As Bruce Wayne says, “All men have limits… I ignore mine.”

I resonate with that statement because I’ve learned that, to become the master of our destiny and the leading character of our own lives, we have to find the power within to transcend any limitations that have been placed upon us, either by the outside world or from within the narrow hallways of our mind.

Just like Bruce Wayne, if we want to rise above the challenges of our past and our perceived limitations, so that we can become the valiant victor, instead of the victim, we need to uncover the inner hero lying dormant within us – an empowered legend-in-the-making who’s just waiting to be discovered. Because, you see, we all have greatness lurking within. However, we must be willing to face our deepest fears, explore the trenches of our minds, and discover the depths of our souls to tap into our vast potential.

While Bruce Wayne had the privilege of being a billionaire (which, from the outside, makes his life seem easy), the reality of his story (like many in his position) showed a starkly different side – when a devastating memory imprinted upon him the painful truth that at any moment that which you love the most can be stolen from you.

But, instead of succumbing to the darkness, he discovered the light from within – a beacon of hope that inspired him to become something far greater than just a shell of his past. And with that, he developed a brave new identity, his alter-ego, Batman, a rebellious vigilante who passionately fought for justice.

Because of this moving story, so many real-life heroes have been inspired by this captivating tale, and it’s just the beginning…

From my viewpoint, tales like this aren’t just comics for kids; they’re a catalyzing source of inspiration for all of mankind, regardless of age, background, race, gender, education, or income level. Whenever I talk to anyone who’s following their dream, I’ve learned that they all have one thing in common – the burning desire to experience their version of greatness, despite any of the menacing villains that they’ll encounter along the journey.

The truth is, we have two options in life – either allow circumstances to dictate the stories of our lives or instead, boldly decide to write the narrative ourselves. To create a lasting legacy that transcends the test of time, we have to embody the spirit of greatness by charging forward with drive, determination, and an inherent belief in what we can achieve.

As an imaginative dreamer who has a penchant for superhero stories, when I learned that Automobili Pininfarina was partnering with Warner Brothers Discovery Global Consumer Products and DC to create a rare and bespoke collection of four one-of-a-kind hypercars in celebration of the 85th Anniversary of Batman, I was naturally intrigued and inspired.

Having spoken with wealthy entrepreneurs and executives who’ve collected both supercars and hypercars, I’ve come to realize that many of them not only see these exceptional automobiles as trophies to be won but rather, as majestic symbols that mark the highlights and accomplishments of their tumultuous journeys to reach the pinnacle of success. Therefore, it stands to reason that they’d want to drive a car that bespeaks the very essence of what superheroes are made of – power, speed, agility, and an empowering presence that makes them anything but ordinary.

About The Automobili Pininfarina Barchetta B95 Gotham & Wayne Enterprises Capsule Collection

Because of this, the new Wayne Enterprises Capsule Collection by Automobili Pininfarina promises to deliver exactly that – ultra-fast, all-electric hypercars built for contemporary superheroes. Featuring distinctive details, superior performance, and unparalleled quality, this new collection offers an exhilarating and exclusive experience for discerning customers who resonate with the iconic characters of Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego, Batman.

This exclusive, limited-edition capsule collection, designed for modern-day legends, encompasses four one-of-a-kind vehicles including the B95 Gotham, Battista Gotham, B95 Dark Knight, and Battista Dark Knight.

Each automobile embodies a different side of this multi-faceted character – the Gotham automobiles reflect Bruce Wayne’s debonaire and sophistication, while the Dark Knight versions exude a mysterious masked vigilante persona. All four of these editions generate 1900 HP, powering the car from 0-62mph in under two seconds, making it the most powerful road car ever produced in Italy. So, whether you’re darting away from the paparazzi after a gala event, or dashing after the Joker, the car will equip you to do so with ease.

The B95 Gotham includes distinctive Wayne Enterprises logos on the body, chassis plate, and door plates, in addition to innovative electronically adjustable aero screens to deflect air over the open cabin. The car also includes suave accents including distinctive tan leather upholstery featuring bespoke quilting, as well as a bespoke Wayne Enterprises-inspired HMI display with a virtual assistant voice inspired by Alfred Pennyworth, the Wayne family’s butler. And of course, to remind you that you’re a limitless legend who can do anything you set your mind to, the driver-side door plate includes a laser-engraved emblem with Bruce Wayne’s iconic quote: “All men have limits… I ignore mine.”

Released under WBDGCP’s Wayne Enterprises luxury label, B95 Gotham personifies Bruce Wayne’s passion for innovative and sustainable technology, refined elegance, and sophisticated style. To illustrate Automobili Pininfarina’s ethos of ‘Dream Cars, Made Real’, this exciting collaboration exemplifies the brand’s promise to help turn their customers’ vivid dreams into an engaging and heightened reality.

To further expound upon this sentiment, read on to learn what the CEO Paolo Dellachà and the Chief Design Officer Dave Amantea shared with me during the inspiring interviews we recently had last week at Monterey Car Week in Pebble Beach, California.

Interview with Automobili Pininfarina CEO Paolo Dellachà

CLP: There’s something unique and dynamic when you bring into the mix iconic superheroes because from what I’ve learned in talking to customers who buy these cars is that you’re nearly stepping into an alter ego yourself. You’re not just driving a normal car, and you’re not just a normal person.  There’s something about the perception not only of owning this type of car but, rather, its influence on the idea of who you are. So, that’s why I was especially excited about this.

As the CEO of Automobili Pininfarina, how do you maintain a balance between honoring the brand’s storied legacy and driving innovation to meet the demands of modern luxury car enthusiasts? 

PD: “Well, just to help provide some context. Piniferina, S.p.A. is a design and engineering services company, which was started in 1930. Automobili Pininfarina is a new company, which was launched in 2018. We are not business to business; we are business to client, which was the original dream of the founding of Battista Farina, to design, develop, and produce cars with the Pininfarina brand. So, this is what we are doing, while Pininfarina, S.p.A. is still providing design and engineering services to the other brands.”

PD: “What we have done from the beginning is definitely to get all the lessons learned from the heritage and coalition of Pininfarina. What Battista, himself, his son (Sergio), and then Andrea, and Paolo were geniuses in, I would say, not only creating beautiful cars but also envisioning how beauty could stay for many decades. So, anticipating the design trends, and actually, they used to say an expression which they call the ‘tradition of innovation’.  It is in Pininfarina tradition to always be innovative. We are keeping very strong in our mind that heritage, that tradition, that lesson to think and create the icons of the future with the need for being innovative. So, that’s very important for us.”

CLP: The partnership with Warner Brothers and DC for the Wayne Enterprises Capsule Collection here is unique. What inspired this collaboration and how does it align with Automobili Pininfarina’s broader business strategy?

PD: “The inspiration came from Warner Brothers and DC Comics. Their idea was to create a series of luxury products inspired by Bruce Wayne, as he could have been a real man today. So, a visionary, entrepreneur, innovator. Also, with that kind of elegance, which is really in a way familiar to Pininfarina, an understated elegance. And, basically, at some point in time, Warner wanted to have a car of Bruce Wayne, and they addressed us. We were very happy to respond positively to them and, as I said before to a few people we are looking at the first creation that we are displaying today physically after the digital debut, we imagined developing something in the way that Bruce Wayne would have been the real client. So, thinking of him as a real man, understanding his desire, taste, and needs. And that’s how our designer figured out what the car should look like today in his garage in Gotham City. And of course, now the car, a few people will be able to buy one.”

CLP: Very exciting. Do you think at any point in the future, if they ever do another Batman movie they’ll feature the car?

PD: “Well, that is up to them. Let’s see. It’s a long process. Like creating a car, creating a new movie is a long process that takes years from the first idea to the realization. If they want to ask for our help, we will be happy to support that.”

CLP: The hypercar market is becoming very competitive. What are some of the key challenges you face in maintaining a position as a leader in the sector and how do you overcome them?

PD: “Well, this is a tough question. I think we need to honor our story and our tradition, which is the tradition of the brand. Innovative and always envisioning something that will have to stay for long. When I say something that will have to stay for long, I specifically mean that when we are developing any new creation for one of our customers, is meant to be something that should be extremely durable to become a collectible.

So, when we are creating a Battista for one of our clients because each Battista is unique, given the level of bespoke customization that we can provide to our customer that goes from CMF, color, and material, to the level of complete one-offs, like the one that we are, showcasing today as a work premiere. We like to think of something that will have to stay beautiful into the next decade, and of course, be drivable. That is what will preserve the residual value for the client. This is extremely important. And, in this sense, we are a little bit different from the others.”

CLP: Well, I think you’re right though, in staying true to your brand and who you are because I think some companies have veered off course. You‘ve mentioned understated elegance is part of what your culture is all about in the company and the brand itself. So I think it’s really important to know who you are and kind of stay true to that. I also think that those are the brands that have the longest legacy because they fundamentally know who they are, they’re distinctive, and there’s a strength behind them.

PD: “If I can say, although I’ve been an engineer in development in this company up until 1.5 years ago, I have no problem saying that we are not a technology-driven company. We are a design-driven company. Pininfarina is all about design. Technology for us is more a way to allow the design that our designers envision to help them, while also allowing the dream of our customer to have them, specifically when we create something unique for him, which is quite a lot well summarized in our brand promise, ‘dream cars, made real’. So, that is what it’s all about.”

CLP: How do you foster a culture of innovation within the company and what motivates your team to consistently push boundaries to automotive design? 

PD: “We are a small team, which helps a lot. We all know each other. I have a relationship with everybody on the team, and they have a relationship with me. We are very open, especially in saying what could be done better or differently. And this is a key point for us. We can never relax on the idea that we have done the best. We can always do better. And this is part of our culture. So our designers always say ‘good enough is not enough’. It’s a lot about adding the honor and the luck of having a group of talented people, who have increased their skill set and their expertise in many other OEMs before joining the Automobili Pininfarina. So they are coming with a lot of things that they can bring to this group.”

CLP: Unlike most traditional auto executives, you have an impressive background in engineering as well, which puts you in the driver’s seat of the company in a powerful way.  How has the company evolved under your leadership, and how has your background played an integral role in steering the company to success?

PD: “Good question. Well, yes, I’ve always been in product development. I tried to do it my way, with a lot of fantasy and a lot of creativity. And especially since I had the honor to join Automobili Pininfarina, a little bit changed my mind. I used to be very tech-led at some point in time. Here, I understand immediately that design is so essential. So it’s about really listening and embracing the vision of our designer and trying to make it happen. So that’s what I was doing as an engineer. And now as Chief Executive Officer of the company, I’m even trying to bring that further.”

CLP: Have there been any components of the cars that you have lent your expertise to on the engineering side? 

PD: “My engineering expertise and also my passion. Yeah. So, for example, on the B95, which is the first hyper-electric Barchetta, there is no roof and no windscreen. Through some of my passions that I have, which are not only cars, but it’s also motorcycles, I had the idea to create this electric adjustable small windscreen, specifically for the driver and passenger, to provide some aerodynamic comfort because the car is extremely fast. Yeah. So you will you would like to drive at some point also without an end if possible.”

CLP: Well, I think that makes you a unique asset to the company too. I think to be nimble and to advance quickly when you have a lot of competition, you have to be able to tap into different talents and skill sets, and you can’t just do one thing well on that level.

CLP: The B95 Gotham and the other Wayne-inspired vehicles draw from the character of Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, Batman. How do you think these distinct personas’ values resonate with Automobili Pininfarina’s ethos and its target customers?

PD: “We are creating something even more rare out of this project. We are bringing to the excess the idea of customization. In this sense, as I was saying, we imagine that our client is Bruce Wayne and then we will figure out if there are people out there which thinks that they should own this vehicle and drive it, but I’m sure some will be because we have already got a lot of interest out of this co-branding with Warner Brothers Discovery and DC Comics. It’s very exciting. I’m also a Batman fan and a deep reader of comic books since I was young, so it was even more exciting and fun to create this.”

CLP: Well, I’m big into superheroes as well, which is my final question. To create things in life we often have to tap into our innate superpowers. That said, which superhero, whether it’s Batman or any other, do you personally feel reflects your core values, characteristics, and traits that make you an exemplary leader?

PD: “I would say it’s not by coincidence that, however, Batman is the DC superhero that has inspired me the most, since I was a child, and the reason is because he was human. He has his own fragility, and he has tried to overcome that. He does not have any superpowers besides his ability.”

CLP: He came from a vulnerable story and a passion to do right from wrong. 

PD: “And then he has also this light and a dark side, which are also something that coexists in every human.”

CLP: Well, that’s wonderful. I relate to Wonder Woman, but of course, I like all superheroes. So, this is great. Thank you.

Interview with Automobili Pininfarina Chief Design Officer Dave Amantea

CLP: I think the concept of superheroes plays into the hypercar lifestyle. The more that I interview people who are buying hypercars, the more that I realize there’s a commonality between them. Many of these people have undergone great challenges in life. Even self-made entrepreneurs who’ve been massively successful have had to overcome hardships. Much like the story of Batman, he had to discover who he was and had to forge his way in determining his greater destiny. So, I think there’s a correlation between how people feel about being able to buy a hypercar. Because, once you arrive at that point, it’s often incredibly symbolic in regards to one’s inner narrative and in the context of their own story.

The Wayne Enterprises capsule collection created to celebrate Batman’s 85th anniversary this year, merges luxury innovation with an iconic cultural figure. How did Bruce Wayne and Batman’s legacy influence the design elements across the elements across the 4 models since each persona is different?

DA: “Here’s a little secret behind the Battista and B95 in general. This will be surprising the most. Back in 2018, when we were designing the Battista, in our mood board at our office, with my team, we put, at that time, Christian Bale and The Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan as the reference of inspiration for our perfect Automobili Pininfarina user customer, because he reflects exactly what you were saying. 

But this is the story that says that you know, Automobili Pininfarina represents the next 100 years of the history of this amazing family company. And we were saying that we have to take inspiration from Batman. If you see the car, it’s visible that it is designed to have this kind of emotion. So, we were amazed when Warner Bros and DC Comics spotted our car and they had this instant feeling that it was a perfect match. And then we said – yes because we used those images and the movie and the comics to design the car from the beginning. So it was a natural continuation of this design process to say, like, now let’s refine the car and get closer to those personalities.”

DA: “What we do the best in Automobili Pininfarina is that we don’t design just cars, but we design emotion. Emotion means allowing the customer to reflect his personality through a piece of art like a Pininfarina car. That’s why we invite the customer to stay with us in Italy, have lunch, drink wine, and a lot of food. I need to know them well, and then I start to understand what is their point of interest and so on. Then we shape a car that reflects their personality or story. For example, my father owns a Ferrari Dino designed by Pininfarina, you know, and then he has a specific color. I want to make a connection, then this is there is everything, much like a story. In this way, the customer immediately memorizes every single detail that you see here. You can change everything and you can customize everything on the car.”

DA: “When it comes to Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego Batman, it was easy because every one of us reflects on the inspiration of the life of Bruce Wayne. In our brainstorming sessions, I say – imagine that when Bruce Wayne was small, he was traveling all around the world with his family. You know, he’s passing through Italy, and they spot this amazing beautiful car. And then when he was a kid, he asked the father what it was, and learned that it was a Pininfarina. This was my way of brainstorming to drive the team into the mood, and this created a perfect story. All the designers say, now let’s picture Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego Batman, and then let’s create the piece of art that reflects exactly that. Our customers, they’re gonna have access, you know, to the incredible story of buying an Automobili Pininfarina.”

CLP:  Well, I like how you brought up this storytelling aspect too because I think that’s a very interesting way of leadership these days is using that to inspire and ignite people to do their best work. As you mentioned, the emotional component is really important, not only for the customer’s sake by a feeling of connection to the brand and the car themselves but also for your team.

So what is your background relative to being a storyteller? Do you watch films? Do you read a lot of books? I can tell your mind is more expansive, because if you’re able to generate that story and get people’s wheels spinning, what is your muse?

DA: “First of all, for me, this is not a job. This is my dream job. I was born and raised in Turin; this is my hometown where Pininfarina has its headquarters. Everything that has been built by the Pininfarina family also helped poor people. I mean, I come from a humble family. Having the opportunity to have a 10-minute drive from my hometown, the most beautiful school, high school, that was shaping the best mechanical expert, thanks to the founding of the family, for me was luck.”

CLP: It seems like it was your destiny.

DA: “Yes. I’ve been to the Academy of Pininfarina, and my father and mother never told me to shut down my dream because for my heritage it was impossible. I said I have to work my ass off to get that, and thanks to the Pininfarina family, they allowed me to have the best scholarship path. 

When I was 8 years old, my father was bringing me to the most famous Piazza Vittorio, the place where Sunday collectors bring their cars to let the kids dream. And I remember it was a Ferrari Testarossa. I was only 8 here, and the owner saw my face and was like, that’s the Testarossa. He said, ‘Do you want to get in and turn the car on?’ And since that moment, I fell in love with car design. I got out and noticed that on the side, Pininfarina was written. My Dad told me, ‘It’s a Ferrari, but this coach was built by Pininfarina. It’s designed by Pininfarina.’ From that moment, I knew what I wanted to do in my life.”

DA: “Later on in high school, I went and was accepted to go to this public school, the Pininfarina Institute near my hometown. And then naturally, I almost became an engineer because, at that time, my parents didn’t know what a designer meant as a career. Then one professor, while in a boring mechanic lesson, even though I was listening while sketching, stopped the lesson and told me to lay down the paper. He said ‘Why you are not listening to me?’ I said, no, I’m listening to you but I love to move my hands and sketch. And then he replied, ‘Why you are here?’. I told him I wanted to become an engineer for the same cars. He said, ‘No, you have to go to a design school.'”

DA: “I discovered that the school was very expensive. My father says, ‘Food, to sleep, there is no problem, but, I cannot help you to play in this private school.’ So I found a job and was working on the 1st shift for 3 years from 5 AM to 2 PM. Would then go back home, shower, sketch until 6 PM, go to school, and have the lesson with the best designer from Pininfarina and FCA from Maserati. This was a true inspiration, and to come back to it nowadays was my best part. I always love to transmit the passion that I have and to convey the message to the overall team. They have to know what is the mission. They have to know the source of passion and motivation.”

DA: “My best skill is to envision everything. The technical drawing is really important to fix proportions, and then we determine the details that make it luxurious or sporty, this is what we call the PURA philosophy. So it’s the art of balancing design ingredients. Because of my past, I tell the team, ‘You don’t know how lucky you are to be here in this moment. So, be proud and do your best.”

CLP: Your role as a chief design officer places you at the helm of the brand’s creative vision. How does a project like this special collection reflect your design philosophy?

DA: “When you have the perfect envisioning of a car that can say at first look – ‘Oh, this is the Bruce Wayne car. Or, this is the Batman car.’ This means that you get straight to the heart of the customer. This is also our mission. This goes back to the briefing to my team. We put the customer every time at the center of our core. So, we think about what he likes, and what he perceives, and honestly speaking, even if we are designing cars all day, who is the real connoisseur? The owner owns 300 cars in his garage. So we have to talk with him and ask him what is the projection, and then we have to make it happen, you know, to transform it on top of the car.”

DA: “Of course, if you are talking about, for example, Bruce Wayne, Dark Knight, or Gotham. So it’s visible that from one side, we have Gotham, which is a true inspiration for the daily life, and lifestyle of Bruce Wayne. You know, he’s the professional entrepreneur who loves technical innovation, a sustainable approach, and an impeccable, classic feeling but is also modern. He also expressed those things with confidence.

It’s the dramatic presence that the car gives. Also, when he gets out, it has a kind of aura. Then you recognize, oh, this is Bruce Wayne. We want to convey and gift the customer to have the same glow by owning the car. This is what is the perception that we are working on. Everything has been generated to give the touch and feel of the lifestyle of Bruce Wayne or Batman. The good thing is that a first look, you perceive that, but then when you get into the car, you spot on all the design changes.

All these kinds of things come from analyzing the character and lifestyle of Bruce Wayne and Batman.”

CLP: One final question – which of these iconic characters (Bruce Wayne or Batman) do you personally resonate with, and why?

DA: “I’d like to say, Batman. But, honestly speaking, if I have to see myself from the outside, I’m more similar to Bruce Wayne. Maybe in real life, I didn’t come from that level of money. But on the other side, I didn’t have the negative of not having the love of my family. So I’m rich from the soul. But, when you have a big dream like becoming a designer, you have a lot of obstacles in front of you.”

As evidenced by the passion and personal connection that the Automobili Pininfarina executives and the team have with the inspiring and motivating story of Batman’s rise to glory, it’s no surprise that every aspect of these phenomenal vehicles exudes the very essence of this powerful figure. To learn more about this incredible collection, visit Automobili Pininfarina’s website.

If you enjoy learning about the tales of Monterey Car Week, be sure to follow along on MSN and Instagram, as I’ll be sharing a rolling series of car week stories featuring in-depth interviews with industry leaders, C-level executives, and head designers from notable brands over the next few weeks.

Until then… while the bat’s away, the cat(woman) will play.

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[Photography assistance by Brooke Damnavits]