Few cars have the cult following enjoyed by the Lancia Stratos HF, a legendary rally car that is the subject of admiration amongst racing enthusiasts and the car design community alike.
The HF, meaning High Fidelity, was a very successful rally car, winning the World Rally Championship in 1974, 1975 and 1976. The Stratos racecar also won the 1974 Targa Florio five times the Tour de France Automobile and three editions of Giro d’Italia automobilistico. So it’s racing pedigree is well documented.
For the designers, it is the iconic wedge shape that came to define the Italian automobiles of the 1970s, and one of the many high notes maestro Marcello Gandini hit while working for now defunct Italian carrozzeria Bertone. The Stratos was also the first Lancia designed at Bertone, all Lancia models before it were designed by Pininfarina.
The 1970 Stratos HF Zero, a working prototype of the world rally racing champion, is also one of the most sought after concept car creations of all time.
Lancia Stratos Zero at Villa d’Este 2018
Part car and part spaceship, the car’s cabin is accessed via the windscreen, and the steering wheel moves up to allow the driver to gain entry. Perhaps even more impressive is the concept car’s height: it’s a mere 838mm (less than three feet) tall. It’s far from practical, but it looks badass.
The car was purchased in the Bertone liquidation by Phillip Sarofim, founder and partner of the venture-capital firm Trousdale Ventures, and now resides in the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles.
Inspired by these legendary automotive creations, designer Guilherme Neves Araujo created his version of a modern-day Lancia Stratos, which pays homage to these historic masterpieces.
“In 2020 they celebrate 50 years and 49 years respectively since the first appearance of the Lancia Stratos Zero at the Turin Motor Show in 1970,” says Araujo. “This is my interpretation of a sports car for the brand in today’s world, keeping the heritage but exploring new possibilities of the wedge shapes and simple graphics.”
The two-passenger sports car is powered by two electric motors at the rear, one for each wheel. Araujo used Autodesk Alias for 3D modeling and Keyshot to create the renderings and video animation.
We think the modern interpretation, an idea that has been toyed with before, simply knock it out of the park. Well done Guilherme!
