Lancia is a name that probably doesn't mean anything to most of the younger readers! I myself only know it by name, even though at one time it was an important player in the automotive market and even in Formula 1. More recently, its vehicles, sometimes other models of the Stellantis group, barely reworked, were reserved for the European market. At first glance, the brand has become a relic of the past... But not for long! Rather than let the name fall into disuse, it seems that its designers got to work to show us a stunning concept car, the Pu+Ra HPE.
I have to admit that it did not leave me indifferent. First of all, its look. What more can I say? Vintage and modern at the same time, you can easily recognize the Lancia of the good old days, but with a cockpit that looks like the Jetson family's ship. 100% electric, 700 kilometers of autonomy, 70% surface made of recycled materials, the list of promises is long. Do we believe it? Not completely, but it's always nice to dream!
And what about Goodyear in all this?
I got a little carried away with the look, but after all, it's because of it that Goodyear comes into play. Its new kind of wheels with particularly sleek rims obviously can't accommodate a traditional tire. The choice is not only aesthetic, but also aerodynamic, since its shape, in conjunction with the Goodyear custom tire, increases fuel efficiency. Of course, this is especially important for electric vehicles, as reduced rolling resistance plays an important role in maintaining range.
Another problem faced by EV tire producers is the considerable weight of batteries, which requires a much stronger design. This is especially true for the rims, which receive the majority of the extra force. Since an electric motor produces its torque instantaneously, the rubber must also be robust, but soft enough to maintain its grip.
What does the future look like for Lancia?
This is not the first time Goodyear has created tires that can meet all the requirements of electric vehicles. The company has already made one such model available for sale, the Electricdrive GT. The company that has everything to prove is Lancia, whose current flagship model, the Ypsilon, is only sold in its native Italy... Other models are planned by the end of the decade, all 100% electric and all named after Greek letters. The Gamma, a small SUV that should have Pu+Ra areas, is expected for 2026.
