We were expecting to see an open-topped version of the awesome Stratos concept car on the Fenomenon stand in Frankfurt, having heard rumours in the weeks leading up to the show. On my arrival at the stand though the only sign of the roadster was in designer sketches. On the stand itself the show car from March's Geneva Show was displayed, though repainted in the colours of the Alitalia airline, the best remembered sponsor of the original Lancia Stratos rally car.

Fenomenon's Stratos has nothing to do with Lancia though, and like all most unauthorised celebrity biographies, it could be all the better for it. The Frankfurt Show provided the opportunity for Fenomenon to make a couple of important announcements. The first is that design studies have been completed for three versions of the Stratos: Stradale (coupe), Barchetta (roadster) and Stratos Competizione, a club racing special. More exciting is the serious possibility of the Stratos actually being produced for customers in small numbers.

Engineering gurus, Prodrive (headed up by Dave Richards, himself a Stratos driver once upon a time) has been engaged to carry out a production feasibility study on the Fenomenon Stratos, including all further design, engineering and manufacturing. Prodrive will also establish a suitable location to build the 50 or so cars a year thought to be practical for the Stratos. It is thought likely that if the green light is given to the Stratos, we'll be told more at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. Fenomenon stated that the design of the car has been finalised, including the radical central parting line for the doors and windscreen. Apparently computer simulations showed that it restricts vision no more than conventional A-pillars. Although no engine has yet been chosen, the car is designed to be mid-engined and retain its chunky 'any road' appearance and abilities. You won't need to worry about speed bumps in this supercar either as it will retain decent ground clearance. It has not yet been decided whether the final car will be rear or four-wheel drive.