stratos zero

Italian UFOs and the Stratos Zero

January 19, 2016 By pete

Story and photos by Roberto Motta

The Bertone Stratos Zero, introduced at Turin in 1970, is very different from the car that won three World Rally championships, and is totally different in respect to all its mechanics parts. However, this car provided the inspiration for the later Lancia Stratos Rally.

In the report below, VeloceToday Correspondent Roberto Motta describes the car in detail.

“Stratos”, from “stratosphere” is a name normally associated with an object alien to our environment, with strange links to time and space which surpass the confines and realities of daily life. In other words, something so fantastic it probably could not be real.

In reality, the new Stratos Zero prototype was a high performance car characterized by extreme lines but, as a project of Nuccio Bertone, was a fully functional, driveable car, unlike most of the extreme “concept” cars built for car shows.

Back to the Drawing Board

March 14, 2012 By Roberto

The recent introduction of the Bertone Nuccio and its obvious (and striking) connection with the 1970 Bertone Stratos caused our Italian Editor to recall driving the famed Lancia Stratos Zero (see last week’s article) but also to dig through his archives, where he found these remarkable drawings from the Archive Bertone. We now present them with the sketches of the new Nuccio for your pleasure.

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Nuccio Unveiled

March 7, 2012 By Roberto

Top, the Stratos Zero, bottom, the new Nuccio.

On February 10th, Bertone released the first images of the Nuccio, a dramatic showcar that will have its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show (March 8-18th 2012) to celebrate the centenary of Bertone.

As one can see, the Nuccio is an “extreme” sport design which represents the ultimate evolution of the concept of the central rear engine automobile. Do you feel a sense of deja vu? The new Nuccio was, you guessed it, inspired by the Stratos Zero created by Nuccio Bertone in 1970.

If anything, son of a legend is even more dramatic than the father.

The new concept car from Turin was designed by Michael Robinson at Bertone Style and has much of the flair and drama of the legendary Stratos. Like the Stratos, the Nuccio has a strong emotional impact; it is short, low, wide and powerful. It would be both difficult and a real thrill if one were to drive it on the streets.

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