At the 2024 Monterey Car Week, Pininfarina has unveiled a true marvel of modern coachbuilding—a one-off reimagining of their iconic Battista, christened the Battista Targamerica. This isn't just another hypercar; it’s a bespoke masterpiece crafted exclusively for a discerning client. And with Pininfarina’s return to its coachbuilding roots, the Targamerica stands as a bold statement of intent.

The Targamerica is more than just a roofless Battista; it's a celebration of open-top motoring. Stripping away the roof transforms this electric powerhouse into an open barchetta, with a custom targa top available for when the weather turns. The name “Targamerica” cleverly blends the targa roof style with the car’s future home in the United States, adding a personal touch to an already unique creation.

Underneath its meticulously crafted bodywork lies the heart of the Battista—a 120 kWh battery feeding four independent electric motors. The result? A staggering 1400 kW (1,874 hp) of power, launching the Targamerica from 0 to 100 km/h in less than two seconds and pushing it to a top speed well over 300 km/h. This is performance at its most extreme, delivered in complete silence.

Pininfarina chose the prestigious Quail event at Monterey to reveal the Targamerica, marking a year since the company declared its commitment to bespoke projects. According to Automobili Pininfarina CEO Paolo Dellachà, the timeline was tight. "This was not only a tough project but also very fast," he explains. "The customer wanted it for the next Quail, giving us just nine months to complete the car. What you see here is not a concept—it’s the finished article, a true one-off."

Removing the roof wasn’t just a cosmetic decision—it required a complete reengineering of the Battista’s architecture. Gone are the traditional two-hinge doors, replaced by a single-hinge design that complements the car’s new form. Thankfully, the inherent stiffness of the Battista’s carbon fibre monocoque meant that even with the roof gone, rigidity remained uncompromised. Dellachà adds that the carbon casing around the battery pack further enhances the car’s structural integrity.

The Targamerica’s design nods to another Pininfarina one-off—the Ferrari Testarossa Spider, created in 1986 for Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli. The horizontal lines on the rear luggage compartment and the striking silver paintwork pay homage to the Testarossa, while blue accents, including aero wings ahead of the rear wheels, add a modern twist.

One of the more eccentric features requested by the client is a cigar holder and humidor, elegantly integrated into an aluminium and glass case between the seats. This luxurious touch is back-lit and changes colour based on the selected driving mode—a fitting blend of style and substance.

Looking ahead, Pininfarina has big plans for more one-of-one projects. The company envisions two distinct paths: low-volume production models, like the 150-unit Battista and the sold-out 10-unit B95, and exclusive, bespoke creations like the Targamerica. "Coachbuilding is part of the brand’s history," Dellachà says. He hints that there could be "one or two, maybe three, one-off projects" on the Battista platform, with more to come as the company develops new platforms.

As for the future, the next chapter of Pininfarina’s story will be shaped by the evolution of the Pura Vision concept, which hints at a new product line. This isn’t just an SUV, Dellachà suggests, but more of a crossover, with the potential to spawn a few select models while still leaving room for those ultra-exclusive one-off creations.

Pininfarina isn’t looking to flood the market; it’s about carefully curated expansion. "We want to increase the number of clients quite massively," Dellachà says, "but when I say massively, that doesn’t mean mass market. I mean some hundreds of cars—no more than that." The Targamerica is a testament to this philosophy, embodying the perfect blend of heritage, innovation, and exclusivity that defines Pininfarina’s vision for the future.