We have a couple really cool concepts in the pipe from CES for later tonight and tomorrow, but a bit of a lull at moment.
What better time to showcase a very influential concept car from Stola for Lancia at the Turin motorshow of the year 2000.
Dubbed the Stratos S81, the machine updated the original proportions and design elements of the Lancia Stratos rally hero — but three decades later.
WHat really strikes you about the S81 in 2016 is how influential is details ended up being, albeit long after its retirement.
Most cloned details? The boomerrang of LED light made its debut on the Nissan 370Z a few years ago — and are migrating to all Nissan models pretty rapidly.
Another element we have seen since? The shrouded oval of rear roofline, hiding the back glass deep inside an aero tunnel across the floating real pillars.
We see this on none other than the Bugatti Veyron SS Vitesse!
We also see a full-width LED lightbar on the AMG VGT and a few others. But who wore it first? This Stola prototype!
Highest form of flattery, indeed.
2000 Lancia STRATOS S81
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
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