Some automotive visits are about impressive facilities, production numbers and carefully choreographed presentations. A visit to Kimera Automobili is something entirely different. Located in Italy, Kimera’s workshop feels intimate, personal and full of character. It is not a huge, anonymous factory where cars move endlessly down an assembly line. Instead, it is a place where engineering, craftsmanship, motorsport heritage and passion come together under one roof.
Walking through the doors, you immediately understand that every car built here is something special. During our visit, we had the opportunity to see several of Kimera’s remarkable creations, including the EVO37, EVO38 and the fascinating K39 prototype. More importantly, we were able to look behind the finished bodywork and see how these extraordinary machines are actually created—from individual components and carbon-fibre panels to complete, hand-assembled automobiles.
The Story Behind Kimera
Kimera Automobili was founded by Luca Betti, a man with a deep connection to motorsport and Italian automotive culture. With experience as a professional rally driver and a lifelong passion for one of rallying's most legendary eras, Betti wanted to create something far more ambitious than a simple recreation of a classic car.
His vision was to reinterpret the legendary Lancia 037 for the modern era. Both the EVO37 and EVO38 use the legendary Lancia Beta Montecarlo as their starting point. Each Kimera is built around the original Montecarlo architecture and chassis, which is then extensively re-engineered, reinforced and transformed using modern engineering solutions and materials.
This connection to the Lancia Beta Montecarlo is particularly significant, as the original Lancia Rally 037 was also developed from the Montecarlo platform. Kimera therefore follows the same fundamental philosophy, taking the historic base and evolving it into something far more advanced. The result is a fascinating combination of authentic Italian automotive heritage and modern high-performance engineering.
EVO37 – A Legend Reimagined
The EVO37 is perhaps the purest expression of Kimera’s original vision. Visually, its inspiration is immediately recognizable. The proportions, the aggressive silhouette and the unmistakable rally-inspired character all pay tribute to the legendary Lancia Rally 037. However, underneath the retro-inspired design is an entirely modern machine.
The EVO37 combines lightweight construction, advanced engineering and contemporary performance technology with the analogue, mechanical character that made the original rally cars so special. It is a restomod in the broadest sense of the word, but that description almost feels too simple. The EVO37 is much closer to an alternative evolution of the original concept—a car that imagines what might have happened if the 037 had continued to evolve for decades.
EVO38 – Taking the Concept Even Further
If the EVO37 represents a modern interpretation of the iconic rear-wheel-drive 037, the EVO38 pushes the story forward. The EVO38 continues Kimera’s fascination with the legendary Group B era while exploring what came next. Its concept draws inspiration from the evolution of rally technology, introducing an even more advanced interpretation of the original platform and embracing the idea of all-wheel-drive performance.
With four-wheel drive, 600 horsepower, a heavily revised twin-charged engine and an entirely redesigned chassis featuring advanced pushrod suspension, the EVO38 is a more extreme and technologically advanced evolution of the original concept.
Seeing both the EVO37 and EVO38 during the visit was particularly interesting because it allowed us to understand that Kimera is not simply building variations of the same car. Each model represents a different stage in an imagined automotive history—a continuation of a story that, in reality, ended decades ago.
What makes the process even more special is that the original Lancia Beta Montecarlo structure is combined with prefabricated chassis elements specifically developed for Kimera. During our visit, we could see these beautifully engineered components, each carrying the Kimera name stamped directly into the metal. It is a small detail, but one that perfectly reflects the level of care and identity built into every car.
These prefabricated and reinforced chassis sections become part of the foundation for both the EVO37 and EVO38, transforming the original Montecarlo base into a much more rigid, sophisticated and modern platform while still maintaining a genuine connection to the car that inspired the entire project.
The K39 – Looking Beyond the Past
The prototype model we had the opportunity to see during our visit was an early version of the Kimera K39, an extremely ambitious project that marks a completely new chapter in the company’s history. Unlike the EVO37 and EVO38, which are based on the architecture of the Lancia Beta Montecarlo, the K39 is a ground-up Kimera creation, built around its own bespoke carbon-fibre monocoque chassis. It is no longer simply an evolution or reinterpretation of an existing classic—it is a car conceived and engineered as a true Kimera from the very beginning.
The K39 also represents Kimera’s turn to the world of motorsport. A dedicated racing version has been developed for one of the most demanding challenges in the world: the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the United States. The car combines extreme aerodynamics, carbon-fibre construction and a bespoke twin-turbo V8 developed in collaboration with Koenigsegg. In this sense, the K39 is a major milestone for Kimera. It marks the transition from a company known for creating extraordinary restomods into a true automobile manufacturer, capable of designing and building its own car from the ground up.
Carbon Fibre at Its Best
One of the highlights of our visit was undoubtedly Kimera's carbon-fibre work. The quality of the carbon components is exceptional. From large body panels to highly detailed structural and interior pieces, the craftsmanship is immediately visible. The weave, the finish, the precision of the edges and the complexity of the shapes demonstrate just how much attention goes into every individual component.
In many modern performance cars, carbon fibre can sometimes feel like little more than a styling exercise. At Kimera, it is clearly an integral part of the philosophy. It is used not only because it looks spectacular, but because lightweight construction and motorsport-inspired engineering are fundamental to the character of these cars.
Built by Hand, One Car at a Time
Perhaps the most memorable part of the entire visit was seeing how manually and carefully these cars are assembled. There is something special about watching a vehicle come together piece by piece. Behind every finished Kimera is an enormous amount of human work. Components are fitted, adjusted and assembled by hand, with technicians working directly on the cars throughout the production process.
You can see the personality of the workshop in every corner. Parts, prototypes, carbon-fibre panels and partially assembled cars all tell the story of ongoing projects. Nothing feels artificial or staged. This is a working environment, but one with a very particular atmosphere—small enough to feel personal, yet sophisticated enough to create some of the most extraordinary restomod cars in the world.
For us, that was what made the visit so enjoyable. Seeing a finished Kimera is impressive. Seeing one with the body panels removed, the carbon components exposed and the mechanical systems visible is something else entirely. It gives you a much greater appreciation of the work, engineering and craftsmanship involved.
Kimera Automobili is a company built around passion for automotive history, but it is clearly not trapped in the past. They have taken inspiration from one of motorsport's greatest eras and transformed it into something completely new.
They are modern legends being built by hand.
