Future unlocked: Introduction of Automobili Pininfarina Pura Vision

Automobili Pininfarina Pura philosophy

Timeless design has been a hallmark of Pininfarina designs for 94 years, and the PURA Vision delivers the signature beauty through a blend of classic proportions and exquisite details. It is a unique sculptural statement with its low bonnet and high wings inspired by the iconic 1947 Cisitalia – the first vehicle to be included in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

Dave Amantea, Chief Design Officer of Automobili Pininfarina: “PURA Vision embraces the DNA of iconic vehicles from Pininfarina’s past to shape the future with sharp lines and a modern aesthetic. The car is distinctive from every angle and showcases our PURA design philosophy on a new kind of vehicle. A dramatic presence, inviting interior and exceptional materials make this a car like no other, yet customers will recognise it as a Pininfarina with its stunning bodywork, timeless proportions and technical detailing on the underside of the body.”

Extraordinary Exterior

The PURA Vision has a striking face, defined by hidden headlights and ultra-slim L.E.S.S. nanofibre lighting technology that creates an eye-catching daytime running light. With fibres less than 1 mm thick, the advanced lighting technology can be adapted to virtually any design, while the lightweight construction and superior energy efficiency are perfect for a visionary electric LUV. The headlights are housed in a multifunctional full-width technical design element that defines the lower body sections and enhances cooling and aerodynamic performance.

The choice of materials and colour finishes for the exterior accentuates the PURA Vision’s athletic presence, with the refined body surfaces in Bianco Sestriere Gloss contrasting with the exposed carbon-fibre lower elements, the narrow glass hood and the glossy black floating roof above. En profile, the PURA Vision’s dramatic cabin-to-rear proportions and short overhangs give it a powerful stance, while 23-inch alloy wheels add to its purposeful presence. The tyres feature a white stripe that brings unity to the exterior and adds definition to the matte black wheels.

An innovative panoramic roof adds to the feeling of refined luxury. The fixed ‘biscotto’ central section is illuminated by a ring of soft LED lights and connects the large front windscreen to the rear tailgate. The central ‘biscotto’ supports the large curved one-piece side windows, which form part of the Lounge Door openings on each side, while ensuring that the PURA Vision is instantly recognisable from above. They hinge dramatically upwards and, combined with the pillar-less opening and the hinged rear doors, provide unrestricted access to the spacious 2+2 seats. The Lounge Doors are inspired by the pillarless design of the Lancia Florida saloon, which was designed by Battista Farina in the 1950s and was a favourite of Pininfarina’s founder.

All these special elements demonstrate the attention to detail that Automobili Pininfarina is known for. These elements include a precisely designed belt of anodised aluminium around the glass roof, which starts at the windscreen and forms an elegant, uninterrupted arc around the PURA Vision. The roofline is defined by an aluminium element on each side. It contains the rear-facing cameras that replace the conventional door mirrors at the front and carries the PURA Vision signature at the rear.

The rear features ultra-thin horizontal LED lights and the glass window tapers in top view, accentuating the PURA Vision’s sharply defined hips, where the body rises sharply from the wheel arches – this vertical muscular shape has much in common with a sports car and contributes to the PURA Vision’s unique stance. Combined with the innovative biscotto roof, it creates a striking appearance when viewed from above – just like the Battista hyper GT.

The technical look of the exposed carbon-fibre bumper mirrors the front end and contrasts with the pure surfaces and sculptural shapes of the body top.

Convincing connectivity and luxury

On the outside, the PURA Vision combines the handling of an SUV with the purposeful character of a low-level sports car, and the luxurious interior follows the same ethos. The driving position has more in common with that of a two-seater, but the overall impression is that of a light, airy and inviting cabin. The electric powertrain provides generous cabin dimensions with a flat floor that creates a vast interior space – a sensation enhanced by the panoramic glass roof.

The world of luxury sailing yachts was the inspiration for the design of the refined upper exterior and this influence is also evident on the inside. The PURA Vision’s ‘floating’ front seats are suspended like the sail of a sailboat, while the centre console resembles the boom of a sailboat. From behind the wheel, the vast dashboard seems to merge into the exterior, with the distinctive lines of the bonnet continuing into the interior.

Francesco Cundari, Interior Design Director at Automobili Pininfarina: “PURA Vision showcases a future generation of elegant interiors from Automobili Pininfarina in which customers are enveloped in bespoke comfort, with enhanced visibility and exquisite material choices. It combines the personality of a sports car with the space and comfort of a luxury vehicle.”

Automobili Pininfarina’s next-generation cars promise convenience at all times, and the PURA Vision reflects this ambition. The technology-rich cabin is designed to provide occupants with the information they need, when they need it, using an intuitive central touchscreen, advanced digital instruments and a head-up display, all of which can be personalised by the driver.

The attention to detail in visual design is also reflected in the use of advanced technologies. The central display rises from the console when needed, but can be stowed away to minimise distractions, while speakers in the headrests provide individual sound zones for each occupant, for a truly tailored travel experience. The large glass area ensures that all passengers feel connected to their surroundings, enhancing every journey, and an integrated wine cooler between the two rear seats ensures that occupants enjoy contemporary luxury in every sense.

Sustainable innovation

The use of refined, authentic and tactile materials is a hallmark of the PURA Vision and contributes to a unique sense of artisanal, contemporary luxury inside. Each of the four individual seats has a fresh white finish, while anthracite-coloured leather on the dashboard and door tops creates a 360-degree continuous accent in the car.

Soft semi-aniline leather is combined throughout with a signature textile fabric made for the Pura Vision, while visible carbon fibre and anodised aluminium mirror the exterior finishes. As part of production, Automobili Pininfarina used waste aluminium from the PURA Vision wheels to create custom-made protective kickplates adorning the sills, adding to the wow effect when the triple-opening Lounge Doors open.

Sara Campagnolo, Colour and Materials Design Director at Automobili Pininfarina: “Materials are more than just a cover – they represent the DNA of our vehicles. In line with our PURA design philosophy, PURA Vision uses the fewest possible materials of the highest quality, as efficiently as possible, to create a highly tailored, timeless and durable finish.”

The new signature textile on the centre console, upper backrests and headliner is a combination of 30% Nativa wool and 70% recycled polyester. The blended herringbone pattern provides a tactile finish and features electrified Pininfarina logos on the headrests of the seats. Despite PURA Vision’s status as a design concept, the innovative textiles already meet Automobili Pininfarina’s sustainability standards for production vehicles.

Family of experts

The PURA Vision design concept has been developed using decades of experience and in-house expertise by Automobili Pininfarina’s own family of engineers and production experts in Italy, to define a new era of connected electric luxury. The cars it will inspire are conceived, designed and developed in Italy and feature cutting-edge technologies developed at Automobili Pininfarina’s Digital Innovation Hub in Germany.

Chief Design Officer Dave Amantea on spectacular panelled roof: “The Biscotto roof is one of my favourite elements in the PURA Vision, it looks nothing like any other design in the world. This roof and the dramatic opening of the ‘Stargate’ doors make the PURA Vision unique when viewed from above.” Take a look via YouTube at the secret recipe of the PURA Vision’s exterior design.

Automobili Pininfarina now employs 116 people at its facilities in Cambiano, Italy and Munich, Germany. A team made up of more than 20 different nationalities, drawing on global expertise and experience to shape a new era in electric mobility.