After being dormant for a few years, Lancia returned with a reskinned Peugeot 208 for the new Ypsilon. However One other Italian firm, Kimera Automobili, has a greater concept to revitalize the troubled model. Meet the Evo38, a modern-day tribute to a automotive that formally by no means existed—the Lancia 038.
The 038 was imagined to be an evolution of the 037—the final rear-wheel-drive automotive to win the WRC title again in 1983. It had been engineered with all-wheel drive and extra energy in a bid to maintain up with the Audi Quattro S1 however it by no means noticed the sunshine of day. The Delta S4 outmoded the 037 however there was no 038, regardless of a minimum of one prototype being made and examined. In an try to repair historical past, Kimera is bringing again the 038.
The brand new automotive is a follow-up to the Kimera Evo37 launched in 2021, however now with all-wheel drive and roughly 100 extra horsepower with an even bigger turbocharger and different {hardware} revisions. It routes almost 600 hp to each axles via a six-speed guide transmission modified with shorter gear ratios.
With ample carbon fiber and titanium, the workforce behind the Evo38 has restricted the burden penalty of including AWD. It weighs roughly 1,100 kilograms (2,425 kilos), so roughly as a lot as a Mazda MX-5 Miata RF or an Alpine A110S.
This “Integrale” model has an electrohydraulic differential controllable from the within by permitting the driving force to decide on how a lot energy goes to the wheels. The suspension has been tweaked in comparison with the 037 and now has electronically managed shock absorbers together with a raise system.
The Kimera Evo37 had a 2.1-liter engine made by Italtecnica re-engineered underneath the steering of Lancia engineer Claudio Lombardi. There are plans to promote the Evo38 with an electronically actuated sequential gearbox.
Kimera intends to convey the Evo38 to the 2024 Geneva Motor Present subsequent week earlier than beginning manufacturing of the 38 items later this yr. Pricing particulars haven’t been disclosed however the 037 was supplied in 37 examples at €480,000 a pop. In right this moment’s cash, that is about $520,000.
Kimera Ok-39 teaser
Curiously, the corporate has arrange a devoted web page on its web site for a 3rd future mannequin. There’s already a countdown till the Ok-39 might be unveiled in 120 days, so offered our math is correct, the debut date is locked in for June 22, 2024.
In a perfect world, Lancia would’ve launched a rally-bred automotive in 2024 to kickstart its revival. However in the end, the Ypsilon made extra sense because it’s based mostly on a number of current Stellantis merchandise, such because the Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa.
However corporations like Kimera are prepared to money in on that heritage by producing what Lancia will not. Simply put together to pony up some critical cash.
