Kimera at Villa Fiori – a Stratospheric Lancia
ELEVATING THE LEGEND
Some rally cars are just legendary. They win rallies, bring championship titles home and through attracting famous rally drivers, they set in stone their historical record. And the story is no different in case of Lancia Rally 037, the famous successor to the stellar Lancia Stratos. The Turin brand built the car in the early 1980s and with its mid-engine chassis and powerful Group B specification, brought home the world championship through the hands of Markku Alén, Attilio Bettega and none other than Walter Röhrl. With its iconic Martini livery, it was the one to remember.
Fast forward forty years and a visionary individual – Luca Betti – decided to put a modern twist on the legend. Coming from his lifelong passion for racing, deeply rooted in his family heritage, he decided to focus his career on cars aaand… long story short that is how Kimera was born – an automotive brand producing a tribute to the original Rally 037. This year during the Como Car Weekend, Kimera took over Villa Fiori’s garden and presented a jaw-dropping line-up. Are you ready for a stroll?
A STRATOSPHERIC LINE-UP BY THE LAKE
Kimera got famous with their EVO37 model and at Como we could admire no fewer than eight specimens of this stunning sportscar. The road-level entrance welcomed everyone with a striking yellow chassis number 005 out of only 037 that will ever be produced. Nicknamed “Gioia”, it had its hood, boot and both doors opened to expose all that carbon fibre interior guaranteeing the joy promised in its name.
Take the steep staircase down to the magical garden and you could find more Kimeras – some bathing in the Italian sunshine, some hiding in the shadows. Obviously, the most attention was drawn to the chassis dressed in the iconic Martini livery, marking also the very first prototype ever – “Penelope”. Not only does this car make for a fantastic display, but it also means business when it comes to driving. It used to partake in various events with the ’88 and ’89 World Rally Champion Miki Biasion behind the wheel.
But there was much more and the fans of modern sportscars could feel like kids in a sweet shop. From every direction a stunning Kimera was trying to seduce you to come closer and admire its beauty. Would you give in to the very first production car sporting an elegant British Green body – the “Esmeralda”, or would your senses surrender to the latest EVO037 creation from Kimera – a German “Mathilda” with Rosso Final over black and beige Alcantara?
And boy, were the stories behind different chassis captivating! Each of the sportscars had an inspiration behind the nearly-handcrafted build, but the one that got to me the most was that of another white Martini vehicle. First out of seven in a mini-themed rally series, it was nicknamed “Rally San Remo” as its owner also owns the original vintage counterpart that won the famous rally back in the days. And to top it all off… the owner’s son is named Remo, too!
WHAT IF WE TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER?
Yet, in the centre of the stage there was a car slightly different to the others. Its front wheel arches were a bit bulkier, its splitter those few centimetres longer and more aggressive and if you leaned over – you could peek into that massive hood vent. This isn’t the well-known EVO37 anymore. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome straight from its premiere at 2024 February’s Geneva International Motorshow – Kimera EVO38.
The very first chassis in striking Special Yellow Kimera is a promise of something new and paves the future for Kimera. Described by the brand itself as a car that pushes the “restomod” badge even further, being more of a “one-off” philosophy despite actual small production series. Contrary to its younger sister, EVO38 is an integrale, delivering the monstrous 600 horsepower through a six-speed manual transmission to all four wheels. If you think that the power output is modest for our times, think again – we are dealing with an 1100kg rocket over here!
WHEN FASHION MEETS PERFORMANCE
When I visited Villa Fiori, taking care of Kimera’s display was Illy – a Milan-based Italian model with Sicilian temperament. When we briefly spoke, an idea sparked in our heads and in her sleek white overall she turned out to be the perfect match for the stylish creations by Luca Betti’s Kimera. The light- and shadow-play amplified the sportscars’ aggressive lines, proving they can be equally as elegant, if one fancies to drive the car to an elegant dinner.
After multiple strolls around Kimera’s display, I headed back to Fuori Concorso’s event at Villa Sucota and Villa del Grumello. Walking along the coast I reflected on what I saw – a purely passion-driven project by a dedicated visionary heading in a clear direction, yet through an unbeaten path. Knowing that Kimera didn’t say its last word on recreating dreams, I am nothing but sure the company’s future is bright!
Text & Photos: Adam Pekala ©
