Reviving Legends: Behind the Wheel of the Kimera Evo38, a Lancia 037 for the Modern Era

Picture this: a world where legendary race cars never retire; they evolve, they adapt, they come roaring back to life, more powerful and more thrilling than ever before. This isn't just a fantasy. Meet the Kimera Evo38, an audacious resurrection of the iconic Lancia 037, transformed for the 21st century while invoking the spirit of its glorious past.

The Lancia 037 is a name that echoes through the halls of motorsport history, a beacon of power and innovation. It’s a legacy that Kimera Automobili, an Italian specialty carmaker, has boldly chosen to continue. With the unveiling of the Evo38, they’re not just paying homage; they’re proposing a tantalizing question: What if the Lancia 037 had never been retired? What if it had continued to evolve, adopting technology and innovations beyond its time?

Enter the Evo38, a masterpiece that blurs the lines between the raw, adrenaline-fueled world of rally racing and the demands of modern road driving. It sees the enhancement of its predecessor, the Evo37, with one groundbreaking addition - a driven front axle. This is not just an upgrade; it's a revelation, making the Evo38 a true Integrale, a term Lancia enthusiasts will recognize as synonymous with all-wheel-drive prowess.

The vision behind the Evo38 is clear and ambitious. According to Kimera, this vehicle represents the “further and ultimate evolution of a concept of cars conceived for racing and then transferred to the roads: pure, analog, physical, and mechanical cars, forged by creative flair, craftsmanship, practical manual skills, and irreplaceably human sensibilities.”

With an electrohydraulic differential at its heart, the Evo38 promises precision control over power distribution between axles, allowing the car to be adapted for various driving conditions from the cockpit itself. And yet, for those who crave the traditional rally car experience, the Evo38 offers the option to disconnect the front wheels from the drivetrain, preserving the spirit of its ancestors.

Beyond drivetrain innovations, the Evo38 redefines handling with motorized shock absorbers, adjustable at the touch of a button on the steering wheel. A sophisticated suspension lift feature makes the car versatile enough to tackle challenging terrains or simply navigate the urban jungle's speed bumps.

While reminiscing the glorious days of Group B racing, the Evo38 comes equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox featuring shorter ratios, emphasizing its suitability for the unpredictable nature of mixed-road driving over the uniformity of race tracks. Kimera is even developing a new electronically actuated sequential gearbox, set to transform the Evo38 into a machine that draws no line between race tracks and roadways.

Despite its advancements, the Evo38 maintains a lightweight profile, thanks to the extensive use of materials like carbon fiber and titanium across its body and chassis. Staying true to its race car roots, the Evo38 weighs in at around 1100kg, a testament to its engineered balance between performance and agility.

As the automotive world continues to evolve with electrification and digital technologies taking the lead, the Kimera Evo38 stands as a beacon for the enthusiast who craves the tactile, unfiltered experience of driving. It’s a tribute to the past, a nod to the future, and a thrilling reality of the present. The revival of the Lancia 037 in the form of the Evo38 is not just a rebirth of a legend; it's a declaration that the spirit of racing will never fade, that innovation knows no bounds, and that the romance of the open road is eternal.