Hot or not: what does McLaren P1 designer Frank Stephenson think of the Kimera EV037?

Frank Stephenson is a car designer with more hits than the Beatles, including the Escort RS Cossie, first BMW Mini, Maser MC12, numerous Ferraris and the McLaren P1. These days he runs his own consultancy – Frank Stephenson Design. Here he shares his views on the Kimera EV037.

If nostalgia had a turbo strapped to its back, it would look a lot like the Kimera EVO37. The past, when done properly, still has plenty to teach us, and in Kimera’s case, it teaches us how to grin like it’s 1983 all over again.

Spawned from the last RWD car to win the World Rally Championship - the iconic Lancia 037 designed by Sergio Limone - the team at Kimera has set out to capture the spirit of the original: brutally authentic, gloriously unfiltered and unapologetically raw. The first impression is pure attitude, especially when wearing the iconic Martini livery – a credit to Luca Borgogno, formerly of Pininfarina, who led the design of this restomod project.

The new old fashioned wheels look too large to tear up a rally stage, but they do help to give the car a cartoon-like proportion by modern standards. Short overhangs at the front and rear, coupled with boxy flared arches, create a squat and purposeful stance. The rear bumper can be completely removed to allow you to spit gravel in the face of anyone who dares try to keep up.

The interior is a bit basic for a car that is nudging £700k but that’s sort of the point here – the Kimera is aiming to bring the full fat Group B experience to the road. The most important features are the three pedals, analogue switchgear and fantastic view outwards, thanks to the 1980s inspired thin A-pillars. It expertly blends nostalgic charm with modern tech. High quality leather and suede like Alcantara, combined with analogue instrumentation and digital displays, create an up to date and faithful interpretation of the original 037.

If design is about storytelling, the EVO37 tells a cracking one: it remembers where it came from but knows where it’s going. That’s how you bring an icon into the present and continue the legacy for the next generation.

Conical exhaust shape harks back to Group B monster. The rear bumper can be removed, just like the rally car. Rear wheel on display thanks to bumper cut outs. Wide stance. Fantastic wheel design, but perhaps an inch too big, almost comical here. Side mirrors neatly integrated into base of A-pillar. Group B cars didn’t have to deal with the dreaded third brake light - a bit crude here. Instantly recognisable profile that emphasises mid-engine proportions and a bulging, powerful and planted shape. Hidden doorhandle – clean. Rear wing looks empty without graphics...

Exterior is an excellent reinterpretation of its predecessor, masterfully blending its iconic rally car line with modern design sensitivity.

Enormous side pods feed the 2.1-litre 4cyl. Powerful shoulders emphasise the width and help to plant the car on the road. Current and functional aerodynamic details are nicely integrated into the iconic shape, like the strong front splitter and the unique rear wing. Modern LEDs look best with a rally style yellow tint.

Verdict: HOT