Two years ago, Kimera launched its EVO37, a modern and utterly gorgeous tribute to the 1983 Lancia 037 World Rally Championship car. When Kimera put its EVO37 on the start line of the Sardinia Rally last year, the coupe wore the same Martini Racing Team colors used by the car in 1983. This year, Kimera uses a different Martini Racing livery to debut an evolution of the Kimera EVO37 that is even closer to the original and celebrates the seven World Rally Championship titles of the Martini Racing Team powered by Lancia. The 037 won a single title, the last two-wheel drive WRC entry to do so. The Lancia Delta S4 and its variations beat the rest. Company boss Luca Betti once again worked with Miki Biasion, who won back-to-back WRC drivers’ championships driving the Lancia Delta, and Lancia engineers of the time to lighten and tune the EVO37 to Martini 7.
Starting with the performance modifications, the 2.1-liter turbocharged four-cylinder now makes 550 horsepower instead of 505 hp and 406 pound-feet of torque. Power is directed to the rear axle via a standard manual or optional sequential transmission, but the gears have shorter, rally-like ratios. Gawkers are invited to further appreciate what’s behind the cabin thanks to the new quick-release lower bumper, as found on the Lancia 037 Evo 2. Undoing the clips reveals quad pipes with a white ceramic coating that matches the new paint that runs all the way. up the exhaust corridors.
The new carbon fiber aero package adds intakes behind the front doors, vents at the top of the fenders and additional downward steps on the engine cover. The new wheels are reminiscent of the Delta Evoluzione, as is the cabin, now made entirely of carbon fiber and bringing the car down to around 2,425 pounds. The seats are inspired by those of the Delta S4, trimmed in blue perforated Alcantara with red stitching that matches the accents on the door and roof cards. The gauges glow fluorescent orange, the knobs and buttons are laid out as they were on the 1983 Lancia 037.
The pearl effect Martini Racing Livery with blue, light blue and red stripes more closely resembles that of the special edition Lancia Delta Martini 5 and Martini 6 cars produced in the early 1990s to celebrate Delta’s fifth and sixth trophies WRC. The other obvious indications that this is something different are the “World Rally Championship” script on the sides and “Martini Racing” on the rear spoiler.
As with the first iteration, Kimera will make just 37 of the EVO37 Martini 7. Let’s hope these light bars are part of the package, because it would be criminal to drive this without them. Kimera didn’t release a price, but somewhere north of the original’s €480,000 (US$533,700) is a good place to start dreaming.
