Reborn Stratos?

gingervette · August 3, 2010

Lancia Stratos Prototype Spotted Testing in Italy

August 3, 2010 at 1:22 pm by Justin Berkowitz

A prototype new Lancia Stratos has been spotted testing at the Balocco test track, the main proving ground for the Fiat Group in Italy. This photo, which comes to us courtesy of Italiaspeed, shows a car that appears remarkably similar to a 2005 concept built by private design house Fenomenon, which was itself meant to be an updated interpretation of the ’70s cult-classic car. The headlights, wheel arches, and even the rims themselves on the prototype are dead ringers for those of the Fenomenon Stratos (below).

2005 Stratos Concept by Fenomenon

That concept car was built with a mid-mounted V-8 engine, and that neatly matches the rumor floating around that this newest Stratos prototype is actually based on a modified Ferrari F430 platform.

The prevailing logic at this point is that this car was commissioned as a one-off for a particularly wealthy Lancia fan, but considering the resources necessary to develop this test car, as well as the potential interest from the automotive community, we expect that Fiat is at least considering small-scale production.

Sponge · August 3, 2010

Oooh Lovely. Hope the Stratos is reborn. T'was a good looking car in the day, still is now.

zo6dude · August 5, 2010

That would be awesome, and the best part is it looks good to:)

killalldude · August 5, 2010

With those wheels, it looks exactly like my Stratos Hot Wheels car :D

calster17 · August 5, 2010

I has an idea bout it! It's eather A) A New **** car much the like Alfa 8C, or B) its a one-off for a wealthy enthusiast, basing it on a current Ferrari?

eather way, I'm happy! And with Lancia in TDU2...this could make some nice DLC!:cool:

Eudemon · August 5, 2010

That is a beaut. I hope it's coming back like they say.

cis4care · August 5, 2010

Although i'm not very keen on the new Lancia designs or Lancias in general, this one seems to look like something worth waiting for... Meh, looks decent, yet like it's popped out from the 1980's.

CLR-GTR · August 5, 2010

It just hás to be produced, even if it's in small scale, every brand needs a car now and then that stands out of the rest of the fleet.

Car Freak · August 5, 2010

I really like the design, and I suppose using a base Ferrari engine is also in keeping with the original Stratos' roots... What this thing REALLY needs though, is pop-up headlights

CarMadMike · August 5, 2010

Source: http://www.fiatblog.nl/?p=7893

Another peak at it ^^

Fantastic looking car :)

T1M · August 5, 2010

Looks nice, although i'm not keen on the front, looks a bit odd to me. Still, better than a re-badged Fiat. :p

cis4care · August 5, 2010

Car Freak is right, it really, really needs pop-ups...

EW · August 5, 2010

Is it just me or does the front of this car look like a really happy chinese kid?

BAk99 · August 5, 2010

Big NOM NOM :)

Jazzi · August 5, 2010

Oooh here we go, another sexy Italian thing ;) Haha

I agree though, its a gorgeous piece of engineering. But, as it is a Lancia, it will break... epicly.

mau92 · August 5, 2010

well... i dont like it... specially the front

Camel · August 5, 2010

Oooh my, that looks fantastic. And it can only sound even better.

calster17 · August 6, 2010

What this thing REALLY needs though, is pop-up headlights

Car Freak is right, it really, really needs pop-ups...

It's a Fact, pop-up's make any car 10 times better! If that car is mid-engine then that cranks it up even more!

Appert from the pop-up's..the car also needs is the 'blinds' accross the back window! Car's with them top the scales! The original Stratos had them and so did the Lamborghini Miura!

*Does anyone know the real name for them? I know some Ford Capri's even had them!

Leadfoot[YT] · August 6, 2010

Lamborghini Miura[/url]!

*Does anyone know the real name for them? I know some Ford Capri's even had them!

Rear window louvers, I believe. :)

I wonder if this will trickle its way into the US? Please make it so, FIAT...

-Leadfoot

TimBud · August 7, 2010

I don't remember the nose looking that awful before!?

Doesn't look that bad on this one:

calster17 · August 7, 2010

I don't remember the nose looking that awful before!?

They'll have updated the design a bit, even though it's great its still about 5 years old(is't it?) Also One thing thats good is that its got normal doors unlike the Fenomenon!(They were weird on CM:DiRT!)

;341924']Rear window louvers' date=' I believe. :)[/quote']
Thanks for the name! Been trying to find out for some time! :D

TimBud · August 8, 2010

Of course they've updated the design. But instead of making the nose prettier, they turned it into a square jawed snout.

:o

calster17 · August 11, 2010

Though i'd update this a bit.....

US mag Car and Driver is suggesting that, far from a one-off, the Stratos is headed for limited series production, Alfa Romeo 8C style, and that the anonymous financier is in fact helping to back the whole shebang.

C and D's sleuths have also decided that the car is the work of Jason Castriota, whose credits include a hand in the design of the Ferrari 599 and Maserati GranTurismo, the Ferrari P4/5 one-off, and the Bertone Mantide.