Smoking in a car is usually a sure-fire way of knocking a chunk off its used value when it comes time to sell it. We suspect, however, that the owner of the one-of-one Pininfarina Battista Targamerica, which has just been unveiled at Monterey Car Week, won’t have the same issue.
That’s despite it being quite possibly the first car ever – definitely the first of the 21st century – specifically designed for smoking in. Naturally, we’re not talking about a 20 pack of Marlboro Gold here: the Battista Targamerica – a one-off, targa-topped version of the Battista hypercar – has a cigar humidor built into the cockpit between the two seats.
Pininfarina Battista Targamerica – interior
If, like me, you’ve heard rich people on TV mention cigar humidors but you’re not really sure what one is, well, turns out it’s a special box for storing cigars to make sure they don’t go all dry. That’s bad, apparently.
Anyway, the stuff coming out of the cigars will be the only smoke the Battista Targamerica produces, because, like the coupe, it’s fully electric. Using a quartet of Rimac-supplied electric motors, it delivers 1900bhp and 1726lb ft of torque. That’s good for 0-62mph in below two seconds, and a top speed north of 186mph. We sincerely hope its owner – a wealthy collector and existing Battista owner – doesn’t attempt that while lighting a stogie.
Pininfarina Battista Targamerica – overhead
It’s said to be heavily inspired by a previous one-off convertible designed by Pininfarina – the 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spider, which was built especially for distinguished Fiat chairman and fine tailored suit enthusiast Gianni Agnelli.
The Targamerica echoes that car with its silver paint and slatted rear deck – although that opens to reveal a luggage compartment on this car rather than a growling flat-12 engine. The inside, meanwhile, is trimmed in some rather lovely looking tan leather.
Pininfarina Battista Targamerica – rear
Automobili Pininfarina CEO, Paolo Dellachà, said: “This is a seminal moment, delivering our first coach-built one-off vehicle to a client. Battista Targamerica, like no other vehicle before, demonstrates the infinite possibilities our highly skilled team can design and engineer.”
Want one? Well, you’ll have to track down the owner and figure out a way of performing a Freaky Friday-style body swap, because there’s only going to be one. Ever. If you do manage that, though, maybe lay off the cigars – smoking’s bad for you, you know.
