The Queen Returns: How Kimera Revives 80s Rally Legends

If you miss the glory days of Group B in the World Rally Championship, and the sound of Italian engines that dominated the stages, you must meet Kimera Automobili. The small Italian company, located in Cuneo, Italy, isn’t content with just restoring cars of the past but is redefining the “restomod” concept under the philosophy of “authentic evolution.”

The vision of former rally driver and company founder Luca Betti was to bring back the spirit of the legendary Lancia 037 - the last rear-wheel-drive car to win the World Rally Championship (in 1983), defeating the fearsome Audi Quattro.

The First Act: The Kimera EVO37

The company’s first model, the EVO37, is a modern homage to the Lancia 037. To maintain authenticity, Kimera recruited the original Lancia engineers from the 80s, including Claudio Lombardi, the legendary engineer behind the rally engines of the Group.

The technical specifications are impressive:

• Engine: 2.15-liter 4-cylinder, combining both turbocharger and supercharger - a configuration called “Twin-charged” inspired by the Lancia Delta S4. This combination allows power available at low RPM (thanks to the supercharger) and explosive power at high RPM (thanks to the turbo).
• Power: The engine produces 505 horsepower and 550 Newton-meters of torque.
• Chassis and body: The car is based on the central passenger cell of the Lancia Beta Montecarlo (similar to the original car), but with tubular chassis reinforcements and a body made entirely of carbon fiber. Total weight is only about 1,100 kg.
• Production: Only 37 units of this model will be produced.

Additionally, the company launched the Martini 7, a limited edition dedicated to the Martini Racing team. This version is lighter, with shorter gear ratios and improved power of 550 hp.

The Second Act: The Kimera EVO38

If the EVO37 was a recreation of the past, the EVO38 unveiled in 2024 is an answer to the “what if?” question. What if Lancia had continued developing the 037 instead of moving to the Delta S4? The result is the “Ultima Evoluzione” (Ultimate Evolution).

The biggest change in the EVO38 is the switch to all-wheel drive (AWD), but with a modern twist: the driver can control power distribution between axles and even completely disconnect the front drive to return to pure rear-wheel drive. The car now produces 600 horsepower and still maintains a featherweight of about 1,100 kg thanks to extensive use of titanium and carbon. Only 38 units of this model will be produced.

The Future: The Pikes Peak Race with the K39

Kimera isn’t stopping at public roads. The company announced the K39, a dedicated race car designed to compete in the famous Pikes Peak hill climb in the US. The design draws inspiration from the “Silhouette” models of the 70s and 80s (like the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Gr. 5).

The K39 is expected to be officially revealed on May 15, 2026, after a slight schedule delay. It’s equipped with a carbon monocoque chassis and aggressive aerodynamic design designed to handle the thin air at mountain peaks.

Special Thanks

Special thanks to Kimera Automobili for the vision and passion to keep Italian rally heritage alive.

In summary, Kimera Automobili is much more than another restomod shop. It’s a dream come true for car enthusiasts who want to combine the mechanical and analog feel of the past with today’s technology and performance. As Luca Betti said, these cars are part of Italian DNA, and they’re here to remind us who we were.

---