A surprise unveiling at the 75th Geneva International Motor Show in just thirteen days time will reveal a modern-day interpretation of the legendary Lancia Stratos, the Italian rally icon which is celebrating its 35th anniversary during this year.

Responsible for the design and philosophy behind the new car is London-based automotive design agency Fenomenon Hostilic Design, a company set up two years ago for business and management consultancy. The new Stratos concept will represent the new company's first full size (1:1 scale) concept car.

The person behind this exciting new project is Christian Hrabalek, a young car design and marketing consultant, and avid Lancia Stratos enthusiast.

Now 27 years old, Hrabalek has the world’s largest Lancia Stratos collection. He owns no fewer than eight at present (including the second prototype, three road cars, a G4 rally car, a Safari rally car, a Turbo and a rallycross version).

Harabi once said of Lancia, "People watched Lancia bankrupt themselves through high standards and competition, and they expect it do it  again - that is Lancia!"He has also been pursuing the route into presenting a worthy evolution of the Stratos for some time.

The interest towards how a modern-day Stratos could look is nothing new, with the Stola S81 concept car being presented at the 2000 Turin motor show 30 years after the first Zero prototype wowed the crowds.
 

Stola’s 1:1 Ciba epoxy resin model, painted fluorescent orange, was clear as to where it drew its inspiration from, but it had a longer wheelbase (2400 mm compared to the original 2180 mm) and was theoretically fitted with a Maserati V8 Biturbo engine over the original’s Dino V6.

Penned by Marcello Gandini, the designer of the original Stratos, the Stola S81 fell slightly short of how a real Stratos should look, Hrabalek stating, “Gandini’s effort is very interesting, there are several elements that I think are extremely inspired, but there are very big departures and maybe I wished a bit more from him.”

According to Gandini, the Stratos was named after a glider of the period, the wing profile of which forming the shape for the most legendary Lancia rally car of all time.

It is still unclear as to whether the latest interpretation will be fitted with an engine or will be presented as a basic concept, although rumour suggests that it will be a fully working, production ready, car. Hrabalek goes on to say, “Stratos is a very modern car even by today’s standards, but it had a short life, so I am fascinated as to how it would have evolved in a way that the Porsche 911 did.” The 1st of March will reveal the result of this life-long fascination.


 

THE LANCIA STRATOS 1970-79