Kimera’s latest tribute to the venerable Lancia 037 is here and it’s a stunning recreation with modern features that perfectly blend the past and present. Dubbed Martini 7, this special unit of the brand’s limited run has a power-to-weight ratio of about 0.22 hp per pound. It sounds like one of the most old-school driving experiences available and celebrates seven championship wins for the Martini racing team.
Like other Kimera EVO37 examples, this one uses a 2.1-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine and sits atop a Lancia Beta Monte Carlo (called Scorpion in the US) chassis. Gone are the fiberglass body panels in favor of Kevlar and carbon fiber. What makes this unit (one of just 37 scheduled for production) special are the unique touches it gets.
First, the engine develops 550 hp (410 kW / 557 PS) instead of just 500 hp (373 kW/507 PS). Kimera says that this car weighs in at “about 1,100 kilograms” (2,425 lbs) which gives it an approximate power-to-weight ratio of 0.227 hp per pound. In case it wasn’t obvious before, this is going to be one lightly fast sports car. Power is transmitted through a manual transmission with shorter gears than normal and then to the rear wheels only.
More: Kimera Shows Off Latest EVO37, Teases Update That Will ‘Bring Joy To Enthusiasts’
It also references the original car through the use of a quick-release system on the rear bumper. Exposing the rear reveals the gearbox and exhaust just as one could see on the 037 group B Evo 2. This edition also gets unique graphics that pay homage to the Martini Racing livery but with changes like the words “World Rally Champion” on the side.
The whole car pays tribute to the seven total championships won by the Martini racing team. The first of those victories came in 1983 behind the wheel of the 037, the last rear-wheel drive car to win the World Rally Championship. The next six wins for Martini and Lancia came through the Delta S4 and Delta Integrale.
Before you get any notion that this is just another silly render of vaporware from a brand just hoping to get enough deposits to build a single car, there’s good news. Kimera has already proven its ability to build amazing Lancia 037 recreations. In fact, an early prototype debuted at Goodwood back in 2021.
Since then, Kimera has been honing its craft and delivered its first customer car, dubbed Esmeralda, back in March of 2022. Kimera hasn’t announced pricing on this car or whether or not it’s already been snatched up by a buyer.
