Friday 24th June 2011

New Stratos Hits The Competition Trail

Ferrari-engined 'New Stratos' put through its paces on German streets

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If you had a more or less 'money can't buy' re-imagined Lancia Stratos, would you hurl it around a tight, twisting sprint course with unforgiving concrete walls looming on the exit of many corners?

Michael Stoschek, commissioner and creator of the 'New Stratos' would. And here's the video to prove it.

He's flinging his 1247kg, 430 Scuderia-based Stratos around the streets of Zwickau in Germany with what pretty much amounts gay abandon, using every one of the 532bhp available to him. Good man.

There had been talk earlier in the year of reproducing the New Stratos for a limited production run at a cost of roughly 400,000 euros (roughly £357k). We hope that's still the case - because it looks like Herr Stoschek's ride is rather a lot of fun...

Michael Stoschek und Dieter Hawranke, Sachsenrallye 2011 from New Stratos on Vimeo. 

[V8 GRF]

I really don't understand the excitement about this car, it's not a NEW car it's a rebodied 430 Ferrari with a dodgy front treatment because pop up lights aren't legal anymore. Yes it's a fantastic idea but the great idea just seems to have got lost in the execution.

I'd myself save at least £275,000 and build myself a full bore replica using all new parts from one of the recognised kits.

[Fetchez la vache]

Maybe the excitement is from people like me who can afford to do neither.

(dribble)

[Chicane-UK]

Really, really, really nice... would be quite happy with one of those thanks!

[Beefmeister]

Looks like a bit of a handful!

[The Danimal]

V8 GRF said:

I really don't understand the excitement about this car, it's not a NEW car it's a rebodied 430 Ferrari with a dodgy front treatment because pop up lights aren't legal anymore. Yes it's a fantastic idea but the great idea just seems to have got lost in the execution.

I'd myself save at least £275,000 and build myself a full bore replica using all new parts from one of the recognised kits.

Yeh, I kind of get what you mean. I like this thing, but I can't help thinking it's a 430 in a tight dress and push-up bra. I'd rather have a 430 scud and a hawk stratos if I could.

[forzaminardi]

I hate it because it's not mine

[Johnboy Mac]

Really, that's just lovely. Better than a 458 for more money, I'd have my doubts but wins hands down on looks. Hats off to all concerned.

[g4ry13]

I still think the front of it is ugly. It looked like there was some problem with brake bias, that or the driver's st.

[V8 GRF]

The Danimal said:

I like this thing, but I can't help thinking it's a 430 in a tight dress and push-up bra.

[RudeDog]

V8 GRF said:

I really don't understand the excitement about this car, it's not a NEW car it's a rebodied 430 Ferrari with a dodgy front treatment because pop up lights aren't legal anymore. Yes it's a fantastic idea but the great idea just seems to have got lost in the execution.

I'd myself save at least £275,000 and build myself a full bore replica using all new parts from one of the recognised kits.

I'm with you on this. Its a Stratos kit car at the end of the day, just like all the others.

[loveice]

V8 GRF said:

I really don't understand the excitement about this car, it's not a NEW car it's a rebodied 430 Ferrari with a dodgy front treatment because pop up lights aren't legal anymore. Yes it's a fantastic idea but the great idea just seems to have got lost in the execution.

I'd myself save at least £275,000 and build myself a full bore replica using all new parts from one of the recognised kits.

I'm totally with you. This is basically a modern Stratos kitcar using F430 as the base. Sure, it is the best car a modern Stratos can be based on. But it's still just a kickcar, and a not very well designed (exterior design) one. If they really want to make a new stratos, they should design a race car first (on-road or off-road racing), then make it just about road legal... Oh, the new styling should be inspired by the original, not trying too hard to copy the original.

[MIP1983]

The original had a ferrari dino engine. This has a tuned F430 engine, a heavily modified 430 chassis, a bespoke body, plenty of it's own parts and engineering and weighs a fair bit less than a 430. It's just a phenominal machine, very beautiful, and definatly not a 430 in a frock.

[BuzzLightyear]

Very nice but not THAT much nicer than Blib's Hawk

[forzaminardi]

I think a few are missing the point of this car. Yes, it's "just an expensive kit car" and it may or may not be any good to drive or look at it, but the point is, a crazy millionaire geezer has invested loads of his own money in creating a one-off modern interpretation of a classic rally car. You don't have to like it, but you have to admire the idea. What could be more 'pistonheads' than that?

[Johnboy Mac]

forzaminardi said:

I think a few are missing the point of this car. Yes, it's "just an expensive kit car" and it may or may not be any good to drive or look at it, but the point is, a crazy millionaire geezer has invested loads of his own money in creating a one-off modern interpretation of a classic rally car. You don't have to like it, but you have to admire the idea. What could be more 'pistonheads' than that?

It's at 9.35 on the scale now, so most of us are singing from the same hymn sheet.

[T1PP3R]

I'd far rather save over 250k and buy a 430. with the spare 250k you could buy an original startos!!

[Sivraj]

forzaminardi said:

I think a few are missing the point of this car. Yes, it's "just an expensive kit car" and it may or may not be any good to drive or look at it, but the point is, a crazy millionaire geezer has invested loads of his own money in creating a one-off modern interpretation of a classic rally car. You don't have to like it, but you have to admire the idea. What could be more 'pistonheads' than that?

Agreed,
Love it or hate it the guys followed he's dream and hats off to him for doing that!!
A true PH'er
I realy like it by the way!!!

[Meoricin]

I could have sworn he crashed this already?

[Oddball RS]

Original sounds better!

[V6Alfisti]

Fantastic car, still can't help but feel Lancia missed a trick.

Make use of more standard materials, stick a tuned 1750tbi unit under the hood from FPT with a sonorous exhaust and put it up for sale. Keep it under 30k. SOLD!