- Designer Christopher Giroux revives the iconic Lancia Montecarlo for its 50th anniversary.
- The coupe blends Lancia’s modern styling with classic Montecarlo design elements.
- Rally version wears Alitalia livery and aero upgrades honoring Italian brand’s WRC past.
Lancia has stepped into a new chapter, though right now its lineup is limited to the Ypsilon subcompact hatchback. A larger Gamma crossover and the long-awaited Delta are on the horizon, but fans of the Italian marque are still waiting for something more spirited with a sharper edge. Picking up on that idea, Christopher Giroux, a senior exterior designer at Ford, used his free time to reimagine the Montecarlo coupe of the 1970s for a modern era.
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The Stellantis-owned Italian marque has already flirted with the idea of a sports car through the 2023 Pu+Ra HPE Concept, a Stratos-inspired study that never made it to production. Giroux’s Pu+Ra Montecarlo borrows some of that concept’s signature cues yet carries itself with the realism of a design that could plausibly make the leap to showrooms
A Coupe Reborn
Giroux chose to revive his favorite Lancia on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. The original Beta Montecarlo was introduced in 1975 as a mid-engined rear-wheel-drive sports car offered in coupe and targa bodystyles. Its design came from Paolo Martin at Pininfarina, who gave the car its unmistakable proportions and character.
To bring his vision up to date, Giroux combined traditional hand-drawn sketching with digital techniques such as Photoshop, Blender, and AI-assisted tools to bring it to life. The result is a sharp coupe that nods to Lancia’s storied past while looking unmistakably modern. Key references remain intact, including the darkened nose treatment and the signature flying buttresses, which he reimagined here in transparent glass.
Christopher Giroux
The Pu+Ra Montecarlo wears slim T-shaped LEDs on both ends, staying true to Lancia’s modern styling language. It also incorporates circular elements on the hood, roof and rear deck, similar to the company’s own Pu+Ra HPE Concept.
More: Is Stellantis Secretly Working On A New Lancia Fulvia?
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At the front, the pronounced chin, aero blade and sculpted fenders add to the exotic stance of the coupe, while the wraparound greenhouse and the integrated spoiler send strong Stratos vibes. The profile has clean surfacing with a character line originating from the black side gills. At the rear, a thin light strip sits beneath another discreet spoiler, tying the look together.
The Racing Version
The Montecarlo’s history naturally extends to motorsport, as its chassis became the foundation for the legendary Lancia Rally 037, the last rear-wheel drive car to take a WRC crown. In recognition of that heritage, Giroux imagined a rally-ready Pu+Ra Montecarlo finished in the unmistakable Alitalia livery that adorned the Stratos HF.
More: Lancia HF Integrale Returns With White Wheels And Something To Prove
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This competition versions rides on different alloy wheels finished in gold and features a redesigned bodykit. Changes include the aggressive bumper intakes with futuristic LEDs, a discreet splitter, a hood scoop, new side gills, a ducktail spoiler, a more prominent diffuser, and a vented rear deck.
Christopher Giroux
The designer has not specified what would sit beneath the skin, though the car’s proportions and styling cues hint at a battery-electric drivetrain. Even so, early sketches showing twin exhaust outlets and the rally car’s vented rear suggest the possibility of a hybrid arrangement with a mid-mounted combustion engine.
Could It Happen?
As tempting as the idea of a new Lancia sports car may be, the brand first needs to secure strong sales to justify Stellantis’ investment. For now, the odds of seeing an Aurelia, Fulvia, Stratos, Montecarlo, or 037 return remain slim. Even so, projects like this design study show just how convincingly a modern coupe could serve as a halo model, reminding us what makes the marque so captivating in the first place
Special thanks to Christopher Giroux for sharing his vision with us!
