After a deluge of exterior shots over the last 24 hours, the interior of the new-generation Lancia Stratos has finally been laid bare in a CGI image, revealing a minimalist, stark, purposeful cockpit that looks as if it is ready and itching to hit the next ‘special stage’. Just three materials are present: aluminium, carbonfibre and Alcantara. The project’s aims of uncompromising performance and lightness reverberate through every pore of the interior, with a true driver-orientated environment having been carefully created, in accordance with the strict adherence to Stratos tradition that is a hallmark of the ambitious project.

Nothing unnecessary can be seen inside the Stratos. There is no radio, glovebox, airbags, speakers or infotelematic system. No sign of cupholders, either. The project’s brief focused closely on reflecting the model’s stunning competition history on the inside, and the result is truly a ‘race ready’ cabin that makes the likes of the Alfa 8C Competizione look frilly inside. There is no carpet; instead, an aluminium plated floor – similar to that of the Ferrari 430 Scuderia – has a serrated finish to provide grip for footwear. Also referencing the Scuderia, a low-slung aluminium and carbonfibre centre console rises from the floor, and in this respect, the design language is similar to the original Stratos, as well as lightness-focused models such as Ferrari’s F50 and Enzo, and the Lotus Elise. Reinforcing the Ferrari links, round push buttons sourced from the 430 feature on the centre tunnel cover, to one side of the handbrake lever.

The dashboard is finished in stitched Alcantara, with a large hood section to shield the instruments from sunlight coming through the sharply raked windscreen. In front of the passenger there is a vertical map storage mesh (a feature also present on the 430 Scuderia), while the round aluminium dashboard air vents are sleeved within carbonfibre housings. Three switches on a panel in the centre control heating and ventilation. The instruments themselves are a pure reinterpretation of the Stratos’ original units, with round black gauges for the speedometer and tachometer, plus smaller gauges for the oil pressure, oil and water temperature, and an analogue clock all fitted into a rectangular aluminium plate. The speedometer includes an LED screen (drawn from Ferrari) to signal the upshift position. However the most significant gauge is the ‘G-Force’ meter, which will measure the G-forces when the Stratos is in action. This is an evolution that, needless to say, wasn’t to be found on the original car in the 1970s, and is a feature that once again demonstrates that the uncompromising nature of this new supercar.

The steering wheel in the image, complete with engine start button and upshift lights, is taken from the Ferrari F430 (the Stratos is based on a redeveloped chassis taken from this model, as well as using its V8 engine) and includes the famous ‘Manettino’ button on one side. In this respect, the Manettino’s ‘Race’ setting can be seen in an LCD screen in the instrument panel image, while winter, Sport, CT and CST options will also be offered on the Manettino menu. While the paddles can be seen in the image (which is distinctly photoshopped around the steering wheel area), there is – curiously – no column switchgear shown on the official image. This lends weight to strong rumours that the final production version could be based on Maranello's latest, the 458 Italia, and thus gain its steering wheel, on which the indicator and wiper stalk functions are incorporated.

The door cards are fashioned from a very simple sweep of carbonfibre, and in a nod to history, are hollowed out to replicate the original Stratos’ legendary ‘helmet pockets’. At the front of this recess is a simple aluminium door catch. The two seats are pure race-style items, with carbonfibre frames and featuring six-point competition harnesses. The seats are trimmed with Alcantara and embossed with the original ‘Stratos’ logo on the headrests.