Forty years ago the Gandini-penned, Bertone-stamped ‘Zero’ concept shocked the automotive industry, and over the last couple of weeks, this new Stratos project has drawn global attention like few Lancias since the debut of the original. We understand the three images were also taken during this prototype's test session at the Fiat Group's Balocco test track near Milan on June 21 (as were the two grainy shots we published last week), but more information on that test has now emerged, including that the test driver on the day was former F1 pilot Tiago Monteiro, and moreover, that the appraisal was judged a huge success.

From the Zero showcar of 1970, and the subsequent Stratos HF Prototipo (1971) – again crafted by Bertone – the legendary production Stratos was born. With the supercar destined primarily for competition use, 400 examples had to be built to satisfy Group 4 homologation requirements. Lancia never kept accurate build records, but 492 units is the accepted production figure.

Now, it is fast forward four decades. More detailed information on the new project has been revealed today, most sensationally that the new Stratos is powered by a production Ferrari V8 engine. This provides one of the biggest pointers yet to the keen adherence to history of this project, as the original Stratos was famously equipped with the legendary 2.4-litre Dino V6. The apparent use of Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano rear light units on the prototype at Balocco adds to the sourcing of Maranello components, along with the carbon-ceramic brake units that may well also be a Ferrari item.

For the first time, the rear of the car has been glimpsed, and here the design language is once again firmly in the Stratos mould with the single round light units, a jutting body-moulded spoiler, moulded registration plate recess, and twin exhaust outlets that now exit on either side of a modern-day integrated rear splitter section. The rear end of the supercar also gets an integrated high-level brake light and a neatly-executed design around the rear window, which forms part of the enveloping clamshell.

This careful adherence to Lancia tradition complements other similarly cues on the car, such as the distinct curves of the side windows, the large front radiator grille and positioning of the indicators (although they are now LED units). The passing of time has seen the original’s pop-up headlights outlawed, but the new units have been well thought out and almost mimic the original’s ‘flap’ cues, retreating ever-so-slightly into a recess in the bodywork at their base. The prototype’s wheels are also a distinct reinterpretation of the original Stratos’ rally wheels (usually finished in an iconic yellow on the factory rally cars); most notably, they are now twin-spoked, whereas the ‘coffin spokes’ on the original – which had to withstand the constant crushing impact of tough rally stages – were solid. The wheels’ single central locking hub nut arrangement can be seen on the prototype and is yet another thoroughly modern feature that has been crafted in. More modernity can be seen in the aerodynamic front lip spoiler, which separates the new car’s styling, along with the original and interesting positioning of the fog lamp units. The prototype also shows a clear front cover recess for the Lancia emblem.

All the ‘visible’ bodywork components – from the ‘clamshells’ (whose appearance mimics those of the original model), doors and other body panels – are made from carbonfibre. The extremely high level of finish implies that these have been taken directly from moulds, lending weight to information that the car is destined for a limited production run. Italiaspeed also understands this is one of several prototypes that have been completed so far, with possibly up to five having been built. This ties in with a project that has seen at least three full-size mock-up models created, as three Italian design houses fought over the brief.

According to sources present on the test day, the lightweight and short-wheelbase Stratos prototype proved “sensational” at the demanding Balocco proving ground, considerably exceeding the benchmarks put down for the day’s test in every area – not least in the area of handling. The adherence to the original Stratos' philosophy of being designed as a competition car first and foremost, and therefore minimalism and weight saving, were key objectives of Bertone's design team four decades ago, can be seen in the very clean and simple door catch design, while the lock barrel is located several inches away.

Italiaspeed also understands that the original car’s legendary ‘helmet pocket’ feature has been carried over to the new car, so a crisp, racing-style cockpit can be expected. The results of the test and the information so far all adds weight to a project that appears to have been in the development stage for around four years, and by the parameters involved, has been firmly in the ‘money no object’ category.

The rebirth of the Stratos comes after many major milestones in the forty-year history of the much-loved sports car, which kicked off in 1970 with the development of the Stratos HF Prototipo, a car that made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 1971, while the Lancia Stratos HF Stradale arrived in 1975. That car came, saw, stunned and conquered all on the world’s special stages, before being consigned to the pages of history. Then there was a more than two-decade gap before the eccentric and outrageous Swiss stylist, Franco Sbarro, reinterpreted the Stratos with his ‘Ionos’ concept, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1997. Three years later, Italian design and engineering company Stola unveiled its ‘S81’, a thoroughly modern reinterpretation, at the Turin Motor Show in 2000. A further five years later, leading Stratos collector Chris Hrabalek unveiled the ‘New Stratos’ concept, developed by his Fenomenon design company, at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the original Stratos concept.

We can also clarify our story earlier this week that former Pininfarina and Bertone designer, and now design chief at newly-revitalised Saab, Jason Castriota, was responsible for the design of the new Stratos. In fact, we can confirm that Castriota was involved during the earlier gestation stages of the project, but that involvement has long since ceased.