2005, Pirelli’s Year of Innovation

While exhibiting at this year’s Geneva International Motor Show, Pirelli highlighted 2005 as “the year of innovation.” In the wake of strong business results (the company recently reported a 42 per cent increase in operating profit), Pirelli Tyres reports that it has begun 2005 with a strategy of expansion in some of the faster growing emerging markets plus North America, as well as extending its MIRS automated production process in the United Kingdom, Germany and the US. And that is not all. The company says that its research into tyres of the future will reach concrete conclusions in 2005. Pirelli goes on to explain that this year will see the start of a series of products that will “revolutionise the concept of the tyre, which will become a more active product that ever before, and will be able to communicate with the car and driver.”

Pirelli showed a Maserati MC12 on the group’s stand in Geneva, surrounded by a full range of high performance and ultra high performance products in a number of new sizes.

Among the most important new developments, all of which will reach the marketplace by the end of March, is an escalation of sizes for the SUV segment, in particular a new Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico in size 315/40R26 and the new 285/30ZR22 front and 335/25ZR22 rear Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico fitments. Great attention has also been paid to the development of tuner sizes, especially for extreme tuning, with the addition of a Pirelli P Zero Nero in 245/30ZR22, 255/30ZR21 and 295/25ZR21.

In addition, a number of Pirelli products could spotted on cars around the show. These included the 18 inch P Zero Nero on the Alfa Romeo Brera, the 19 inch P Zero Nero on the Fiat Croma and the 17 inch P Zero Nero on the Lancia Ypsilon Sport. Meanwhile, the new Ferrari 430 Spider and the Bentley Continental Flying Spur are equipped with P Zero Rosso in 19 inch and the new Saab 9-3 SW with 18 inch P Zero Rosso tyres. Prototypes from Giugiaro, Fioravanti, Castagna, were also fitted with Pirelli tyres.

Pirelli expects to achieve a further increase in its presence in the US original equipment sector during 2005, as well as reinforcing its position with the European manufacturers. In particular, the company reports that its Pirelli’s run flat technology is attracting a growing number of car manufacturers, who find an increasing stimulus to fit them to their new cars as original equipment as more versions and sizes are made available by Pirelli.

Tyres are becoming ever more ‘interactive’ with the car and are, above all, able to ensure driving pleasure and style, together with maximum performance and safety, an aspect always strongly felt at Pirelli. In a constantly evolving world market, solutions and equipment are put to severe test in the marketplace by the choice made by the car manufacturers and end users. In this scenario, which privileges safety and performance, the Pirelli Run Flat technology is rewarded on a global scale, as a result of which the company continues to believe and invest in it with decision.

Pirelli’s Year of Innovation begins there. It starts with Hi-Tech products and systems that are ever more integrated, and channelled towards exploiting maximum technology in one single direction. All aimed at jointly assuring the utmost product excellence and total safety, end user comfort and complete interactivity of the tyre, which today, more than ever goes way beyond its basic functions of assuring adhesion in the most difficult road and weather conditions.

There is also news from the world of motorsports. Pirelli will start the new series with two more teams (Peugeot and Mitsubishi) in the World Rally Championship and with renewed support for Maserati and Ferrari in the FIA-GT Championship.