Automobili Pininfarina Battista Hyper GT snags two more world records during first trip to India
European electric hypercar manufacturer Automobili Pininfarina continues to blaze through the world record books with its Battista Hyper GT. During its first trip to India, the all-electric handcrafted hypercar delivered some firsts for the country while nabbing two more world records for quarter- and half-mile sprints in a production vehicle.
Automobili Pininfarina GmbH is a Munich-based subsidiary of Indian automotive manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra, who purchased the Italian car design firm Pininfarina SpA in 2015. The automaker’s Italian roots come from the original Pininfarina, which was founded in 1930 by Battista “Pinin” Farina.
We’ve been following the Battista Hyper GT (also named after the original founder) since its debut at Monterey Car Week back in 2018, but it wasn’t until 2022 that Automobili Pininfarina truly began making newsworthy progress in EV innovation.
Last summer, the Battista began series production of its 150 planned units in Cambiano, Italy, each requiring 10 weeks to assemble and up to 1,340 hours of handcrafting to achieve each client’s unique vision that includes 128 million possible configurations of different colors and materials, ensuring each $2.5 million Battista is truly one of a kind.
That production run does not include the five ultrarare Anniversario editions already sold – one of which went to a lucky US customer this past October. In November 2022, Automobili Pininfarina took the Battista Hyper GT to the Middle East for the first, demonstrating its 1,900 horsepower and tremendous acceleration on a track in Dubai.
It was there that the automaker confirmed it had achieved a total of seven world records for the Battista:
- 0-60 mph in 1.79s (world record for a production car)
- 0-100 km/h in 1.86s (world record for a production car)
- 0-120 mph in 4.49s (world record for a production car)
- 0-200 km/h in 4.75s (world record for a production car)
- 100-0 km/h in 31 meters stopping distance (world record for an electric production car)
- Range of 300 miles (combined EPA) (world record for an electric hypercar)
Most recently, Automobili Pininfarina took the Battista to India for the first time and secured several additional firsts and a couple more world records to boot.
Battista achieves world records for quarter- and half-mile
According to details shared by Automobili Pininfarina today, it conducted the tests alongside Autocar India at Indore’s Natrax facility, where the team clocked 0-300 km/h (186.4 mph) in 10.5 seconds. VBox data systems were used on site to verify the recorded times for the all-electric Battista Hyper GT, which adds two new world records to its trophy case:
The Hyper GT recorded a quarter-mile sprint in 8.55 seconds and a half-mile sprint in 13.38 seconds, using Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires. Before that, the Battista was equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires for a top speed test that led to 358.03 km/h (222.47 mph) – taking the top spot as the fastest speed recorded in India (previously 332 km/h).
The top speed was achieved by Autocar India editor Hormazd Sorabjee. This was followed by the top speed achieved by his colleague Renuka Kirpalani (seen above), who clocked in at 357.10 km/h, setting a record as the fastest Indian female driver in the world. Both records have already been validated by the federation of motor sports clubs of India (FMSCI), an FIA affiliate. Automobili Pinifarina CEO Paolo Dellachà spoke to the Battista’s latest world records and other milestones in India:
We were very proud to bring Battista to India for the first time. Collaborative events there with our shareholder Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. were delivered at a significant time for Automobili Pininfarina.
These speed records – and independent tests – have validated our ambition to create a new generation of hyper and luxury car leading with Battista, whereby electric power delivers performance that is simply unachievable in the world of ICE powertrains.
For Hormazd and his Autocar India team to showcase what is possible with Battista in their hands is hugely important. We conceived Battista as a Hyper GT – a special blend of beautiful design and attention to detail synonymous with the Pininfarina brand, allied to extreme electrified performance and a level of vehicle dynamics which sets a new benchmark among hypercars. In these tests Battista has shown that record-breaking performance is there to be enjoyed by every driver on road or track.
The 150 bespoke Battista Hyper GTs will continue to be hand built in Italy while its makers continue to tally world records on tracks around the globe.
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The new and improved 2026 Kia EV9 and 2025 EV6 are eligible for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, but one trim is excluded.
Do the Kia EV6 and EV9 qualify for the federal tax credit?
Kia’s first dedicated electric vehicle, the EV6, received some pretty major upgrades for its mid-cycle update this year.
The 2025 EV6 features a bigger battery providing more range (now up to 319 miles), a stylish interior and exterior redesign, and an NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers.
Kia’s first three-row electric SUV, the EV9, also has a native NACS charging port and will be the first model year to offer a high-performance GT trim.
We got a good look at the EV9 GT at the LA Auto Show last year (check it out here). The sporty electric SUV boasts 501 hp, which is quite a bit more than the current GT-Line’s 379 hp. The added power is enough for the big-body SUV to move from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds.
Although Kia America’s vice president of sales, Eric Watson, confirmed the EV6 and EV9 are now in “full-scale production” at its plant in West Point, Georgia, not all trims will qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit.
According to CarsDirect, Kia told dealers that the 2025 EV6 and 2026 EV9 GT trims wouldn’t be eligible for the credit. A spokesperson said the exclusion is because Kia builds the EV6 GT and EV9 GT in South Korea, while all other trims are assembled in Georgia.
If Trump’s 25% tariff on South Korea is still in effect when the GT models launch in the US, it could create a significant price gap between trims.
Despite this, you will likely still be able to take advantage of the credit through leasing. Kia, like many, is passing the $7,500 on through lease cash, which can significantly cut monthly payments.
Kia will reveal more info, including prices, closer to launch. Check back soon. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
With the new models arriving soon, Kia is offering clearance pricing on outgoing models. Monthly leases start as low as $179. You can use our links below to find deals on the Kia EV6 and EV9 near you.
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Donald Trump is expected to sign executive orders today to resuscitate the US coal industry – here’s why this is a complete waste of time.
Once again, using “emergency authority” by citing the growing power needs from data centers, EVs, and AI, the executive orders will allow some old coal-fired power plants scheduled for retirement to stay online.
The orders will also direct federal agencies to identify coal resources on federal lands, lift barriers to coal mining barriers, and prioritize coal leasing on US lands.
An Obama-era moratorium that paused coal leasing on federal lands will officially be acknowledged and federal agencies will be required to scrap policies moving away from US coal production. Trump also wants to boost coal exports and speed up coal technology development.
Electrek’s Take
The coal and mineral industry is happy about this executive order, as well as the EPA recently giving them a free pass to pollute, and the MAGA crowd might think this is great, but no one else thinks this clever.
Trump can try to pretend that coal is “clean,” but it doesn’t change the fact that coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels – its emissions killed 460,000 people between 1999 and 2020. Plus, it’s not even cost-effective – even natural gas is cheaper than coal. And these plants are old – the average age of the plants that are online is 53.
Coal has been in decline for a long time – it peaked in 2007. As I just wrote last month, coal fell to a record low of 15% of total electricity generation in the US in 2024, and wind and solar accounted for 17% of total electricity generation. That’s right – wind and solar successfully provided more power generation in the US than coal last year.
And while electricity demand will indeed skyrocket over the following decades, clean energy is capable of meeting that demand. The Energy Information Administration projects that in 2025, 93% of new power added to the US grid will be from solar, wind, and battery storage.
In an emailed statement, Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council, questioned whether a mandate for Americans to commute by horse and buggy would be next. It’s a fitting sentiment because the fact that I’m even writing a story in 2025 about why trying to revive coal is a bad idea feels ludicrous. Trump seems to forget he’s not William McKinley and this isn’t 1900.
Read more: Renewables to continue driving US power generation growth – EIA
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After a few “technical advances,” BMW is upgrading its EVs with more driving range, features, and options. All BMW i5 models now have more range, while the 2026 iX has an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 364 miles.
BMW iX and i5 EVs gain more range
BMW announced 2025 model year updates coming this spring with a few exciting improvements to look forward to.
The BMW i5 eDrive40 features up to 310 miles of range, up from 295 miles in the outgoing model. Meanwhile, the i5 xDrive40 has a driving range of up to 278 miles, up from 266 miles in the 2025 model year.
BMW said that the improvements are due to “a number of technical advances that reduce energy consumption, and, thus, improve their range.” The new i5 uses a more efficient, more powerful SiC inverter, which also powers the new 2026 iX.
All BMW 5 Series models are available with a new Frozen Portimao Blue metallic paint color. Two new Merino leather interior colors have also been added: Dark Violet/Atlas Grey and Taupe/Atlas Grey.
| BMW i5 model | Driving Range (increase from MY2025) |
| i5 eDrive40 (19-in wheels) | 310 mi (+ 5%) |
| i5 eDrive40 (20-in wheels) | 300 mi (+ 8%) |
| i5 eDrive40 (21-in wheels) | 278 mi (+ 3%) |
| i5 xDrive40 (19-in wheels) | 278 mi (+ 5%) |
| i5 xDrive40 (20-in wheels) | 272 mi (+ 4%) |
| i5 xDrive40 (21-in wheels) | 259 mi (+ 4%) |
Although BMW revealed the 2026 iX earlier this year, the company now says it has an even greater EPA-estimated range than it projected.
The 2026 BMW iX xDrive60 is rated with a range of 364 miles when equipped with 20″ Aero wheels on summer tires, 7% higher than the 340 miles it initially expected. It’s also a drastic improvement from the 309-mile rating for the 2025MY.
Despite the upgrades, BMW’s electric SUV gets a $12,100 price cut thanks to a new entry-level xDrive45 model, which starts at just $75,150.
| Horsepower | Starting Price* | Driving Range | |
| 2026 BMW iX xDrive45 | 402 hp | $75,150 | 312 miles |
| 2026 BMW iX xDrive60 | 536 hp | $88,500 | 364 miles |
| 2026 BMW iX M70 | 650 hp | $115,500 | 303 miles |
BMW fine-tuned the exterior, which now includes new vertical headlights and a revamped Kidney Grille that illuminates.
The 2026 BMW iX is also the first BMW to feature its new Curved Display OS with video streaming, in-car gaming, and more.
Ready to try out BMW’s electric cars for yourself? We can help you get started. Check out our links below to find BMW iX and i5 models near you.
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