To this author’s eyes, the Kimera EVO37 is the king of the not-a-Singer-911-restomod hill. It is also famously based upon the last rear-wheel-drive car to take the spoils in the World Rally Championship, fusing Group B pedigree with artisan Italian craftsmanship.

Now the Cuneo-based firm has presented the first completed EVO38, a variant inspired by what the Lancia 037 might’ve evolved into, featuring four-wheel drive. The car is on display at Monterey Car Week, and just 38 will be built.

The newfound traction comes with newfound power, as the 2.2 litre turbocharged and supercharged Lampredi motor has been joined by a 48v mild hybrid system, nudging output to 592bhp. Backing this up is a healthy 428lb-ft (580Nm) of torque.

Better still, despite the additional powertrain hardware, Kimera states the EVO38 is 20kg lighter than the 37, tipping the scales at just 1,100kg thanks to the liberal application of carbon fibre and titanium.

Another contributor to performance is the six-speed manual gearbox featuring shorter ratios than before, said to be quite literally ‘geared for road driving’. Kimera is also developing an electro-actuated sequential transmission the firm claims will remain usable in everyday scenarios.

The four-wheel-drive system distributes power through a duo of clutch-type limited-slip differentials, overseen by an electronic controller. This allows the driver to fully tailor the torque split – even making the car rear-wheel drive should they please.

In a typically flamboyant move, the driveshaft carrying power to the front axle from the midships motor is on display in the cockpit, encased in glass. The rest of the interior is as luxurious as the EVO37 – authentic to the Lancia, but as if retrimmed by Pagani. There’s a carbon fibre dashboard, Italian leather and Alcantara racing buckets, exposed gear linkages and milled aluminium detailing.

The EVO38 runs a staggered alloy wheel setup with 245/35 R18 up front and 295/30 R19 at the rear. Braking is courtesy of 365 × 29mm ventilated discs with four-piston Brembo callipers. The chassis has been retrofitted with adjustable pushrod suspension featuring forged double wishbones, a strut-tower cross-brace, traction control and ABS. Other highlights include configurable engine maps and a rally-spec hydraulic handbrake.

Kimera founder Luca Betti cannot hold back the passion for his creation: “These cars are part of our DNA, our culture, our land. They have been part of my life since forever. They move me. I used to go to bed with their scale model and I would remain enchanted watching them for hours and even now, despite my age and the time that has passed, nothing has changed.”

The Kimera EVO38 only has one problem – the name. It should be the Evoluzione 38 Integrale. The firm states nearly all build slots are spoken for, and after a week spent in the Californian sunshine, it is unlikely any will remain.