Lancia Pura Montecarlo Shows How to Revive a Legend Without Ruining It

• Christopher Giroux revives the Montecarlo with modern Lancia design cues and functional aero.

• The triangular rear panel gets reinvented in plexiglass with LEDs, a clever nod to history.

• The project proves Lancia could credibly return to coupes alongside the Ypsilon.

A Designer Who Gets It

The Lancia Beta Montecarlo turns 50 this year, and if there’s one car that deserves a thoughtful revival, it’s this one. Compact, angular, and full of character, the Montecarlo carved out its place in history both on the road and in motorsport. It starred in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, it spawned the legendary Rally 037, and it became a reference point for what a small Italian coupe could achieve. For designer Christopher Giroux, now a Senior Exterior Designer, it was also a childhood obsession.

His project, the Pura Montecarlo, isn’t a retro sketch aimed at nostalgia. It’s a serious attempt at answering a real question: what if Lancia brought the Montecarlo back today? With the brand’s current lineup limited to the Ypsilon, a coupe like this would serve as the halo model Lancia has been missing. More importantly, Giroux approached it with the perspective of someone who understands the brand’s new design direction.

Full Image Gallery of this Lancia Montecarlo by Christopher Giroux right at the end of this article.

The silhouette stays close to the original, but that’s where the similarities end. Sculpted surfaces give the car a more muscular stance, while carefully placed lines add definition and improve aerodynamics. At the front, the thin light bar split by a vertical cut feels completely at home in Lancia’s Pu+Ra design language. It looks modern, not borrowed, and gives the car an identity that avoids the usual pitfalls of retro-inspired concepts.

A Clever Remix of Heritage

Every Montecarlo fan remembers the triangular rear panels. On the original, they were bold but visually heavy. Giroux reimagines them in transparent plexiglass with LED signatures, merging both historic versions of the panel into a single modern detail. It’s a neat blend of past and future that gives the rear its own futuristic glow without losing authenticity.

From the side, the car balances sharp edges with gentle curves, a mix that has always been part of Lancia’s DNA. The stance is low and planted, aggressive but never cartoonish. And because no Lancia coupe feels complete without racing in its veins, Giroux also sketched a rally-spec version. With wider arches and stripped-back intent, it channels the same competition spirit that defined the original Rally 037.

The Pura Montecarlo convinces not because it looks good in renderings, but because it looks believable. You can imagine it on a motor show stage as a production preview, or running a hill climb in rally trim. It balances heritage and modernity with precision, showing exactly how Lancia could return to relevance if Stellantis decided to build it.

For Giroux, the project was also a way to sharpen his own tools. Beyond paying tribute to a childhood favorite, it gave him space to refine his 3D modeling and AI design techniques. That’s why the finished product feels polished: it is at once a love letter to the Montecarlo and a showcase of design maturity.

Connect with Christopher Giroux

To explore more of Christopher Giroux ’s work, including ongoing projects and portfolio highlights, you can follow or connect with his work, including ongoing projects and portfolio highlights, you can follow or connect with him on Instagram

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Disclaimer

These projects are creative explorations by young car designers. In some cases, they were developed independently, while in others they were created with guidance or mentorship from OEM design studios, such as during internships. Unless otherwise noted, they are not official works of the manufacturers or studios involved.

DailyRevs does not claim credit for the vision or effort behind these projects and receives no financial compensation for publishing them. Each feature is shared with the consent of the designer following direct outreach and agreement. We also welcome submissions from designers who wish to be featured, provided the quality of the work meets our editorial standards.