Reviving the Legend: The 2005 New Lancia Stratos - A Modern Tribute to Rally Heritage

New LEGEND BORN - In the realm of automotive innovation, the Lancia brand has taken a remarkable stride forward with its latest creation - The Lancia Pu+Ra HPE (High Performance Electric). This captivating marvel is adorned in a captivating bluish-green hue, delicately infused with a warm golden tone, paying a heartfelt tribute to the iconic and timeless Lancia Flaminia Azzurro Vincennes.

New Lancia Stratos poses with Lancia Stratos HF rally car. (Picture from: CarAndDriver)

Long before that, it turned out that there was the New Lancia Stratos concept inspired by the rally legend Lancia Stratos HF. Therefore, let's transport ourselves back to the summer of 2002, where a chance encounter on a sun-kissed Spanish road near Sitges would set the wheels of destiny in motion. Chris Hrabalek, an accomplished Austrian automotive designer, stumbled upon a stranded Ferrari Dino 246GT. Eager to extend a helping hand, Hrabalek approached the distressed driver, none other than the distinguished German, Michael Stoschek.

New Lancia Stratos poses with Lancia Stratos HF rally car. (Picture from: CarAndDriver)

Their initial interaction soon blossomed into a camaraderie fueled by a shared passion - the awe-inspiring Lancia Stratos HF rally car of the illustrious '70s. Their chance meeting paved the way for a lasting connection. Hrabalek, channeling his creative prowess, meticulously sketched a modern reinterpretation of the Stratos, a vision he then shared with Stoschek.

New Lancia Stratos while on speeding at at France’s Paul Ricard circuit. (Picture from: CarAndDriver)

Michael Stoschek, the visionary CEO and proprietor of the renowned German automotive supplier Brose, and a fervent connoisseur of historic rally cars, found himself captivated by Hrabalek's vision. The synergy between their aspirations and their chance encounter perfectly encapsulated the essence of serendipity. Stoschek signs a contract with Pininfarina to build a one-off Stratos on a cut-down Ferrari 430 Scuderia.

New Lancia Stratos while on speeding at at France’s Paul Ricard circuit. (Picture from: CarAndDriver)

Contrary to convention, the latest iteration of the Lancia Stratos was not conceived as a run-of-the-mill automobile; it was meticulously crafted as a racing marvel. This distinct approach imbues the Lancia Stratos with an unparalleled allure for potential enthusiasts, a charm deeply rooted in its design and construction methodology.

The Stratos construction process stands as a testament to its distinctiveness. Unlike the conventional route taken by racing car collaborations, which usually involve transforming ordinary car models, the Lancia Stratos defies norms. This alternative construction journey unveils a series of physically distinctive attributes.

Interior view of New Lancia Stratos. (Picture from: CarAndDriver)

Beneath its alluring exterior, the New Stratos harnesses the raw power of the Ferrari Scuderia’s 4.3-liter V-8 engine. Nestled within a steel subframe and housed within a shortened variant of the Scuderia's aluminum chassis, the heart of the New Stratos resonates with performance potential. A notable 7.9-inch reduction just before the B-pillars and the incorporation of a robust 121-pound steel-tube roll cage serve to refine its proportions. With a shrunk wheelbase measuring 94.5 inches, the New Stratos boasts dimensions of 77.6 inches in width, 48.8 inches in height, and a compact 164.6 inches in overall length. 

New Lancia Stratos powered by the Ferrari Scuderia’s 4.3-liter V-8 engine with an exhilarating 533 horsepower at 8,200 rpm. (Picture from: CarAndDriver)

Every exterior panel, and even a substantial portion of the interior, is meticulously crafted from lightweight carbon fiber, underscoring a commitment to minimizing mass. Remarkably, Pininfarina managed to slash 176 pounds from the Scuderia's weight, even with the inclusion of the roll cage. An exemplary instance is the 9.3-pound lithium-ion battery, ingeniously ensconced within a carbon-fiber housing.

The defining divergence between the Stratos and its weightier counterpart, the Scuderia, becomes vividly apparent in the engineering finesse. To carve out an impressive weight reduction of 176 pounds, Pininfarina's ingenious prototype workshop substitutes the active Ferrari E-Diff with a nimble, responsive Drexler limited-slip differential. This adept differential orchestrates a symphony of torque distribution to both rear wheels, translating into unparalleled cornering prowess.

Rear side view of New Lancia Stratos. (Picture from: CarAndDriver)

A harmonious fusion of innovation and performance lies within the high-performance exhaust system, elevating engine output to an exhilarating 533 horsepower at 8,200 rpm. While a 30-horsepower increment may seem modest at first glance, its impact resonates profoundly within the context of the New Stratos' svelte 2900-pound curb weight. This two-seater dynamo sprints from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.2 seconds and effortlessly conquers a quarter-mile in a blistering 11.3 seconds. The apex of its performance journey peaks at a formidable 168 mph.

As quoted from CarAndDrivers, the concept version of  Hrabalek’s Stratos sits on its own stand at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, wearing the badge Fenomenon Stratos. At the time, Stoschek aptly summarizes the ethos behind this automotive masterpiece, stating, "Our pursuit is not to dominate in top speed, but to excel in the realm of handling prowess." *** [EKA [15062015] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARANDDRIVER]

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