One of the debutants of the Top Marques Monaco exhibition taking place these days is the Swiss startup Picasso Automotive. But neither the heirs of the famous artist Pablo Picasso, nor the Citroen company, which used the Picasso brand for its cars before, have nothing to do with it. This company was founded in 2020 by businessmen Stefano Picasso and Robert Wild, and their goal was to develop their own supercar. The track prototype Picasso PS-01 was released in the fall of 2021, and now its road version is presented under the name Picasso 660 LMS.
Picasso PS-01
Coupe with a length of 4366 mm hardly draws on a masterpiece of design, but the developers assure that aerodynamic qualities were put at the forefront during development. At the same time, there are no complicated solutions here, and the only movable element is the wing plane, the angle of attack of which can be adjusted manually. To improve streamlining, it was decided to abandon the side rear-view mirrors, instead of them, cameras were installed that transmit the picture to the screens in the cabin. At maximum speed, the downforce reaches 960 kg, while the car itself in running order pulls 980 kg.
The body of the Picasso 660 LMS is almost entirely made of carbon fiber and other composites: the metal is used only for fasteners and amplifiers. Even the rear subframe is carbon fiber here, and the developers call the sidewalls of the body the longest carbon fiber panels in the automotive industry (3.24 meters). All these elements for Picasso are produced by the Italian company NuTeCo.
The engine of the Swiss supercar is also from Italy. The V6 3.0 biturbo dry sump unit is supplied by Autotecnica Motori, a company known for its racing engines. It is stated that the Picasso 660 LMS was the first road car with this engine. It can spin up to 8000 rpm, the return is 660 hp. and 720 Nm. The gearbox is a Sadev six-speed sequential, the drive is rear.
The supercar has racing ABS (with several modes of operation) and traction control (switchable), and instead of a stabilization system, there is some kind of Easyrain electronic add-on that can recognize slippery roads and flexibly limit engine power. Chassis developed by Picasso in-house: double wishbone push-rod suspension, Brembo brakes with six-piston mechanisms on the front axle and four-piston on the rear. Fitted with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires.
Of the dynamic characteristics, only the maximum speed was published – 315 km / h. The Picasso 660 LMS, although approved for public roads, is not well suited for everyday use. The cabin is equipped with Sabelt racing seats with six-point harnesses, almost all elements (including the steering wheel) are made of carbon fiber, although a media system with a seven-inch screen is promised.
Picasso Automotive has already started accepting orders for its first model. The declared circulation is 21 copies, but only 20 of them are intended for customers. The price is 820 thousand euros. The Picasso 660 LMS coupe will be produced at the company’s own factory in the Swiss city of San Vittore, with deliveries scheduled for the second half of 2023.