The Pininfarina-built, one-off New Lancia Stratos was recently presented to its smiling new owner, Michael Stoschek after over two years of development. But before Mr. Stoschek gets to enjoy his ultra rare sports car, the Stratos has to make a few more test rounds and, not to mention, have its own media unveiling at the Paul Ricard Circuit next week.

But before that, the New Stratos headed over to Ferrari->ke252’s Fiorano circuit in Maranello so that no less than Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo can take it for a spin. Seeing as the New Stratos is based on the underpinnings of the Ferrari F430 Scuderia, it would only make sense that di Montezemolo had testing dibs on the one-off sports car.

Needless to say, the Stratos turned out to be as good as advertised with the Ferrari chief showering it with lavish praises after giving it a proper shakedown at the Fiorano circuit. Di Montezemolo was so geeked up after driving the car that he even invited Ferrari technical director, Roberto Fedeli, to have his turn behind the wheel of the sports car.

For a car that took more than two years to develop, we certainly expected nothing less from the one-off Lancia Stratos because anything less than two resounding thumbs up would be a bitter disappointment.

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