New Lancia Stratos?

In reply to Keith: No. It was born as a race car from the beginning. 100% rally car from the beginning. Even the homologation specials were mildly detuned race versions.The head of Lancia's rally team leader, Cesar Fiorio, pretty much dictated the design of the car. Yes, the wedge shape came from a Bertone styling exercise. That's about all it shares with a show car.Lancia even got FERRARI's OK to use the Dino's engine.. Functionality came from the fact the entire front forward of the windshield tlipped up like a Spitfire's, as did the entire rear of the car.

The street versions were detuned rally versions. Think thin carpet-like material to cover the interior with ultra-light seats. Noise insulation? You jest.

Sorry, foaming at the mouth. But this is one car I've really wrapped my head around over the years. I've sat in them, started one, poked and prodded all over them, but have yet to drive one. That may change this autumn, however.

Is it just me, or do those pics look more like something from the mid 90s or so, not current.

In reply to Travis_K:

I found this about these photos.

"wo alleged spy photos of a Lancia Stratos revival have started making their rounds on internet forums.

As the story goes, the pictures were taken at the Fiat Balocco test track on June 21. While we can't ascertain their authenticity, there are a few red flags. First and foremost, the images look like they were taken with a 1970's Polaroid camera. Furthermore, catching a virtually undisguised prototype, up-close, at a private testing facility is like getting struck by lightning while being attacked by the Loch Ness Monster.

Regardless, the pictures do bare some resemblance to the Fenomenon Stratos Concept which debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show with an aluminum chassis, a carbon fiber body, and a 425 PS (313 kW / 419 hp) V8 engine. The design company Fenomenon Ltd was planning on putting it into production, but circumstances never aligned.

So what do we have here, a hoax or a special one-off recreation? You be the judge, we'll let you know if anything official comes down the pipeline."

hmmm I like it though, hoax or not.

Possible trial balloon to gauge public's reaction?

I know the original was engineered as a rally car from the start, but it did have to get shoehorned into That Body. I'm pretty sure some of the car's notorious handling came from the packaging required.

The S4, on the other hand. That's function over form. They knew the body panels didn't really matter so half of them were left off and the others were poorly fitting aerodynamic devices

I've been a Stratos fan for years as well. I'd love to build a Hawk someday. I'd build the original body style, not the Group 4 one. In bright green

I hope this is real and I hope it makes it to the US. The original Stratos is my favorite Italian car and while I could never hope to own one, it would be nice to see one in person. I don't mind it being slightly bigger than the original (i.e. 2005 Ford GT vs. Ford GT40) as long as it isn't bloated (new Camaro vs. old Camaro) and the weight is kept down.

ReverendDexter wrote: The original stratos makes me all tingly, but this one isn't doing much for me.

I agree. This car just doesn't look good (at least in my opinion).

And is it just me, or do the pictures look like someone took a picture of a TV screen that had the car on it?

Bob

Keith wrote: I know the original was engineered as a rally car from the start, but it did have to get shoehorned into That Body. I'm pretty sure some of the car's notorious handling came from the packaging required.

indeed.. the statos used A arm suspension up front.. and struts in the rear. get a little body roll while trying to lay down power... add all the weight of the engine and trans being on the rear wheels. Power on AND off oversteer

That prototype looks like it's about twice as large as the original.

This must be the Chrysler influence.

mad_machine wrote: indeed.. the statos used A arm suspension up front.. and struts in the rear. get a little body roll while trying to lay down power... add all the weight of the engine and trans being on the rear wheels. Power on AND off oversteer

You know what ELSE used A-arms in the front and struts in the back?

Uh-huh. That's right.... FIERO.

That thing is Sexy. With a capital S.

I'll be in my bunk.

I'll take 2 please. Thanks

Knurled wrote:

mad_machine wrote: indeed.. the statos used A arm suspension up front.. and struts in the rear. get a little body roll while trying to lay down power... add all the weight of the engine and trans being on the rear wheels. Power on AND off oversteer

You know what ELSE used A-arms in the front and struts in the back? Uh-huh. That's right.... FIERO.

that explains why so many of them look like they got rear ended

DukeOfUndersteer wrote:

BLINK.......BLINK BLINK..........THUD

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/lancia-stratos/#3261184

TTAC has been moaning about how this new Stratos will be horrible, won't be put into series production, shouldn't be happening, etc etc.

TTAC needs to chill the berkley out, I think, because I find the thing lovely and am really hoping it does make it into production.

m4ff3w wrote: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/lancia-stratos/#3261184

Follow the link to "Back to post". Read the article. I

Want

One

BADLY!

Hotlinked because I care..

Tis the sex.. and I'll take 2.

imho, one of the best angles

If that article was right, it's gonna be a pretty penny using a Ferrari V8.

It will certainly sound the part though.

Keith wrote:

ReverendDexter wrote: I think it's because the shape of the original was 100% functional, whereas this one is only shaped that way to aesthetically duplicate that.

100% functional? It was a show car that got turned into a rally car! That's about as far as you can get from 100% functional.

This is the original Stratos Show car.. as you can tell, aside from the engine placement, the only thing carried over was the name to the production car.

itsatrap wrote: Hotlinked because I care.. Tis the sex.. and I'll take 2.

Oh Mammma.

Yes, please.

m4ff3w wrote: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/lancia-stratos/#3261184

Wow, it's tiny. I hope they make a semi affordable one with an Alfa V6.

I love it - I really do. And it's picking nits, to be sure. But there is something bad about the headlights. It looks sad. It shouldn't look sad. It should look angry, or at least confidant. Like "I don't need to be angry 'cause I'm just going to kick your ass." This one says "I'm going to kick your ass, but I don't feel very good about it."