At a time when it's all too easy to parade cars invented in seconds by artificial intelligence on social networks, the patient and creative work of designers deserves to be highlighted more than ever. Such is the case with the Lancia Pu+Ra Montecarlo project, imagined by French designer Christopher Giroux, currently Senior Exterior Designer at Ford in Germany.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lancia Beta Montecarlo, he has chosen to reinvent this legendary 70's coupé with a modern interpretation, faithful to the spirit of the original model but adapted to the new Pu+Ra styling language. Lancia has since developed the HPE concept.
On his LinkedIn account, Christopher Giroux explains that he took great pleasure in "keeping the original feel and ambience of the 70s, but in a more radical way". His sketches, combining traditional techniques with modern digital tools such as Photoshop and Blender, give life to a coupé that seems at once to have emerged from the past and projected into the future.
The iconic proportions and details of the model designed by Paolo Martin at Pininfarina in 1975 can be seen again: the dark, taut front end and the compact, sporty silhouette. But the whole is given a contemporary makeover: T-shaped LED headlamps, circular elements on the hood and roof inspired by the Pu+Ra HPE, sculpted and dynamic lines.
It's impossible to talk about the Montecarlo without remembering its role in competition. Its chassis gave birth to the legendary Lancia Rally 037, the last rear-wheel drive to win a WRC world title. To celebrate this heritage, Giroux also imagined a rally version of his concept, decked out in the legendary Alitalia livery.
With its golden wheels, enlarged body kit, aggressive air intakes and rear spoiler, this version immediately evokes Lancia's sporting DNA and its golden age of rallying. A creation that makes you as eager to see it lined up on a special stage as in a showroom.
Giroux insists that this is a personal, free project, with no official ties to Lancia or Stellantis. Far from being a mere graphic experiment, Pu+Ra Montecarlo is convincingly coherent, as if it could actually exist one day.
As for its powertrain, the designer didn't specify. The proportions and styling suggest an electric orientation, but some sketches suggest a hybrid with a central engine.
For the moment, Lancia is concentrating its efforts on launching the new Ypsilon, followed by the future Gamma and Delta. A sports coupé is not on the immediate agenda. However, this type of project demonstrates just how much an "image" car (halo car) could restore the Italian brand's aura.
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Everyone has good ideas for Alfa and Lancia, and there's a lot to be done with the legendary models of the past. Unfortunately, Stellantis never got past the series production stage, because we couldn't afford the bodywork or the special furniture. It was worth it to create the 2nd European group...
Superb!
We'd love to see 3-door coupes of this type (Lancia, Alfa, Peugeot...) again in the Lancia range, and especially in Stellantis!
The Italian brands (Alfa, Fiat, Lancia) in particular are specialists in bringing legendary models back to the fore through an exhibition, a concept, an anniversary or just to honor the Monte Carlo, but that's where it ends. As far as projects are concerned, it's a complete void. They can't even produce a new Punto! 😂
Having one of Monte-Carlo I admit I have a little trouble seeing my Monte-Carlo in this concept car!!! Admittedly, this one is superb... but the original was small and this one looks like a very big thing 🤨
Mind you, this is just the personal vision of a designer from outside Stellantis, in this case from Ford.
In any case, a very fine interpretation of the Pu+Ra concept.
Far more imaginative, refreshing and visionary than the Kimera 037s, which simply put the original Rallye 037 on steroids, flattering our weakness for nostalgia.
That's what's missing from the Lancia range. A cross between the Stratos and the MonteCarlo, and there's no shortage of 6 Biturbo engines at FCA (3).
Legendary?! Sorry, but anyone who owned a Beta knows that it was a POS. Very far from the heydays of Lancia with the Aurelia, Flamina or Fulvia. The name 'Beta' was probably an ad campaign for the tools manufacturer - because if you've got one of these you surely needed to spend a lot of time on repair and maintenance.