LANCIA

This is what a modern Lancia Montecarlo could look like

Ford senior exterior designer Christopher Giroux used his free time to reinterpret the 1970s Montecarlo coupe for the modern age.

Lancia has entered a new chapter, although its current offering is limited to the Ypsilon subcompact hatchback. The larger Gamma crossover and the long-awaited Delta are on the horizon, but fans of the Italian brand are still waiting for something more lively with a sharper edge. Giroux has worked on that theme and has somehow "revived" the Montecarlo coupe, presenting it in a modern version called the Pu+Ra Montecarlo.

The Stellantis-owned Italian brand has already flirted with the idea of ​​a sports car with the Pu+Ra HPE concept from 2023, a Stratos-inspired study that never made it to production. Giroux's Pu+Ra Montecarlo borrows some of the concept's signature features, but still has a design that could probably enter showrooms, according to Autonews.

He decided to revive his beloved Lancia for its 50th anniversary. The original Beta Montecarlo was launched in 1975 as a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car, available in coupe and targa body styles. Its design was the work of Paolo Martini of Pininfarina, who gave the car its unmistakable proportions and character.

To refresh his vision, Giroux combined traditional hand-drawing with digital techniques such as Photoshop, Blender and AI-assisted tools to bring it to life. The result is a "sharp" coupe that pays homage to Lancia's rich past while looking modern at the same time. Key references remain intact, including the blacked-out nose treatment and the distinctive aerodynamic elements, which he reinterpreted here in clear glass.

The Pu+Ra Montecarlo features slim T-shaped LED lights at either end, staying true to Lancia's modern styling language. It also incorporates circular elements on the hood, roof and rear, similar to the Pu+Ra HPE concept(image below).

At the front, a pronounced chin, aerodynamic lip and sculpted fenders contribute to the coupe’s exotic stance, while the glass and integrated spoiler strongly recall the Stratos. The profile has a clean surface with a character line that starts from the black side air vents. At the rear, a thin light strip is located below another discreet spoiler.

The Montecarlo’s history naturally extends to motorsport, as its chassis became the basis for the legendary Lancia Rally 037, the last rear-wheel drive car to win the WRC title. In honor of this legacy, Giroux also conceived the Pu+Ra Montecarlo to look rally-ready, and it features the Alitalia livery that also distinguished the Stratos HF.

This competition version rides on different gold-colored alloy wheels and has a redesigned body kit. Changes include aggressive bumper air intakes with futuristic LED lights, a discreet splitter, a hood scoop, new side air vents, a ducktail spoiler, a more prominent diffuser and a rear end with vents.

The designer did not specify the powertrain, although the proportions and styling details of the car hint at an electric drivetrain. However, early sketches showing dual exhausts and a rally car-like rear end with air vents suggest the possibility of a mid-mounted hybrid drivetrain with an internal combustion engine.

However, as tempting as the idea of ​​a new Lancia sports car may be, the brand must first ensure strong sales to justify Stellantis’ investment. For now, the chances of a return of the Aurelia, Fulvia, Stratos, Montecarlo or 037 remain slim. Nevertheless, projects like this design study show how convincingly a modern coupe can serve as a prestige model and remind us of what makes the brand so appealing.

Autonews