Automobili Pininfarina took the wraps off its long-awaited SUV or electric Luxury Utility Vehicle (e-LUV), as it prefers to describe it. Announced and teased back in 2019, the concept was due to make its global debut in 2020. However, COVID-19 and other issues delayed the debut, which will now take place at Monterey Car Week later this month.
Besides the upcoming UV, the PURA Vision concept also points towards Pininfarina’s upcoming models. Speaking to Autocar India, Dave Amantea, chief design officer at Automobili Pininfarina, said, “The PURA Vision concept also previews the PURA design philosophy that will form the basis of our future pure electric luxury vehicles.”
Pininfarina PURA Vision Design and style
While the concept is a high-riding LUV, it stays away from the vertical and tall stance of SUVs, and instead, has a pronounced GT-like cab-rear proportion. In profile, the PURA Vision’s cab-rear stance is very evident, as are its short overhangs and 23-inch matte black alloy wheels. Large, curved single-piece side windows hinge upwards gullwing style, while the rear doors hinge backwards to form a pillarless opening into the cabin.
Pininfarina describes the setup as Lounge Doors, which it says were inspired by the pillarless design of the Lancia Florida sedan, penned by Battista Farina in the ’50s, and was a favourite of the founder. The gullwing windows are hinged on an oval-like roof section called the Biscotto roof, which comprises a fixed glass roof section and gives the concept a very open and airy look. The glass roof could make it to production, and Pininfarina had indicated earlier that it is working with a big supplier to enable this.
The PURA Vision has a chunky face, with ultra-slim lights that the company says uses nanofibre lighting technology to create its daytime running light signature. The nanofibre tech comprises fibres less than 1mm thick, and these can be tailored to very complex shapes. The lower portion of the front bumper comprises exposed carbon fibre, and houses large intakes to aid cooling and aerodynamics.
The rear boot section is very curvaceous, and the bumper is styled like a sportscar, complete with a diffuser and large air vent-like structures at the outer edges. The tail-lights are slim and it also gets a roof spoiler.
Pininfarina PURA Vision interiors
The cabin is a four-seater with very sculpted insides and it gets a flat floor thanks to the electric architecture. The front seats are supported at the centre from below, and thus, appear to float off the floor. Between them is a console that houses a central touchscreen, while there's a wine cooler between the rear seats.
As would be expected today, the PURA Vision is rich with tech like digital instrumentation and a heads-up display. The centre screen also rises when required or can be stowed away to reduce distractions, with speakers in each headrest. Pininfarina is using a new textile on the centre console, upper seatbacks and headlining, which combines 30 percent Nativa wool and 70 percent recycled polyester.
Pininfarina PURA Vision dimensions
Pininfarina has so far revealed only very basic technical data: length is 5,215mm, the width is 2,147mm (including mirrors) and the concept is 1,641mm tall. The PURA Vision gets an all-electric powertrain setup, but the company has not yet announced details as the PURA Vision is a design concept.
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