Lancia Stratos: it’s real

If you've been anxiously watching the web for the latest on The One Show's new hosts, you may have missed this little nugget...

The Internet's automotive cognoscenti have been mulling the return of an icon. Following a grainy image of a Lancia Stratos-type machine testing, there was much rumination. Would the fabled rally-bred supercar return?

See more pics of the one-off Lancia Stratos

Well, we can confirm that it has. Sort of.

This Lancia Stratos is a one-off, Pininfarina-designed supercar commissioned by German businessman Michael Stoschek.

Nothing officially official has emerged about the car's underneath bits, except reports that it uses a Ferrari F430 chassis and 4.3-litre V8 engine. You may remember, should you be so cranially endowed, that the original Stratos used a 2.4-litre Ferrari Dino V6.

Aside from how it might go, let's focus on the important bit first - it looks absolutely gorgeous.

We reckon if enough well-heeled types show their interest - by shaking large quantities of moolah at Pininfarina - this could secure a limited production run. Which would mean Good Things Happen On Earth.

Fantasy time now folks - if you had your choice of Ferrari engine/chassis, which combination would you use?