New Lancia Stratos to be put into limited production

The New Lancia Stratos will be put into limited production by Manifattura Automobili Torino (MAT), the bespoke sports car builder has announced. The reborn Stratos will be displayed at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, and is based on the Ferrari F430.

The model, a homage to Lancia's legendary sports and rally car, of which 492 examples were built between 1973 and 1978, was first unveiled in concept form in 2010.

It was commisioned by billionaire German entrepreneur Michael Stoschek. The design was penned by Pininfarina, whereas the original Stratos was the work of Bertone.

The original concept was based on a cut-down aluminium spaceframe structure from a Ferrari 430 Scuderia and used that car's drivetrain.

However, in 2011, Ferrari blocked Pininfarina and 'any other Ferrari-dependent suppliers' from putting the New Stratos into production, prompting the car's designers to look elsewhere for a base.

MAT's announcement doesn't state any technical details of the production New Stratos, but it does say that it has obtained from Stoschek 'permission to replicate the New Stratos using the same design and technologies of his car'. The only detail revealed thus far is that the engine produces 542bhp, while pictures show the steering wheel-mounted shift paddles of an automatic gearbox. 

Stoschek said, "I am delighted that other passionate car enthusiasts will be able to experience how the successor to the most fascinating rally car of the 1970s still sets the bar for design and performance."