The transformation from a mid-engined sportscar to a crossover is quite natural,
Stellantis, world’s fourth largest automaker, has pledged to invest in all 14 of its brands over the next 10 years. This means that Lancia, the troubled marque, will be expanded in the way it deserves and not remain a shadow of its former self. Only one model (Ypsilon), is sold exclusively in Italy.
Lancia is planning product expansion and it seems very likely that Lancia will capitalize on its past by resurrecting old names for new products in an electrified age. Independent artist David Obendorfer also considered that possibility by hypothetically bringing back the Beta Montecarlo, a mid-engined sportscar sold from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. It was discontinued after a two-year hiatus. The Scorpion was briefly offered in the United States by a modified spider version, since Chevy already owned the Monte Carlo.
It may seem strange to make an Pininfarina-designed performance vehicle into another high-riding model. However, if you look at the sales figures, it is clear that SUVs are what most people want. Lancia should be allowed to use the Eclipse monikers that were associated with sports cars, as Ford and Mitsubishi did with the Mustangs.
David transforms the body design without making any major changes. We dare to say that the final result isn’t too different from what we would expect from an automaker’s official image. To maintain the appearance of a coupe, the Montecarlo SUV now has a sloped roofline and rear doors with hidden handles.
As a nod towards the original Beta Montecarlo’s rear and front bumpers, the red paint scheme is also a nod. David explained that he had envisioned the compact crossover riding on an EMP2 platform with plug-in hybrid powertrain. A Lancia product would be more appealing if it had a retro-flavored design than rebadging an existing Stellantis product.
While enthusiasts may prefer a sports car over an SUV, crossovers and SUVs still dominate the market. Lancia should concentrate on these first before adding performance models that generate less sales. The sports car-toSUV formula is still working well for the Mustang. Lancia could also try a new name for a crossover, despite the controversy. It could look a lot like this rendering.