Wild Fenomenon Stratos Concept Brings Back Glory Days of Lancia Rally Domination

With apple-green paint, and comically oversized fenders that house 18-inch alloy wheels in front and 19-inchers in back, the

With apple-green paint, and comically oversized fenders that house 18-inch alloy wheels in front and 19-inchers in back, the Stratos is certainly a sight. (Photo: Fenomenon )

Stratos is certainly a sight. But there's even more originality to the concept than what initially meets the eye. In the original, Lancia used a conically-shaped windshield to help form the guidelines to the Stratos' cabin with standard twin A-pillars. If you look carefully at the new car, you'll see that the windshield and side windows are one piece, divided in the center by a single A-pillar. The car's two doors are hinged on this point, providing easy access to the cabin by butterfly-like openings.

Should the Stratos ever reach production, Fenomenon intends to utilize entry-level Ferrari power, much like the original. The concept is fitted with a 425-horsepower 40-valve V8 engine borrowed from the now-defunct Ferrari F360 Challenge Stradale racer. Matched to a gearbox of unknown origin (most likely Ferrari's F1 six-speed sequential unit), and bearing a curb weight that's estimated at 950 kilos (2,094

The show car uses blacked-out windows as development of the car's interior has not been completed. (Photo: Fenomenon )

pounds), it's quite possible that the estimated 3.8-second dash to 100 km/h is feasible, as is the 338+ km/h top speed.

With an engine, exterior design, and chassis structure crafted from aluminum and carbon fibre, Fenomenon worked in collaboration with the French prototype firm, D3 (part of the Pininfarina coachwork group) to produce the milled model from computer-generated data. D3, which was also commissioned by the likes of BMW for the original Z8 and MINI prototypes, claims that the design is entirely production-feasible - good news for investors and fans alike. The show car uses blacked-out windows as development of the car's interior has not been completed.