Concept Car Of The Day: 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero - AllCarIndex
In terms of car design, the most original idea to come out of 1970 was a futuristic prototype by the name of Stratos 0, fruit of Bertone inspiration. It all started with the idea of mounting the engine block from a Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF on a new base. The engine was centrally-mounted in a lowered position, and the suspensions and steering elements were designed according to a revolutionary line, breaking out of any known set moulds. The result was a flowing verent ishape which tapered in sharply at both ends, 358 cm long and just 84 cm high.
The presence of the four wheels was the only conceptual link to the contemporary idea of an automobile. The marked shaping of the wings, which accentuated the wedge-shape of the body, and the triangular motif of the roof, and air vents, all served to underline its stylistic divide from the classic elements of car design. The technical features employed were astounding: the double side windows, the front and rear lights, and the access to the car with the entire front of the vehicle opening up to let the driver literally walk up to the driving seat. The "Stratoline," as Nuccio Bertone had initially christened it, went beyond an exercise in design to represent a global reworking of the actual concept of what makes a car.
Engine & performance: Position: mid-mounted, longitudinally Type: V4 Capacity: 1584 Power: 132 hp @ 6000 rpm Torque: 165 Nm @ 5500 rpm Dimensions: Length: 3580 mm Width: 1840 mm Height: 840 mm Wheelbase: 2220 mm
Sensational and irreverent in the normal world, the Stratos Zero concept came from the idea to mount the Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF engine in a new mid position within the platform. Because the engine was placed in the center position, the car had a very low profile of only 84 cm high and was 358 cm long, allowing for the development of new revolutionary suspension and steering mechanisms.
As a result of this new mechanical layout, the Zero's speed form shape completely departed from any car previously known. The resulting object was a "mono volume," stringly tapered at both ends, with only the presence of the four wheels suggesting the Zero was a car. The technical solutions adopted were astonishing, such as the double side windows, the light clusters, the integrated mirrors, and access to the interior cockpit through the hinged front windscreen.
