Kimera (Kimera Automobili) is an Italian manufacturer of high-performance retro-modified sports cars (Restomod), founded in 2019 in Cuneo, Piedmont. The brand was established by Luca Betti, a former professional rally driver and runner-up in the European Rally Championship. Betti’s passion for the Lancia brand stems from his upbringing; his father won the Italian Rally Championship driving a Lancia Stratos, and Luca grew up surrounded by legendary rally cars like the Lancia Stratos and Lancia 037.
The name “Kimera” is derived from the Chimera of Greek mythology. In the founder’s vision, it also serves as an acronym for “KMR” — “Keeping My Road,” symbolizing the philosophy of staying true to one’s path. The brand does not have a single officially published standard logo style, often using engraved text or suspended racing mechanical structures for visual expression. Positioned at the intersection of art and technology, aesthetics and performance, nostalgia and innovation, Kimera is dedicated to rebuilding classic rally cars using modern cutting-edge engineering and materials, earning it the reputation of being “the most elegant classic car restorer.”
Kimera’s origins are deeply rooted in founder Luca Betti’s racing career. Initially a factory driver for Honda in various European events, Betti faced a turning point when Honda withdrew from motorsports in 2009, resulting in the loss of his primary sponsorship. Rather than leaving the industry, he leveraged his experience and passion to establish the Kimera Racing Team, managing racing projects for brands like Red Bull, Ford, and Peugeot, while gradually expanding into the restoration and refurbishment of classic rally cars.
In 2019, Luca Betti officially registered “Kimera Automobili,” focusing on rebirthing classic Lancia rally cars using modern technology and design. The brand’s first project centered on the Lancia 037, revered as the “last rear-wheel-drive rally legend.” To ensure the project not only restored but potentially exceeded the original’s performance, Betti invited three original engineers from the Lancia 037 development team—Claudio Lombardi, Sergio Limone, and Vittorio Roberti—to join as technical advisors. Lombardi, a former F1 engineer who led Ferrari’s F1 projects and later joined Lancia’s rally department, brought authoritative expertise in chassis and powertrain engineering.
In 2021, Kimera’s first mass-produced model, the EVO37, made its global premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Limited to just 37 units with a starting price of €480,000, the first vehicle was delivered to a Dutch client in early 2022. Sales gradually increased, with 26 units sold to collectors in the US, Japan, and other regions by the second half of 2022.
In 2024, the brand launched its second model, the EVO38, at the Geneva Motor Show. This model upgraded from a rear-wheel-drive layout to a four-wheel-drive system and was limited to 38 units. Simultaneously, Kimera announced the K39 project, aimed at competing in the 2025 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. In November 2025, the final mass-production form of the K39 race car was unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake Como, Italy, with the brand confirming its official participation in the 2026 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Kimera’s product line follows a “generational evolution + limited customization” model, currently comprising three core series:
EVO37 Series: As the brand’s debut work, this model pays tribute to the Lancia 037, which won the WRC Manufacturers' Championship in 1983. While retaining the original’s rear-wheel-drive layout, wedge-shaped lines, and iconic four round headlights, the EVO37 utilizes carbon fiber body panels and LED lighting technology, resulting in a curb weight of only 950 kg. Powered by a 2.1-liter inline-four twin-charged engine developed under the guidance of former Lancia 037 engineers, it integrates both supercharger and turbocharger technologies. The engine produces a maximum power of 505 hp and peak torque of approximately 550 N·m, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in about 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 290 km/h. Limited to 37 units, each car is named after a female figure to impart unique personality, with a starting price of €480,000. Additionally, Kimera created a one-off custom version, the “Martini 7,” with power increased to 550 hp.
EVO38 Series: Representing a comprehensive evolution of the EVO37, the EVO38 retains classic design elements while innovating its core mechanical structure. The most significant upgrade is the shift from rear-wheel drive to a four-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring, featuring an adjustable electro-hydraulic differential lock that allows drivers manually distribute power between axles or switch to pure rear-wheel drive mode. The powertrain consists of a 2.2-liter inline-four twin-charged engine paired with a 48V mild hybrid system, delivering a combined output of 600 hp and approximately 580 N·m of torque. It is mated to a six-speed manual transmission (with a sequential option available) and has a curb weight of about 1,100 kg, achieving 0–100 km/h acceleration in roughly 3.5 seconds. The chassis features a front double-wishbone pushrod suspension and a rear twin-damper design, supported by adjustable anti-roll bars, traction control, and a track-level ABS system. Limited to 38 units, the unit price is approximately £500,000.
K39 Series: This is Kimera’s first fully original racing platform project, paying homage to the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo, which won the World Sportscar Championship for the Martini Racing team in the 1970s and 1980s. The vehicle features a carbon fiber monocoque chassis and all-carbon fiber bodywork, with aerodynamics optimized through extensive virtual wind tunnel testing. It includes a large double-layer rear wing, roof intake, underbody diffuser, and other complete racing aero kits. The powertrain is a track-level system optimized for hill climbs, reportedly producing a maximum output of 828 hp (approximately 617 kW) via a twin-turbo V8 engine combined with a kinetic energy recovery system. Kimera plans to compete in the 2026 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with this model and is also developing a street-legal version.
Kimera is currently in the early stages of market penetration. Classified by Tracxn as an “Unfunded” enterprise, the brand has not received external investment. Its production model relies entirely on handcrafted, fully customized, and limited manufacturing, with no intention of pursuing mass sales.
The EVO37 series was originally limited to 37 units. By the second half of 2022, 26 units had been sold to collectors globally, including those in the US and Japan. With options included, the unit price can reach €540,000. The EVO38 series, released in 2024, garnered immediate attention, with the brand revealing that “almost all quotas have been booked,” highlighting a state of high demand and limited supply in the high-end custom supercar market. In a 2025 interview, founder Luca Betti confirmed that the company possesses financial stability and self-sustaining capabilities, sufficient to support the development of subsequent projects such as the K39.
Kimera’s core technological strengths are reflected in two key areas: the deep optimization of traditional power systems and the integrated application of modern lightweight materials.
Twin-Charged Powertrain Technology: The core power technology of the Kimera EVO37 and EVO38 series integrates both superchargers and turbochargers into 2.1-liter and 2.2-liter inline-four engines, respectively. This setup provides ample torque output across the entire RPM range. At low RPMs, the supercharger delivers instant boost to eliminate turbo lag, while at high RPMs, the turbocharger intervenes to provide higher peak power. This classic scheme, originally proposed by Lancia factory engineer Claudio Lombardi in the 1980s, has been evolved by Kimera for a new era. The EVO38 model further enhances this system with a 48V mild hybrid setup, raising total output to 600 hp.
Carbon Fiber Monocoque and Ultra-Light Engineering: Starting with the EVO37, the brand adopted a modern racing-grade carbon fiber monocoque structure for the main chassis. The all-carbon fiber body reduced the overall vehicle weight by more than 200 kg compared to the original Lancia 037. Even after the EVO38 switched to a four-wheel-drive system, the extensive use of carbon fiber and titanium alloy components allowed it to maintain an ultra-low weight of approximately 1,100 kg. The K39 racing car further establishes the carbon fiber monocoque and all-carbon body as standard configuration.
High-Spec Chassis and Four-Wheel Drive System: The EVO38 is equipped with a racing-derived electro-hydraulic differential that supports active adjustment of front and rear axle power ratios, including the ability to switch to pure rear-wheel drive. The chassis features a pushrod suspension on the front axle and a twin-damper design on the rear axle—a tribute to classic engineering—allowing drivers to adjust ride height and damping in real-time from within the cockpit.
3D Printing and CAD Modeling Craftsmanship: Kimera was among the first to apply CAD modeling, virtual wind tunnel simulation, and 3D printing technology in the design of the EVO37. 3D printing significantly shortens the manufacturing cycle for small-batch parts and enables quick responses to each customer’s personalized customization needs.
Kimera’s global business operates out of its sole manufacturing base in Cuneo, Italy. All vehicles are designed, developed, and hand-assembled in Northern Italy, with no overseas production facilities. The brand employs a Build-to-Order (BTO) customization model, selling directly to collectors and expanding its influence through partnerships with prestigious antique and luxury car shows worldwide.
Kimera vehicles have been delivered to clients in various countries, including the US, Japan, Spain, and the Netherlands, via private customization channels. Notably, an entrepreneur from the Netherlands was the first owner of the EVO37, followed by a Spanish collector as the second. In the North American market, the brand showcased the mass-production version of the EVO38 to potential clients during the 2025 Monterey Car Week, signaling active plans to expand its presence in the United States. In the Asia-Pacific region, Japan has been one of Kimera’s earlier overseas markets. Currently, the brand has not established official sales channels in mainland China.
Kimera’s development blueprint is structured around two key pillars: track verification and future product extension.
On the racing front, the K39 race car officially embarked on its campaign for the 2026 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb following its global premiere at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in late 2025. The primary goal of the K39 is to break the current course record of 7 minutes 57.148 seconds, set by the Volkswagen ID.R in 2018. Founder Luca Betti stated that the R&D investment in the K39 serves to validate top-tier racing engineering capabilities, providing crucial data to support technology transfer to future consumer products.
In the realm of high-end customization and retail, Kimera plans to develop a street-legal mass-production version of the K39 for private owners, continuing to expand its product line through small-batch, highly customized manufacturing. Recent teaser images suggest that future models may move beyond inline-four engines, potentially incorporating V6 or V8 naturally aspirated or turbocharged powertrains. Moving forward, Kimera will adhere to its core strategy of combining pure manual limited customization with race-proven technology transfer. By paying tribute to classic designs while pushing the boundaries of modern engineering, the brand aims to provide customers with unique driving art pieces that seamlessly blend nostalgia with cutting-edge performance.
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