Monterey Car Week in California will debut the luxury SUV Pura Vision later this month—Automobili Pininfarina’s 94th year of creating gorgeous, high-quality vehicles. The Pura Vision concept car displays the automaker’s future design philosophy. Our all-electric future will be fantastic. Electric luxury utility automobile (e-LUV) is the latest Pura Vision concept. This term is undefined. It’s an expensive SUV. Its curiously curved long nose, low and thin greenhouse, short overhangs, three-way doors without pillars, and “technical” lower portions set it apart from other luxury SUVs. The Pura Vision’s low hood and high sides are based on MoMA’s first car, the 1947 Cisitalia sports car. Paolo Dellachà, Automobili Pininfarina’s CEO, remarked, “PURA Vision is the bridge between our present and an exciting new chapter in the company’s history.” We developed the Battista Edizione Nino Farina in our fifth year to recognize our distinctive custom. PURA Vision shows us the exciting future by applying our PURA design principles to a different car. Only 1mm-thick nano-fiber daytime running lights reveal the front headlamps. The bottom is exposed carbon fiber, the roof is gloss black, the body is Bianco Siestre Gloss, and the 23-inch alloy wheels have a white stripe for aesthetics. Under the black gloss top is a panoramic glass with an LED-lit centrepiece. The concept’s “Lounge” doors, patterned after the 1950s Lancia Florida, are hinged on this middle portion and open in three directions to enable accessing the 2+2 seats inside easier. Anodized metal belt lines the greenhouse for detail, and aluminium on either side of the roofline helps accommodate the rear-facing cameras that replace door mirrors. The haunches stand out under narrow horizontal LED headlamps. EV layouts create flat floors that can be designed in many ways. The “floating” front seats and centre panel resemble sails. A removable tablet lets the driver control the dashboard. The driver gets a head-up display and digital cockpit. Wine coolers are incorporated into the chairs. Metal and carbon fiber accents unite the inside and exterior. “Our first new portfolio will be displayed at Automobili Pininfarina’s private villa during Monterey Car Week (17–20 August) and at The Quail—A Motorsports Gathering (18 August 2023). It’s beautiful and distinctive, yet PURA Vision inspired it.” The future Pura Vision-based model may be an SUV like the Pura Vision or a quick sports car like the Battista. We’ll know soon.
