Italy’s Pininfarina unveils super-sized electric SUV concept

Pininfarina – the iconic Italian car-design firm known for its work with Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and other brands, which has begun producing electric cars – has unveiled a new luxury electric SUV concept known as the Pura Vision.

Dubbed an "e-LUV" – short for electric Luxury Utility Vehicle – the high-riding four-seater features pillarless doors that open in three directions (forward, backward, or up) and a wide stance, rolling on large 23-inch alloy wheels.

The brand claims the new car was inspired by the 1947 Cisitalia 202 GT sports coupe – the first-ever car to show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The vehicle was created in conjunction with Pininfarina’s Digital Innovation Hub in Germany.

Overall dimensions are 5215mm long, 2147mm wide and 1641mm high, which makes it larger than a Lamborghini Urus in every direction (5137mm long, 2016mm wide and 1638mm tall). A Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series measures five metres long.

Hidden in the front end of the Pura Vision are slim headlights, which use new nanofibre lighting technology.

While there is a hint of the Ferrari Purosangue in the front fascia of the Pura Vision – and Pininfarina has been responsible for some of the most iconic Ferrari models of the past 70 years – Ferrari's first SUV wasn't penned by the Italian design company.

Inside the Pura Vision, the interior features floating front seats around a centre console claimed to resemble a sailing yacht's boom – the horizontal post that hangs off the mast – made from 30 per cent wool and 70 per cent recycled polyester.

Other material choices inside the cabin include semi-aniline leather, more recycled polyester, and exposed carbon fibre panels.

Technology is kept out of the way of the design, and the central infotainment screen rises from the console only when asked for. Speakers are located separately in the headrests for individual audio output.

No mechanical details have been shared, although the Pura Vision may follow the Pininfarina Battista hypercar – related to Croatia's Rimac Nevera, which just broke the electric-car production lap record around Germany's Nurburgring race track – in using a large 120kWh lithium-ion battery and four electric motors.

Pininfarina is yet to commit to turning the Pura Vision concept into a production vehicle, however the company has expressed interest in expanding its line-up beyond the Battista.