Rare Lancia Ionos Concept – A V10 Homage to the Stratos – Resurfaces in Detailed Look
A striking concept car from 1997, the Lancia Ionos, is gaining renewed attention thanks to a detailed retrospective published by Italpassion.fr. Designed by Sbarro, the Ionos was a bold vision blending Lancia’s legendary rally heritage with cutting-edge engineering, featuring a unique V10 engine created from two V5 units and a Porsche transmission. The vehicle remains a testament to Sbarro’s educational design philosophy, producing fully functional concept cars based on unconventional technical foundations.
The Ionos emerged during a period of transition for Lancia, ultimately foreshadowing a design direction the brand wouldn’t fully embrace until the early 2000s with models like the Lybra and Thésis. While the Ionos never progressed beyond the concept stage, its innovative approach to performance and design continues to captivate automotive enthusiasts.The project highlights a “what if” scenario for Lancia, exploring a high-performance future rooted in its storied past.
The chassis of the Ionos utilizes “Dual Frame” technology, developed by Sbarro, employing a mixed steel and composite structure to maximize rigidity and safety. The body is constructed entirely from composite materials, achieving a controlled weight of approximately 1100 kg. Brembo supplied the braking system, utilizing large ventilated discs comparable to those found in DTM racing cars of the era.
Though never intended for production,the Lancia Ionos stands as a compelling example of Sbarro’s commitment to hands-on automotive education and innovative concept car design. A video showcasing the vehicle can be viewed here.