Back in 2010, Pininfarina teased all of our petrolhead bones when they built a one-off prototype Lancia Stratos. It was built for German entrepreneur, Michael Stoschek. Based on the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, it was supposed to enter production but then the prancing horse decided to buck it off their shelves.
Motivated to bring it back to life, the initial development stakeholders contacted Italian design-house Manifattura Automobili Torino to manufacture a limited edition of the new Stratos. The new version is just as much Stratos as the original rally legend. Having rally roots, there was an emphasis put on the weight of the car. Borrowing the chassis from the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, MAT shortened it by 20 cm and welded on a FIA-certified roll cage. The body is built out of carbon-fiber atop an aluminum chassis.
But the chassis is not the only thing that the Stratos borrwed from the 430 Scuderia. It also uses the same engine, a 4.3 liter N/A V8. Souped up to 540 hp and 383 lb-ft, the engine takes the Stratos from 0-100 in a claimed 3.3 seconds. Top speed seems to be clocking at 274 km/h. Matching the considerable power, the Stratos uses ceramic rotors with six-piston Brembo calipers up front and four-pistons on the back.
The interior is also borrowed from the 430 Scuderia and it implements one of the most iconic Stratos features. The doors have a special compartment in them that allows you to store a racing helmet in. Using the Ferrari steering wheel together with the Manettino drive-mode selector, paddle-shifters and the shift lights. Focused around racing, it uses sportive bucket seats covered in lush Alcantara®, carbon fiber door cards and aluminum flooring. Despite the brutality of the interior, it still has A/C.
With only 25 units planned to be produced, the new Stratos will find its home in some of the world's best garages. Some will be garage queens but we certainly hope to see them unleash their power in the tracks, like they are supposed to. Prices are yet to be released but judging by the exclusivity, craftsmanship and quality; we figure it is over 100,000 EUR.
