Frankfurt IAA

19.08.2005 At next month's Frankfurt IAA, Fenomenon Holistic Design will unveil an exciting new concept design - the Stratos Roadster

On the occasion of next month's Frankfurt IAA, Fenomenon Holistic Design will unveil an exciting new concept design - the Stratos Roadster. Their design team have chopped the lid of the Stratos concept car, and from it initial two impressions they have revealed - this course of action has worked rather well.

It was during the 75th Geneva Salon - back in March - that the Fenomenon automotive design studio launched what would turned out to be one of the most exciting concept cars presented at the Swiss motor show - a modern, feasible, reinterpretation of the Stratos - Lancia's sportscar icon from the 1970s. Fenomenon Holistic Design is led by Viennese-born Christian Hrabalek, who happens to be the world's foremost collector, and authority on, the Lancia Stratos, and he brooked no compromises in his quest to create a 'new' version, but which at the same time would be one that captured the very essence of the much-lauded original.

The public and press alike responded very well to the new Stratos concept. Building on from an acknowledged masterpiece is always a difficult - and often thankless - task.  ”I think it is a great design, it looks like a Stratos and is very modern," commented in Geneva the man possibly best placed of all to offer any form of judgement - the legendary 1970s Lancia Stratos HF rally star: Sandro Munari. "I also think it will be possible to translate the handling character of the old Stratos with the new car. But most importantly of all, I think it is an amazing achievement that Christian has made on his own. To say that he is only 27 it is remarkable, and I think it’s a great example that he has set for other young designers and entrepreneurs,” concluded Munari - who claimed countless famous triumphs at the wheel of the Stratos HF, including overall victory of the Monte Carlo Rally in 1975 and 1977.
 

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The two artist's impressions of the new Stratos Roadster revealed - exclusively to Italiaspeed - by Fenomenon, offer a very first glimpse of the next stage of this ambitious project: the Geneva-presented Coupé concept, but with the fixed roof now removed. The 'wedge-shape' of Fenomenon's Stratos concept would appear to superbly lends itself to this approach, and the impression is of a distinctive, slightly-aggressive sportscar, that still perfectly retains - but also enhances - its original, well-regarded shape, while at the same time keeping firmly fused into the project the 'original' Stratos' DNA, a design influence that has always been a 'must' for Christian Hrabalek and his team.

The new Fenomenon Stratos Roadster will be presented to the public for the first time during the Frankfurt IAA next month, and - just like at the Geneva Salon - expect Christian Hrabalek to display it alongside on of his collection of original Stratos cars.

by Edd Ellison
 

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