We seem to be in an age where there are more and more automotive startups coming up with their own versions of supercars. That isn’t a bad thing, as some of these manufacturers are often much bolder and braver with the designs that they produce. Enter then Pambuffetti, which in 2021 introduced the PJ-01.
This Italian supercar is probably one that you have never heard of. Yet the engine under the hood, a 5.2-liter V10, probably is, as it is the same engine you can find powering the Lamborghini Gallardo.
As Pambuffetti is a much smaller company, it was only natural that they would produce just a handful of units of the supercar. In fact, just 25 of the cars have been built, making them one of the rarest sights in the supercar world.
But that doesn’t detract from what is still a very impressive creation. A video from NM2255 Raw Car Sounds on YouTube showcases this perfectly, with the supercar spotted being driven around the famous Monza circuit in Italy, home of the Italian Grand Prix. The iconic Lamborghini V10 can be heard in full cry around the famous circuit.
The video gives us a closer look at the Pambuffetti PJ-01
The video uploaded by NM2255 shows off the supercar in close-up detail. There are some nods to its Lamborghini powertrain, thanks to the text at the back and inside the car’s cabin. Externally, there are some resemblances to the Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar, such as the rear design and the sharkfin.
We also get a good look inside the supercar. Formula 1 clearly inspired the cabin, judging by the shape of the steering wheel used and the design of the heads-up display. It is clear that the designers wanted you to feel like you are in a racecar for the roads. The video also allows us to listen to the incredible Lamborghini V10 engine.
Under the hood is a 5.2-liter naturally-aspirated V10 engine, straight out of the Gallardo. Depending on what the customer has requested, the engine can produce between 700 and 820hp. That is good enough for it to launch from 0-62mph in just 2.9 seconds, giving the PJ-01 a top speed of just over 217mph. It is a very, very fast car. While Pambuffetti may have utilized someone else’s engine, the same certainly can’t be said for the aesthetic.
Formula 1 Aerodynamics Inspired the Design
It is clear that F1 cars inspired the design of the PJ-01. The car comes with a steel and carbon chassis, with the body entirely made from carbon. Marco Sforna designed the car itself, and aerodynamic efficiency was the name of the game here. Wide air intakes at the front sandwich the slim, aggressive headlights, with the nose raised in an F1-like manner.
The back of the car is particularly interesting. From the very rear, it almost looks like a Mercedes-AMG ONE thanks to the shark fin down the center of the supercar. There is also a bit of Ferrari in the way the rear tailgate and taillights have been designed and positioned. For a car from a small company, it has been produced with a high level of quality, and it’s hard not to be impressed by what was created.
What Else Makes the Supercar Stand Out?
The car produces an incredible amount of downforce. In fact, it makes 1,100lbs of downforce at 173mph. The shape of the cockpit is streamlined for better aerodynamic performance, and the gullwing doors feel very appropriate for such a wild machine. The designers even placed the pedals in the cockpit higher than the driver’s pelvis, creating a semi-recumbent driving position similar to that in an F1 car.