Picasso Automotive, a startup supercar company from Switzerland, lives up to its promise to reveal its first production model in June this year and officially unveils the 660 LMS. This is the production version of the PS-01 prototype (pictured at the bottom of this article), which was first teased in January last year. The vehicle makes its debut during a private preview event at the Top Marques Monaco and is now available for orders.
What you see in the gallery below is a performance car that has been designed and engineered from the ground up by Picasso Automotive in its factory in San Vittore. It sits on an ultralight platform made of a mix of carbon fiber used to “an unprecedented level” and aluminum. The monocoque is made of carbon fiber and the bodywork is assembled and joint piece on piece. The automaker proudly says the two body sides are made with the longest carbon fiber panel ever built for a car. As a result of all these measure, the 660 LMS weighs just 2,160 pounds (980 kilograms).
Gallery: Picasso Automotive 660 LMS
Picasso wanted to make the interior comfortable and effective both in daily use and on the track. There are many touches inspired by race cars, including the six-point seatbelts, rotary selector for the adjustable ABS system and traction control modes, and bespoke carbon fiber steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara.
Powering the 660 LMS is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine suppliead by Autotecnica Motori, an Italian company that develops and produces competition engines. The six-cylinder mill has been developed according to Picasso’s specifications and delivers 660 horsepower (485 kilowatts) and 541 pound-feet (720 Newton-meters) of torque. The 660 LMS is the engine’s first application on a road-legal car, though “the track is the natural environment” of the unit. The power reaches the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox by Sadev.
Crucial for a vehicle’s track performance is its performance and Picasso spent a lot of time running CFD simulations and testing the 660 LMS in the wind tunnel. Its aero pack consists of a large front splitter, rear manually operated wing, flat floor, and massive diffuser, generating 2,116 lbs (960 kg) of maximum downforce at 196 miles per hour (315 kilometers per hour). The car rides on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires. Brembo six-piston calipers (front) and four-piston calipers (rear) provide the stopping power.
Picasso will assemble just 21 units of the 660 LMS, each with a starting price of €820,000 before taxes or $878,500 with the current exchange rates. The order books are now open with production and deliveries planned for the second half of next year.
Gallery: Picasso Automotive PS-01 prototype
