Lancia Pu+Ra HPE concept to inspire brand’s future cars

The Lancia Pu+Ra HPE concept has officially been revealed today, previewing the styling of its upcoming models.

Just one look at the concept will have you wondering where Lancia got the inspiration for the car from and interestingly, that would be the “world of furniture”.

It also takes after the Pu+Ra Zero “three dimensional sculpture” which was unveiled at the start of this year as a design study, directly informing the looks of the Pu+Ra HPE we see today.

Pure and radical is what “Pu+Ra” means by the way, while HPE refers to ‘High Performance Electric’, an acronym first used on the 1970s Beta which previously stood for ‘High Performance Estate’.

The concept is fully electric with the brand envisioning a range over 700km with a charge time taking little over 10 minutes, while energy consumption targets 10kWh per 100km.

We can see what Lancia is getting at with its table and couch looks, that being none other than contemporary. It also combines traits from its past models such as the circular tail lights arching back to the mid-engined Stratos.

The front end is probably host to the most striking aspect of the concept as it consists of three LED light bars which are a reinterpretation of the historic Lancia grille. Instead of a logo, you will now find the brand name spelt out on the bonnet which was a design choice inspired by the fashion world.

To signify the link between past and present, the Pu+Ra HPE has been coloured in ‘Progressive Green’ which lends itself well to the fluid body lines that take after the Aurelia and Flaminia.

Putting the “radical” in Pu+Ra is its circular panoramic roof and rear sun blind window, another nod back to the Beta HPE of the ’70s but with a modern twist.

One of the big focusses of the concept was the interior, with Lancia wanting people to feel at home while traveling in its cars.

Although furniture design isn’t commonly associated with the automotive world, its makes a good bet for passenger comfort which is why the car company teamed up with Italian furniture maker Cassina to design the interior.

Some inspirations from homes found inside include the round carpet area alongside two front free-standing armchair seats. There’s also a circular coffee table structure between the driver and passenger which acts as a “multifunctional” central element.

Sustainability is another big focus for the Pu+Ra HPE which is host to eco-sustainable materials on 70 per cent of the touchable surfaces inside the cabin. Such materials include the panno wool cloth on the seats which has been made with low environmental impacting velvet.

Not only that but the concept car is the first example of Lancia’s “100 per cent electric manifesto” that defines the brand’s sustainability vision for the next ten years.

The first production car we can expect to see wearing features from the Pu+Ra HPE is the Lancia Ypsilon when it launches in 2024 in both hybrid and fully electric form.

From 2026, all models launched by the Italian carmaker will be electric and from 2028, when the new Delta arrives, the brand will only offer EVs.