Kimera, Automobili Amos, Grassi? The latter is the name of the latest outfit going for a tribute to a beloved historic Lancia. While the former two have covered the 037 and indeed the Delta Integrale, Grassi is going for the big one. Meet the 044S, a tribute to the insane Group B Lancia Delta S4.
And would you just look at it? It’s far from a sympathetic pastiche, more pure Instagram fodder that’s jumped off your screen – a dream photoshop restomod made real. Should it be surprising that it looks great? Absolutely not, given it’s the creation of ex-Alfa Romeo man Giuseppe Armano.
Part of the updated design is to an end of improved aero, even though it retains what is basically a giant car-wide scoop across the rear end. Not all of it feeds the engine anymore, with the side vents more like buttress-filled spoilers. There’s a prominent diffuser too, also featuring the aggressive-looking exhaust.
Packing 650PS (478kW) courtesy of a 3.0-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder engine, it’s certainly powerful enough to be a pretender to the S4’s loony legend. Wider, larger wheels and tyres should raise the grip limits too, with all four wheels being fed that power via three differentials. Bigger brakes should arrest it nicely and are appropriate, given it’ll get to 62mph in just 2.9 seconds on the way to a 186mph top speed. Weight should be around 1,200kg at the kerb.
Prices aren’t yet known, though Grassi plans to only build 44 044Ss. That won’t be for a while it seems, given how apparently early-on they are into the project, with no interior shots revealed and the glasshouse entirely blacked out for its Milano Monza Motor Show reveal.
Report by Ethan Jupp
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