electrifying performance in the PFO.”

 

Meanwhile, Mr Heidfeld said: “The opportunity to join the Automobili Pininfarina family and develop cars that will deliver performance unlike anything before them is fantastic.

 

“I am looking forward to sharing my motorsport knowledge with the new engineering and design team at Automobili Pininfarina, while will support their ambition to create beautiful sports and luxury cars offering electrifying performance on road and circuit,” he said.

 

North America has been singled out as a key market for Pininfarina, while the brand will invite select guests to Monterey Car Week in August to preview the production PFO behind closed doors.

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