The brief was to create a luxury touring saloon which combined the characteristics of a sportscar with practicality. The Lancia Style Centre took up the challenge and two ideas have emerged. First came the Lancia Granturismo, a prototype created through a joint venture between the Lancia Style Centre, Studio Carcerano and Carrozzeria Maggiora. Today it's the turn of the Granturismo Stilnovo, a concept car of huge stylistic appeal that is essentially a living test ground for the shapes and styling cues of future Lancias. 

The car measures 4236 mm in length, 1828 in width and 1465. The result is an exquisite work of sculpture that features dynamic interplay between masses and well-proportioned volumes. This stylistic approach, part of the Lancia tradition, has been given new impetus since the introduction of the Thesis flagship on which the concepts are based. The general layout of the Granturismo Stilnovo is underpinned by the twin ideas of a virtual glasshouse combined with a potent, dynamic vehicle body. Two sturdy sides give the car absolute unity of design and apparently enfold it in an embrace. This distinctive motif, already seen on the Granturismo and the new Ypsilon, is destined to reappear on future models in the Lancia range. Other memorable aspects include the sculpted quality of the car surfaces and subtle retro references to classic Lancia motifs. The Granturismo Stilnovo features prominent, sturdy wings, a top-quality grille separated from hi-tech headlights, a glazed roof and tall tail-lights: this is the leit-motif of new Lancia style. 

The most prominent conceptual aspects include: a structural pillar arch, almost like a flying bridge soaring up into the air (in homage to Pier Luigi Nervi and Santiago Calatrava); a sturdy trapezoid pillar at the rear that joins the waistline to support the car visually like an aeronautical rudder. 

The Granturismo Stilnovo is thus a tangible expression of tradition and innovation, sportiness and elegance, emotion and practicality. In other words, a blend of apparent opposites that find a balance in this concept car due to the long tradition of form and content encoded in the Lancia DNA. In the same way, the interior of the Granturismo Stilnovo is designed as a proving ground for the car's looks and practical features. The passenger compartment itself is built to meet contemporary lifestyle demands for luxury, multifunctionality and discreet driving satisfaction. Examples include a windscreen positioned far forward and a long ceiling that offers more interior space than usual in a car of this size.

The Granturismo and Granturismo Stilnovo will evolve into a production destined Thesis-based sporty luxury 'Grand Tourer' that is in the final planning stages and could debut as early as late next year as efforts to relaunch the brand continue.

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> LANCIA GRANTURISMO STILNOVO
> HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES OF THE LANCIA GRANTURISMO STILNOVO