Tag Archives: Lancia Stratos

This Bertone Stratos Zero makeover is destined for street legal racing mania!

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Lancia Stratos is an iconic car that keeps pushing the imagination of automotive concepts for its sheer timeless proportions and the styling that was way ahead of its time. The ride’s masculinity and that hint of metrosexual character make it popular among enthusiasts to date, and for a good reason. The Bertone-designed Stratos Zero further escalated the car’s face value a notch higher. Decades have passed, but the edgy four-wheeler is still alive in the subconscious of automotive enthusiasts like Shane Baxley. Having his feet deep in the Hollywood community (his work features in movies like Captain Marvel and The Predator), Shane is creative in designing automotive concepts.

His latest work is the Bertone Stratos Bax – a remake of the Bertone Stratos Zero in an upbeat modern makeover that’s utterly desirable. Renders of Baxley’s latest concept are jaw-dropping, as I already want to open the gull-winged doors of this beastly supercar and drive it on the open roads. He has contoured the ride’s ultra-sharp edges just at the right places in the right proportions to give it that hot appeal. The flowing design and the fat tires with the hollowed-out rim lend it a very street-legal racer DNA, ready for any challenger on the other side of the lane!

The Bertone Stratos Bax manages to retain the classic ride’s boxy appearance, but with a makeover that takes it to another level as far as the modern aesthetics are concerned. This design alone demonstrates Baxley’s prowess in penning down designs that any automotive manufacturer would dream of achieving, and this Stratos has got me sold high and dry, wanting so desperately to feel it in real life!

Designer: Shane Baxley

The Lancia L Concept celebrates the 50th anniversary of the iconic Stratos Zero

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The story of Lancia is an extremely melancholic one. Founded in 1907, the company did pretty well independently but saw a gradual decline in popularity towards the 1960s, with most models facing a major problem of corrosion over time. This reputation for corrosion, resultant poor sales, and a mass buy-back scheme eventually led to Lancia being so unprofitable that they got acquired by Fiat in 1969. In 1970, things were looking up for the company, as design legend Marcello Gandini (head designer at Bertone) unveiled Lancia’s most iconic car… the hyper-sleek Lancia Stratos Zero, an automobile that is considered futuristic even by today’s standards. The Stratos Zero, as iconic and ground-breaking as it was (and the fact that it appeared in Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker video), didn’t give Lancia the thrust it needed to take off. It soon slipped back into its lull, only for Fiat to later announce that Lancia would stop selling cars outside Italy post-2014.

The company may be long gone from the international scene, but it isn’t forgotten. The Stratos Zero is still regarded one of the most edgy car concepts to exist, even after 50 years since it debuted at the Turin Motor Show in 1970. In fact, it’s even the prime source of inspiration for this automobile, the Lancia L Concept. Designed by automotive designer and enthusiast, Guilherme Araujo, the Lancia L Concept pays homage to the Stratos Zero on its Golden Jubilee Anniversary. The Lancia L boasts of a similar sleek style, with a wedge-shaped hood. However, it sports air-intakes under the wedge design, allowing the car to both be aesthetically accurate as well as aerodynamic. The hot orange and black color combination pays tribute to the 50-year old automotive icon, and triangular headlamps is yet another hat-tip to the car’s spiritual ancestor. The Lancia L Concept’s wheels are a history lesson too, mimicking the style seen in the 2005 Fenomenon Stratos, and the subsequent Stratos models designed by Pininfarina. Moreover, the rims even come with 1970-2020 etched right into them, as a celebration of 50 years since the Stratos Zero, Lancia’s most revolutionary and innovative automotive release… and even though the company doesn’t have the international impact it did half a century ago, the Lancia L Concept keeps the flame of the carmaker’s illustrious history burning!

Designer: Guilherme Araujo

This Lancia Stratos concept shows off a newer, edgier car to commemorate 50 years of the original design!

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Lancia Stratos HF began its rallying adventure back in the late 1960s with the 1.6 Liter V4 Lancia Fulvia engine powered coupe. Then things got interesting as it made its mark at the Turin Motor Show and later on claimed the top spot at the Monte Carlo rally. As the popularity of the brand shone, it ultimately got the top podium step at Firestone Rally. The consequent decade of the 70s saw Lancia grow as an icon for the rally championships. Their rally specialist cars became household posters for automotive enthusiasts, and it still lingers in the sub-conscious of diehard fans.

To commemorate the 50 years of the star brand that had its highs and the definitive lows – designer Meelis Lillemets has created his version of the Lancia Stratos. He calls it Lancia Stratos 50 – aptly so, and it has a modern design language that manages to preserve the essence of the iconic car. This one is powered by an electric drivetrain keeping the environment in mind. More than a rally car it looks tailor-made for circuit racing with its low ride height and an aerodynamic design to reduce drag and keep it glued to the tarmac. The sharp flowing lines from the front to the rear of the car give it a definitive character. On the rear, it sports a beefy muscular build – accentuated by the futuristic taillights and the dampers.

The subdued rear spoiler blends into the body rather than taking its position on the rear trunk. Somehow the side mugshot seems to be highly inspired by the Lamborghini Aventador with very futuristic looking wheel arches. Overall the designer has managed to capture the lasting spirit of the car that still lives in our memories – 50 years and counting!

Designer: Meelis Lillemets