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30 April 2019

Coachbuilding: A sustainable future found

By Vivek ShahVivek Shah
Pininfarina has decided to launch a car under its own brand with the new Battista hypercar.

The previous article discussed how three storied manufacturers, namely Rolls-Royce, Bugatti and Ferrari, have resurrected coachbuilding through one-off models such as the Sweptail.

The success of these models lay in both demonstrating the technical and design capabilities of the brand, as well as increasing their profile in the eyes of the media and general public. Together with ever-increasing consumer spending on luxury goods and the design flexibilities offered by electric vehicles, this has created an ideal environment for coachbuilding to find a sustainable niche.   

Perhaps this is best evidenced with the rise of new, standalone coachbuilders, as well as the return of traditional coachbuilders from contracted design studios to again building their own vehicle bodies.

Rezvani 

One example of the rise of new coachbuilding companies is Rezvani. Rezvani is an American coachbuilder who appear to specialise in creating vehicles perfect for the zombie apocalypse, with models such as the Tank X and Tank X: Military.

Based on a Jeep Wrangler chassis, Rezvani adds engines from the Dodge Challenger Hellcat with specialist off-roading wheels and suspension. The Tank X: Military ups the ante by adding bulletproof windows, a smokescreen and ballistic armour.

  • The Tank X uses a Jeep Wrangler chassis, and the engine from the Dodge Challenger Hellcat. The Tank X uses a Jeep Wrangler chassis, and the engine from the Dodge Challenger Hellcat.
  • The Tank X can be had in military spec, which adds bulletproof windows, a smokescreen and ballistic armour. The Tank X can be had in military spec, which adds bulletproof windows, a smokescreen and ballistic armour.

Styling wise, there’s little regard to elegant proportions or any sense of visual cohesion with the Tank X. However, given its target customer, perhaps a design that looks like it came straight from a dystopian Bladerunner set works well.

Pininfarina

Currently owned by the Indian conglomerate Mahindra, Pininfarina is a renowned Italian coachbuilder and design firm. Its design and manufacturing portfolio includes the 1937 Lancia Aprilia – one of the first vehicles designed using a wind tunnel, and modern classics such as the 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia.

  • The 458 Italia was introduced in 2011, replacing the F430. The 458 Italia was introduced in 2011, replacing the F430.
  • The Lancia Aprilia was one of the first vehicles designed using a wind tunnel. The Lancia Aprilia was one of the first vehicles designed using a wind tunnel.

With rapid technical innovation around EVs, Pininfarina has decided to launch a car under its own brand with the new Battista hypercar. Based on an electric powertrain by Croatian firm Rimac, the Battista marks a return to form as a halo car and technical showcase for the brand, with acceleration from 0-100 km/h under two seconds.

The Battista is a hypercar with an electric powertrain from Rimac. The Battista is a hypercar with an electric powertrain from Rimac.

The resurgence of marques such as Pininfarina and Rezvani, together with one-off vehicles produced by the likes of Bugatti, demonstrate that the future of coachbuilding depends largely on the prevailing economic climate. Coach-built cars, like all luxury goods, are fundamentally wants, rather than needs. Whilst the technical capability to build what a customer wants is largely not a problem (as seen in the differing, but equally extreme vehicles described above), the underlying business case will be. Nevertheless, assuming there is no GFC style crisis on the horizon, it’s fair to say that coachbuilding today has found a noticeable niche.

Check out our other coachbuilding stories:

Will there always be room for coachbuilding in the automotive industry? Let us know in the comments.