Lancia's popularity has declined throughout the years to a point that it now only produces one car--the Ypsilon. Back in the day, we had iconic Lancias that ranged from the Delta HF Integrale, which was a rally car for the road, and the Stratos, which was reborn in 2018 as a Ferrari F430-based sports car. This rendering, however, showcases what a future Lancia sports car could look like if the brand was to be reinvented today.

Lancia celebrated its 115th anniversary in 2021, and it’s also at a time when its parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) merged with PSA Group, thus forming the multinational automotive corporation Stellantis. With Stellantis seeking to reinvent the Lancia brand, a new halo sports car could be one way to bring back the brand’s cool factor. This digital rendering of a Lancia Vision Alpha could be the answer that Stellantis is looking for.

Created by Laszlo Varga, the Lancia Vision Alpha only uses the Stratos as a reference but is in no way a modern interpretation of the brand’s iconic sports car. It’s a sports car that not only looks at its past but also manages to push the boundaries of the brand forward, thus making it a true challenger against the likes of the Porsche 718 Cayman, and Alpine A110, just to name a few.

The Lancia Vision Alpha’s design is indeed not meant to be a successor to the Stratos. Since it doesn’t have the nostalgia that’s attached to the Stratos name, the designer was able to create a new Lancia sports car that has its own distinct silhouette. This starts with its front end, which looks clean and modern. The LED headlights are also very thin, further adding to its clean aesthetic. The numerous horizontal vents at its hood hark back to the original Stratos. This is a mid-engined sports car, according to the designer, so those vents up front are there for aerodynamics. 

Compared to the Stratos, the Lancia Vision Alpha has more rounded surfaces, and this is most evident in its aggressively-curved roofline. The roofline then curves towards its tail, which comes with an integrated spoiler for improved aerodynamics. Like the front, the rear engine cover also comes with horizontal vents, which is also what the original Stratos had. The rear fascia is then composed of numerous horizontal vents, and this is where the LED taillights are also housed. 

This digital rendering of the Lancia Vision Alpha only showcases the exterior, so we could only imagine what he probably had in mind when it comes to its interior vibe. Varga also did not state what kind of powertrain it has, though, with the presence of those vents, we're confident that this is not an electric sports car. 

Assuming the Vision Alpha turns into reality, what kind of platform would underpin it? Lancia could develop an all-new platform from scratch, or in order to save costs, they could utilize the Alfa Romeo 4C's carbon fiber platform. With that in mind, the 4C's 1.75-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque could be a perfect candidate.

With Lancia being reinvented by Stellantis as a premium brand that sits alongside its brands like Alfa Romeo, should they turn the Vision Alpha into reality?