Kimera Evo38: Lancia 037 tribute gains mild-hybrid system, 4WD

Fresh development of reimagined 1980s rally monster is boosted to nearly 600bhp in production form The striking Kimera Evo38 has been revealed in finished production form ahead of its debut at Monterey Car Week, bringing almost 600bhp, mild hybridisation and four-wheel drive. A vision of “what would have been” if the legendary WRC-winning Lancia 037 had continued being developed beyond 1992, it is an evolution of the Italian firm’s debut model, the Evo37. The most notable development is a move from the rear-wheel-drive set-up that defined the 037 – it having been the last such car to win a constructor’s title in the World Rally Championship – to four-wheel drive. Power is sent to the front wheels through a Torsen limited-slip differential and the split of torque between each axle can be varied using a controller in the cockpit. This notionally allows for greater traction on slippery surfaces or under high loads, although the driver can choose for all the power to be sent through the rear wheels if they so desire. The driveshaft that links the front axle to the mid-mounted, turbocharged and supercharged 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine runs through the spine of the car’s cockpit and is encased in glass. Power is up from 500bhp to 592bhp, thanks in part to the addition of a 48V mild-hybrid system and a trick exhaust, which is valved to allow drivers to swap between a road-friendly muffled set-up and a rortier straight-through one. With the valve opened, the turbocharger can also be seen glowing through the car’s rear end, Kimera said. That power is delivered through a six-speed manual gearbox with an exposed billet-aluminum linkage. The car's chassis has also been overhauled, gaining push-rod suspension and a strut-tower brace into which the turbocharger’s cooler is integrated. Despite the move to four-wheel drive, the Evo38 is lighter than the Evo37, at around 1100kg. Prices have yet to be confirmed but are expected to push toward the £500,000 mark. “Nearly all” 38 examples set to be produced are already accounted for, according to Kimera.

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