Early details and pictures of a one-off recreation of Lancia's Stratos have the car world spinning with rumour and conjecture about the stunning wedge-shaped homage. Said to be financed by a rich industrialist, the new Stratos is thought to have come about after Fenomenon - a design consultancy - revealed an updated Stratos at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show.
This car is clearly more than a show concept, with images of it running now circulating the internet and Italian car forums. Interestingly the shakedown shots are at Alfa Romeo's Balocco test track, suggesting that Fiat has given the project its blessing. The new Stratos is thought to be based on the heavily modified underpinnings of a
Ferrari 430 Scuderia. To recreate the Stratos' short wheelbase the Ferrari chassis has been significantly shortened, while it's thought that the 4.3-litre V8 has also been tuned to produce more power.
With the new Stratos expected to be light, performance should be extraordinary, while the short wheelbase should ensure it changes direction exceptionally quickly - a legacy of the original's rally origins.
The recreation takes the famously wedgy shape of the original and sharpens it up; it's thought that designer Jason Castriota has played a hand in its creation. Castriota's CV would back this up, being involved in the design of the
Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, as well as a number of one-off projects like Glickenhaus' Enzo-based Ferrari P4/5 and the 612 Kappa for Peter S. Kalikow. The bodywork is thought to be constructed from carbon fibre.
It's not known whether the new Stratos will wear either the Lancia or the Stratos badge or whether it'll remain a one-off or go into limited production. Firm details will be revealed when the car is officially later this year, but with rumours of as many as five prototypes running it's possible that Lancia might want to celebrate 40 years of the original with a limited production run. We sincerely hope so, though if it happens you can guarantee you'll need very deep pockets if you want one.
Kyle Fortune - 16 Aug 2010
