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Lancia has unveiled a concept car that demonstrates the future EV design direction of the Stellantis brand.
The Lancia Pu+Ra HPE concept is “the first car of the new Lancia era,” according to a company press release. The release also says “Pu+Ra” represents Lancia’s “pure and radical new design language”. HPE is a callback to the Lancia Beta of the 1970s, and originally stood for “High Performance Estate”, but has been renamed “High Performance Electric.
The design itself has a strong impression of the Lancia Stratos, especially the rear, with the large round taillights. In the profile view, the side lines that run down front to back refer to Aurelia and Flaminia, according to Lancia.
Lancia Pu+Ra HPE concept
Lancia brought in Italian furniture maker Cassina to give the interior a living room-like feel. The front seats are inspired by Cassina’s armchair, while the center console and dashboard are designed to act as tables. Environmentally friendly materials were also used, including Marm/More, a material made of up to 50% marble dust, for the door panels. The wood trim is made from recovered scrap materials, and the rugs are natural wool.
Performance figures weren’t discussed, but Lancia mentions a 435-mile range on the European WLTP test cycle (which is more optimistic than the US test protocol), “just over 10 minutes” charge time (for unspecified battery size at unspecified charge speed), and efficiency of 10 kWh per 100 km.
The concept also introduces Lancia’s new SALA (Sound Air Light Augmentation) interface, which will enter launch of the next-generation Ypsilon hatchback in 2024. This includes voice control, the ability to automatically adjust sound, lighting, and climate control settings for various conditions, as well as entertainment options, including streaming movies and video games.
HPE’s Pu+Ra concept is not intended for production; it simply serves as a preview of Lancia’s future design and technology. The brand is slated for a long overdue renewal and expansion of its lineup, starting with the next-generation Ypsilon, which will be available with both hybrid and all-electric powertrains. Lancia then plans to launch an electric-only model starting in 2026, and go all-electric in 2028, the same year as the launch of the modern electric Delta.
However, don’t look for Lancia to return to the US, as the brand is fully focused on the European market.
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