A detail as simple as an elongated “P” suggested motion and speed and maybe even a subconscious ‘varoom’ sound. By forming a roof over the brand name’s other letters, the modified “P” also rendered the word “Pirelli” more visually compact and car-like.
Pirelli “P”: The Difference In One Single Letter
High-End Prestige That’s Evolved Beyond Motorsports
Of course, it’s known for creating those iconic tires — or “tyres” to keep with the European spelling — on luxury sports cars. But you’ll also find its hand in Italian football, winter sports, community outreach, and even large-scale contemporary art exhibitions.
This kind of expansion reflects Pirelli’s century of relevance, and the brand’s own logo (with that globally recognised outstretched “P”) can be traced back to an early 1906 design that essentially bore the same conceptual look and feel as today’s sleek lettering.
Pirelli shares how the logo was birthed at the turn of the century when the company’s US representative requested a stand-out advertising visual for promotional material in the states. They were looking to incorporate a design choice that communicated innovation on the page — an instantaneous something for consumers abroad to notice and latch onto.
Putting The “P” In Motion & Speed
A detail as simple as an elongated “P” suggested motion and speed and maybe even a subconscious ‘varoom’ sound. By forming a roof over the brand name’s other letters, the modified “P” also rendered the word “Pirelli” more visually compact and car-like.
Granted, the typeface still needed to transform. Early versions were more flowery and less streamlined. Without strict corporate dictates for a consistent version of the Pirelli logo, we see numerous renditions crop up in those earlier years and observe a series of alterations made throughout the decades. The later iterations gradually eliminate the calligraphic flourishes to land on a more standardised version in 1945 that has stayed with the brand to this day. It’s the version that achieved a global virality long before the internet thanks to advertising specialist, Armando Testa.
Now the Pirelli’s brand and typography are emblematically one and the same. Last year, 41 cars from a dozen different manufacturers were assembled and configured to form a birds-eye rendering of the Pirelli logo and recreate a memorable marketing display from 40 years ago.
Back in 1978, the concept of gathering the cars was to showcase the many makes and models that shared one unifying features: Pirelli tyres. The campaign’s slogan was, fittingly, “Tires with a capital P.”
But rather than their road-legal counterparts from 1978, last year’s reproduction of the “Pirelli” aerial shot brought together only thoroughbred race cars. The usual suspects were all included: Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes, Nissan, Porsche, and Jaguar.
Now Pirelli’s ongoing tyre production, married to its many other sponsorships, has created a fierce brand identity that continues to promote innovation, performance and glamour—attributes arguably embodied within the very logo itself that’s become a truly iconic symbol.
Leave Your Mark Within Your Industry
Another way to leave your mark within your industry is to give your audience what they want in the form of content marketing that’s both useful, practicable and adds value to their own lives. By implementing a solid content marketing strategy along with effective SEO, you can easily spread your brand, boost your revenues, and create the foundation for longer-term success. Let me help you when it comes to all your content marketing and SEO needs.
Did You Love This Pirelli Logo Post?
If you did, then be sure to join my free email newsletter to get instant notification of new posts, exclusive offers and other goodies.
Are you in need of your very own iconic logo that accurately represents your business in a beautiful, yet impactful and memorable way? The amazing logo design team at Toni Marino has you covered. Simply visit here for more information.
British Rail Logo
Gerry Barney encounters a range of responses to his original design for the British Rail. People give it their own nick names and associations, but the logo itself, with its memorable double arrow, has now lasted and persisted for 50 years.
Formula 1 Logo
The new F1 logo tactfully pays homage to Wong’s original. It carefully steers F1 into the future while maintaining a full embrace of its past. Richard Turley’s marketing team at Wieden+Kennedy masterminded the artwork from their London headquarters.
The Meatball, The Worm & The Birth of The NASA Logo
NASA Logo One Small Step Into The Space Frontier Sometimes brands have to jump back and forth before settling on the visual aesthetic that truly reflects their identity. For the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 1992, wasn’t too late to return to a beloved…