Lancia's New Concept Car Isn't Really a Car

Lancia has a long history of wild concept cars, though this may be its most extreme. The Pu+Ra Zero shows the Italian brand's future via a concept lacking critical car features like, uh, wheels, doors, and an interior, to name a few things. Really, the Pu+Ra Zero is a sculpture.

Now under Stellantis, Lancia is attempting a renaissance as an EV brand, following years of stagnation. Right now, Lancia sells only the Ypsilon compact, a rebody of the previous-generation Fiat 500, only available in Italy. Between 2024 and 2028, the brand plans to launch three new models, starting with a new Ypsilon. "Lancia will once again be a desirable, respected, and reliable brand in the European premium market," said Lancia CEO Luca Napolitano in a statement. "Today is the beginning of the new Lancia!"

In the concept car's "Pu+Ra" nomenclature, the "Pu" is short for Pure, while "Ra" is short for Radical, and Zero is a reference to Lancia's most iconic concept car, the Marcello Gandini-designed Stratos Zero of 1971. The automaker also cites the Aurelia and Flaminia for the Pu+Ra's more organic, curvy forms, but the concept's profile and especially its rear deck nod to more angular designs like the Stratos and Delta. You can spot the Pu+Ra Zero's many influences in the image above.