June 8th 2022
Picasso Automotive, a new carmaker from Switzerland has introduced its first production car. The company pledged to reveal its first model in June 2022 and they kept their promise, which shows their commitment. First codenamed PS-01 and revealed in January 2021, Picasso has named it the 660 LMS and showcased it at the Top Marques Monaco. Interested customers can order it now.
Exterior
The production version we can see in the picture above is outlined and created from scratch by the Swiss automaker at its facility in San Vittore. The focus was to create a fast and light vehicle and it was achieved through extensive use of carbon fibre and aluminium. The monocque is totally created with carbon fibre elements. The engineers worked tirelessly and created the longest carbon fibre panel for any car in the world. It is due to these efforts, that the new Picasso supercar tips the scale at only 2,160 pounds (980 kilograms).
Interior
Picasso emphasises maximum interior comfort for daily street commutes as well as for the tracks. For the latter, the engineers added various race car inspired elements like the six-point seatbelts, rotary selector for the adaptable ABS system and traction control modes, and custom-built carbon fibre steering wheel covered in Alcantara.
Powertrain
The new Picasso 660 LMS supercar uses a stout 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine created by Autotecnica Motori. It is an Italian firm that manufacturers powerplants for cars participating in races. The twin-turbo V6 is made specifically on demand according to Picasso’s requirements. For the LMS, it produces 660 horsepower (485 kilowatts) and 541 pound-feet (720 Newton-meters) of torque.
The track-focused mill is fitted first time on a road-legal car, so drivers looking to hit tracks in the 660 LMS won’t find any trouble. The engine sends power to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox by Sadev.
Performance
For optimal track performance, the automaker put the supercar under extensive testing. The car spent countless hours in CFD simulations and in the wind tunnel. The engineers added an advanced aerodynamic package encompassing a big front splitter, rear physically run wing, flat floor, and a huge diffuser, creating 2,116 lbs (960 kg) of top downforce at 196 miles per hour (315 kilometers per hour). The Picasso 660 LMS sports 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires. The stopping duty is entrusted to Brembo six-piston calipers (front) and four-piston calipers (rear).
The performance figures aren’t available yet.
Price and Availability
The Swiss startup plans to build just 21 examples of this supercar and it won’t be cheap. The estimated starting cost of this beast is €820,000 before taxes or $878,500 at the present exchange rate. Picasso is taking orders from interested customers with a promise to deliver the supercar in the second half of 2023.
Source and Images: Motor1