These images show a spectacular recreation of the Lancia Stratos testing at Alfa Romeo’s Balocco test track in northern Italy.
Based on the structure and running gear of the Ferrari F430 Scuderia car, this remake is believed to have been funded by a car enthusiast industrialist for his sole use, although it’s possible that it could be produced in very small numbers for other customers.

The finished car will be unveiled late this year. There’s no word on price, but given that this could end-up being a one-off, it could easily run to seven figures.
This latest homage to Lancia’s 1972 Stratos is thought to have been inspired by the 2005 remake developed by the Fenomenon design consultancy, which was exhibited at the 2005 Geneva motor show and featured in Autocar.
The fact that it was caught testing on a Fiat Auto facility is interesting, though may not be significant; at this point the company has presumably done no more than give tacit approval to the project, although a stronger association is theoretically possible at least.
Nor is it clear whether the car will be branded as a Lancia, but it could well use the Stratos name, the rights to which reside with Stratos collector Chris Hrabalek, the name behind the Fenomenon concept.
Ferrari is not thought to have supplied the car’s running gear; more likely a Scuderia will have been used as a donor car. Although that sounds expensive, the cost of sacrificing a Ferrari for its internals will be nothing compared to the total bill for the project.
It’s believed that the wheelbase of the aluminium F430 spaceframe structure has been cut-down to achieve the right proportions. Among other things, the original Stratos was legendary for an exceptionally short wheelbase that afforded it exceptional manoeuvrability in its primary role as a rally car.
The new car is thought to be pretty light at well under 1200kg, suggesting the use of carbonfibre outer panels. That should result in a spectacular power-to-weight ratio given that an F430 Scuderia weighs 1225kg, and that the engine has been lightly tuned for its application in the Stratos.
Should Fiat do more than offer arm’s length endorsement of this project it could have interesting implications for Lancia, whose sporting DNA strand has largely been suppressed since the Delta Integrale went out of production.
Lancia’s designers have clearly considered the marque’s sporting heritage in the past few years however, proof first appearing in the form of the pretty 2003 Fulvietta concept, which was at one point seriously considered for production, and also talk of an update of the mid-engined Monte Carlo sports car.
But apart from the huge cost of developing these models, Fiat has always struggled with the overlap with Alfa Romeo that these models would create.
Alternatively, it could simply cash in on the appeal of this new Stratos, selling it as a limited edition in the manner of the Alfa 8C Competizione without feeling the need to add more affordable sports models to Lancia’s line-up.