Lancia's revival starts with this concept.
Lancia
Lancia unveiled a striking all-electric concept on Saturday. Called the Pu+Ra HPE, the Italian company says will shape its design philosophy for the next decade.
The “Pu+Ra” in the name represents the words Pure and Radical, a nod to the new design language, says Lancia. The HPE is an acronym for High Performance Electric. Interestingly, HPE was also used by Lancia in the Seventies, but back then it was a trim for the Beta that stood for High Performance Estate.
Lancia claims a range of 700 km (435 miles) for the Pu+Ra HPE, and a charging time of just over 10 minutes. There’s no mention of performance, though with that kind of range, we’d have to imagine a big battery and a potent e-motor (or e-motors) to match.
The Pu+Ra HPE takes clear inspiration from the original Lancia Stratos, with a similar wedge shape and round tail lights. The front end looks totally alien by comparison, though, with a Ypsilon-shaped central lighting and a black nose piece. There’s also cameras for the side mirrors, three-spoke aero wheels, and Goodyear tires.
Speaking of Ypsilons, Lancia says its first all-electric car, the Ypsilon hatchback, will be the first production car to take its design inspiration from the Pu+Ra HPE. It’ll be available with both hybrid and all-electric powertrains, and from 2026, Lancia will switch to all-electric for its lineup. In 2028, the Italian brand will reveal the all-new Delta, an all-electric performance vehicle.
Brian Silvestro Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
Keyword: The Lancia Pu+Ra HPE Is a Look at the Future of the Historic Italian Brand