Words: Nile Bijoux

The Lancia Stratos was and still is a gorgeous piece of automotive art. It was produced throughout the 1970s but despite the road-going version’s massive fanbase, there hasn’t been a follow-up. At least, until now.

The Stratos is being reborn, but it won’t be a Lancia. Instead, it will be built by Manifattura Automobili Torino (MAT), the same company that built the Apollo Arrow and is currently working on the bonkers Intensa Emozione.

The first ‘New Stratos’ was built as a one-off example for German billionaire, Michael Stoschek, in 2010. That model used a shortened version of Ferrari’s F430 chassis and the same 4.3-litre V8 engine. However, Ferrari didn’t particularly like it and shut the project down before it could be turned into a full production model.

Eight years later, and MAT has managed to morph the New Stratos enough from its Ferrari roots to build 25 units. Details are being kept under wraps until a formal announcement at the Geneva Motor Show at the start of March. We only know at present that the car will use a full carbon fibre body and will include all of the technical wizardry that went into Stoschek’s 2010 original. It will maintain its mid-engined layout, offering “more than” 550 horsepower (410kW), but nothing else has been divulged.





The good news is that it will look almost identical to the 2010 New Stratos, which is certainly a jaw-dropper. Stay tuned for more as the Geneva Motor Show opens its doors in a few weeks’ time.