The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo (bottom) and the Pininfarina Battista.
I drove the $209,000 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo and the $2.2 million Pininfarina Battista.
Turns out there are some big differences between an electric car that’s merely expensive and one that costs millions.
Both cars are incredibly fast, but the Battista is rarer and more special all around.
For most people, a $200,000 electric sports car might as well cost $2 million. They’re never going to afford it anyway — unless they win the lottery or find the next Bitcoin.The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
Tim Levin/Insider
But there’s actually a big difference between a six-figure electric vehicle and a seven-figure one.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
There are also a few surprising similarities. That’s what I learned after testing the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo ($209,000) and the Pininfarina Battista ($2.2 million and up).The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
Tim Levin/Insider
The Taycan has two motors, all-wheel drive, and can crank out up to 750 horsepower in short bursts. It’ll rocket to 60 mph in a shocking, organ-compressing 2.7 seconds.The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
Tim Levin/Insider
I didn’t think anything could possibly feel faster — until I drove the Battista.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
The new Italian supercar promises an absurd 1,900 horsepower and 1,726 pound-feet of torque.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
Oh, and its top speed is 219 mph. The Taycan’s is 155 mph.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
Both cars handle incredibly well thanks to their precise steering and low center of gravity.The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
Tim Levin/Insider
The Battista has double the motors of the Taycan, with one driving each wheel independently. That means the supercar can make minute adjustments to the torque sent to each corner, helping it around turns.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
Then there’s all-important driving range. The Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo is rated for 222 miles by the EPA.The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
Tim Levin/Insider
Even though Battistas will spend most of their time in a garage and won’t ever see a road trip, Pininfarina gave the car 300 miles of driving range.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
Let’s talk about practicality.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
The Battista is made almost entirely out of carbon fiber, which is super light and rigid but also unforgiving over bumps and cracks. You can hear pebbles bouncing off of the supercar’s floor as you drive.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
It has two seats …The Pininfarina Battista.
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… as opposed to the Taycan’s four (or five, optionally).The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
Tim Levin/Insider
Clearly, the Taycan holds more stuff for any sort of trip. It helps that the Cross Turismo is the station-wagon version, featuring a larger cargo area than the regular sedan.The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
Tim Levin/Insider
Plus it has a small front trunk.The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
Tim Levin/Insider
The Battista does offer a teeny tiny storage area, though, and custom luggage to match.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
On a daily basis, these cars’ capabilities feel kind of similar, despite the $2 million gap in price.The 2022 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S.
Tim Levin/Insider
Still, the Pininfarina is vastly more special and unique across the board.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
It has a gorgeous, exotic design completed by doors that swing upward instead of out to the side.The Pininfarina Battista.
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A speaker system not only pumps futuristic driving sounds into the car, but also broadcasts them outside of it.The Pininfarina Battista.
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At idle, the Battista emits a hum like a spaceship in some science-fiction movie, bringing some extra drama to the supercar’s presence.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
Its body vibrates artificially to the touch, even though there’s no rumbling gas engine deep inside.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
Moreover, only a select few people will ever own a Battista, as the company plans to make 150 of them and move on to its next project.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
Each car will be hand-built to customer specifications over roughly 1,300 hours.The Pininfarina Battista.
Tim Levin/Insider
To sum things up: You buy a Taycan if you want a decent amount of space for people and things plus supercar performance.The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
Tim Levin/Insider
You buy a Battista because you demand the full supercar experience without compromise. And because you can.The Pininfarina Battista.
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