Tuesday 5th October 2010

Video: New Stratos Track Testing

Tiago Monteiro joins development team at Balocco, Italy

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The Ferrari 430-based 'new Lancia Stratos' project masterminded by German business-wig Michael Stoschek is continuing apace.

We're expecting the project to go fully public in the next few weeks, but meanwhile the development team has been testing at Balocco in Italy with Tiago Monteiro at the wheel.

Although initially conceived as a one-off, a small production run has been mooted with the official website stating that the car's future will be 'determined by demand'.

The project's slick website and campaign of 'official teasers' and 'videos' we've seen so far (the latest is below) suggests the production aspiration is pretty strong - and rightly so, we reckon.

[MarJay]

That car is freakin' gorgeous. Let us hope it isn't going to be on sale for eleventy million pounds.

[The Hypno-Toad]

Not only want but NEED!!

My new favourite car for when the lottery numbers come up. I'm guessing about £420,000 to buy one?

Wonder if Clarkson's got his name down yet??

[carl hammond]

Thats one stunning car - the original was gorgeous as is this new one :-)

[zorba_the_greek]

No thats what im talking about

[Gary C]

Nice

Prefer the front of the original, but nice car.

[chuntington101]

Hmmmm i wonder if someone is designing a MR2 body kit to look like this yet?!?!? lol

Seriously though, what a stunning car. This should go into production!

Chris.

[Roberty]

Would love to see one of these all dressed up for the WRC.

Obviously it won't happen as it doesn't meet the regs, Build numbers too low, engine too big, carbon construction etc, etc but if you can afford one why not buy two and privately rally the other, if only across your lower paddock just for sts'n'giggles!

Want one very badly.

Anyone any good with photoshop, would love to see it jacked up and with an Alitalia livery

Edited by Roberty on Tuesday 5th October 12:33

[Marf]

Certainly sounds a lot better than the previous video PH posted.

[Dr Derek Doctors]

Man, I want this so badly

[GTRene]

need it more and more...its addicting

nice sound too.

[Insight]

I want to love it but those front lights just change the whole thing for me and make it a flat fronted wedge. Maybe once they choose a lively colour with a rally livery and whack on four rally cross headlights I'll be able to love it again. Here's to hoping.

[Jellymonster]

delicious!

[shantybeater]

That thing is stunning

[molineux1980]

Looks amazing, but i'm really not keen on those headlights. IO think i'll look for something else ......;-)

[Oelholm]

I really love this thing, but I was thinking (dangerous, I know):

Why haven't they based it on a simpler car, such as the 355? Would make it somewhat cheaper, I reckon. But then, it's supposed to be a modern car with a drivetrain to match, not a kit kar. That got me thinking further (!), why haven't they based it on the 458? Wouldn't that be a more appropiate match, and ensure that it did not date as fast as it will now (technology-wise)?

Edited by Oelholm on Tuesday 5th October 13:41

[Terror Factor]

Want!
Gorgeous car!

[Streetrod]

Oelholm said:

I really love this thing, but I was thinking (dangerous, I know):

Why haven't they based it on a simpler car, such as the 355? Would make it somewhat cheaper, I reckon. But then, it's supposed to be a modern car with a drivetrain to match, not a kit kar. That got me thinking further (!), why haven't they based it on the 458? Wouldn't that be a more appropiate match, and ensure that it did not date as fast as it will now (technology-wise)?

Edited by Oelholm on Tuesday 5th October 13:41

Don’t forget that this car started off as a one off vanity project for one guy. He has enough money not to have to base it on an old 355 and to rip apart a new 458 would probably not have been sensible or available considering how long this car has taken to get to this point. Also with the 458 having so much electronics involved in its drive train using one as a donor car would have made his life very difficult.

With a limited production run now being muted using the readily available 430 as a donor car makes a lot of sense. Also judging by the talent that has gone into this car the costs must be going through the roof. Spreading those costs over a limited run again makes very good business sense

[anonymous-user]

Have you ever noticed how when discussing ride and handling it's important to wave your hands in the air as if your auditioning for a bit part on one of Gerry Andersons famous puppet based futuristics ?


How long before we see a "handling by Virgil Tracy" chassis pack appearing on a fezza??



(oh, yeah, the "stratos" is pretty nice too ;-)

[Mars]

My new favourite car.

[old-school]

Bloody beautiful.