Safer, more comfortable, better performance. These three qualities are what Pirelli says motorists can now expect from its Scorpion range of SUV tyres following the range’s recent revamp, which the tyre maker undertook in response to forecasted global growth in SUV sales over the next few years.
For the past two years, Pirelli has supplied vehicle manufacturers with original equipment tyres tailored for electric and plug-in hybrid cars. The tyre maker is now offering Pirelli Elect products as replacement fitments and states that these are “now widely available” for aftermarket customers. Pirelli has integrated Elect into all P Zero, Cinturato and Scorpion lines, thereby offering the technology for summer, winter and all-season ranges.
Three different cars using Pirelli’s Scorpion gravel tyres took the podium places on Rally Poland, the latest round of the European Rally Championship. The Skoda Fabia of Mikolaj Marczyk led the Hyundai i20 R5 of Tom Kristensson and the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Ken Torn. Each driver made the most of the reliability of the Pirelli Scorpion. Marczyk took the lead after Hyundai driver Nils Solans – also running Pirelli tyres – encountered problems on SS6, while Kristensson and Torn finished 13 seconds ahead of the fourth-placed crew. Pirelli said the highly variable conditions of the roads in Poland put the Scorpion tyres to a challenging test.
Pirelli is displaying its most cutting-edge products that contribute to more sustainable mobility at its stand at The Tire Cologne 2022 (Hall 6.1, Stand A020-B029). “With its appearance at Tire Cologne 2022, Pirelli is underlining its leading position as a high-performance development partner of leading automobile manufacturers for the original equipment of tyres for their models from the premium and prestige segments,” says Wolfgang Meier, chairman of the management board of Pirelli Deutschland GmbH. “In addition, we present ourselves as an attractive and reliable partner of the tyre trade and as a company that is aware of its responsibility for the environment and climate.”
Product testing at the Pirelli Sottozero Centre in Lapland, Sweden is now taking place in summer as well as winter. Pirelli says it switched the facility to year-round testing in response to increased demand for product development on both wet and dry roads, particularly for all-season and winter tyres. The team at the Sottozero Centre recently wrapped up its winter test programme for the season and is now beginning the summer programme.
Pirelli’s latest Scorpion gravel tyre will make its debut on the milestone Rally de Portugal. The first gravel event of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship season is also the 50th edition of the event, with the new hybrid Rally1 cars running on Pirelli’s updated range of Scorpion KX WRC gravel tyres. Pirelli will bring around 2400 tyres to Portugal, of which 520 will be for the top class of Rally1 cars. Rally1 drivers may use up to 28 tyres during the rally and shakedown.
Earlier today Pirelli launched a totally overhauled Scorpion SUV tyre range. In short, the company is taking great steps towards a leading position in the future electric SUV tyre market and is already dominating in the SUV/CUV tyre sector of today. With the new tyres scoring 100 per cent AB tyre label ratings as well as upwards of 7 per cent improvements across the range in wet and dry braking, the company is making a strong case that it can achieve its goals.
Technology, sustainability and support for young talent – Pirelli states that these are the three cornerstones of its 2022 motorsport campaign. During a live-streamed press conference hosted by Mario Isola, the tyre maker’s head of motorsport, supported by rally activity manager Terenzio Testoni and GT circuit activity manager Matteo Braga, Pirelli set out its plans and priorities for the year.
Pirelli has announced a technical partnership with three-time Downhill world champion Fabien Barel for the development of a new line of Scorpion mountain bike tyres aimed specifically at the world of Gravity Racing (Downhill and Enduro racing).
Pirelli has created a bespoke new Scorpion Zero All Season SUV tyre as original equipment for the latest Land Rover Defender. The new development reinforces the manufacturer’s partnership with Land Rover. Work on the bespoke tyre was begun at Pirelli’s factories in Carlisle and Milan, with Pirelli engineers working closely with their Land Rover counterparts. Over the full course of the intensive development programme, testing was conducted all over the world in the most extreme conditions possible, Pirelli adds.
Electric vehicle start-up Rivian’s R1T pickup, which begins production in June 2021, and its R1S electric SUV will roll off production lines on Pirelli’s Scorpion range. The premium tyre manufacturer has developed special versions of its Scorpion Verde All Season, Scorpion Zero All Season and Scorpion All Terrain tyres to meet the OEM’s specifications. The OE fitments follow its “Pirelli Perfect Fit” strategy – all Pirelli tyres developed for Rivian have a special marking on the shoulder: RIV and Elect. The latter denotes Pirelli’s development of tyres for electric vehicles, which play a crucial role in key EV performance goals; safety, performance, and range optimisation.
Pirelli has launched Scorpion E-MTB, its first line of electric mountain bike tyres. The manufacturer says the tyres are tailored to the needs of this type of bike, in which the engine assistance subjects the tyres to stress that is higher on average than traditional MTB tyres. It has put into practice its experiences with motor powered vehicles in the Scorpion E-MTB development. It adds that sustainability, so important in the design considerations for the tyre, is also the basis for its return to the cycling market.
Micheldever Tyre and Auto Services in Winchester has been named Pirelli 4×4 Key Dealer of the Year for a third time in the award’s five-year history. Pirelli UK commercial director, Jason Sugden congratulated the branch, saying the brand’s audit “is designed to really test the knowledge of the depot and to receive a winning score is testament to all the team and their hard work.”
Pirelli has added the All Terrain Plus to its Scorpion SUV/4×4 tyre line. The Scorpion All Terrain Plus takes the overall performance of its predecessor up a level thanks to the new aggressive block tread pattern, offering better traction on grass and mud.
Pirelli’s range of 4×4 tyres is designed to cater to new models from a variety of prestige manufacturers, especially in its Scorpion range. They deliver sports performance on the road, while offering some off-road conditions, with increased grip, braking safety, and performance at high speed. Like many Pirelli tyres, the SUV tyre range was developed in close collaboration with the best-known premium car manufacturers in sizes between 15 and 22-inches. Pirelli is original equipment on 4×4 vehicles like the Bentley Bentayga, Audi Q7, Land Rover Discovery, Tesla Model X and the Maserati Levante.
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