Ultimate On- and Off-Road Performance Car Loses Its Top
Though Lancia may no longer own the rights to the legendary Stratos name, its wedgy shape, lightning-quick performance and rugged rally car reputation continue to live on through British design group Fenomenon.
Lead by Austrian-born designer and Stratos enthusiast Chris Hrablek, Fenomenon brought the Stratos back to life in a modern, highly advanced concept, which became the unexpected star of this year's Geneva Motor Show. Hrablek's Stratos will make another appearance at this year's all-important Frankfurt Motor Show, but this time without a roof.
Hrablek's vision of the Stratos was much like Lancia's original objective - to create an all-terrain, all-weather supercar that can run with the best on or off the road. On top of delivering world-class performance, the latest version of the Stratos adds a strong dose of fresh air. Unlike the original, which suffered from a cramped, stuffy interior prone to
overheating, the Stratos Roadster offers unobstructed open skies, curing its otherwise claustrophobic cabin.
Like the original 'green machine' which was shown at Frankfurt, the new Stratos has a profile that will be impossible to miss. It's not so much streamlined as it is wedge-like, similar in overall shape to Pagani's Mercedes-powered Zonda C-12S, or Lamborghini's Murcielago and Gallardo. Key retro details remain unchanged: exaggerated fenders, parabolic cabin and round tail lamps are all primary design cues of the iconic '70s sports car, but they are intertwined with unique centre-hinged doors for easy cabin access, while its rump incorporates a diffuser, rather than a spoiler, to keep the tail pinned to the ground.
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| Fenomenon brought the Stratos back to life in a modern, highly advancedconcept, which became the unexpected star of this year's Geneva MotorShow. (Photo: Fenomenon) |
Lead by Austrian-born designer and Stratos enthusiast Chris Hrablek, Fenomenon brought the Stratos back to life in a modern, highly advanced concept, which became the unexpected star of this year's Geneva Motor Show. Hrablek's Stratos will make another appearance at this year's all-important Frankfurt Motor Show, but this time without a roof.
Hrablek's vision of the Stratos was much like Lancia's original objective - to create an all-terrain, all-weather supercar that can run with the best on or off the road. On top of delivering world-class performance, the latest version of the Stratos adds a strong dose of fresh air. Unlike the original, which suffered from a cramped, stuffy interior prone to
 |
| Like the original 'green machine' which was shown at Frankfurt, the new Stratos roadster has a profile that will be impossible to miss. (Photo: Fenomenon) |
Like the original 'green machine' which was shown at Frankfurt, the new Stratos has a profile that will be impossible to miss. It's not so much streamlined as it is wedge-like, similar in overall shape to Pagani's Mercedes-powered Zonda C-12S, or Lamborghini's Murcielago and Gallardo. Key retro details remain unchanged: exaggerated fenders, parabolic cabin and round tail lamps are all primary design cues of the iconic '70s sports car, but they are intertwined with unique centre-hinged doors for easy cabin access, while its rump incorporates a diffuser, rather than a spoiler, to keep the tail pinned to the ground.