Kimera Automobili officially enters the world of hypercars – with the new K-39, the most ambitious model yet from the Piedmontese brand led by founder Luca Betti. The K-39, which was unveiled at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2026 on Lake Como, marks a historic turning point for the Italian company.
Until now, Kimera has been known primarily for its modern adaptations of legendary Lancia rally cars from the 80s, such as the EVO37 and EVO38. This time, however, it's not a restomod: the K-39 is a completely independent project, developed from scratch - with the ambition of joining the small circle of the most exclusive hypercars in the world.
The Kimera K-39 draws inspiration from the silhouettes of the Lancia LC racing cars that dominated the World Prototype Sports Car Championship in the 1980s. The visual model is the Group 5 Montecarlo Turbo, which was very successful between 1979 and 1981. The result is a long, flat and sculpted body with proportions that seem unusual today. The affinity with previous Kimera creations remains recognizable, especially at the front and rear - here with a generally more extreme and rather sophisticated approach.
Aerodynamics have been developed as an integral part of the design. The front end uses modern solutions derived from motorsport, such as the S-Duct to direct the airflow, while the rear end combines surfaces with a large wing reminiscent of the endurance racing cars of the time. The headlights are also directly integrated into the aerodynamic structure of the vehicle.
In addition to the standard version, Kimera Automobili has also introduced a special “Pikes Peak” configuration, which is intended to further emphasize the connection between the Italian hypercar and mountain racing. This version features its own aerodynamic additions and a setup more suited to track driving – while maintaining its homologation for driving on public roads.
The biggest technical innovation of the K-39 is the drive system. For this, Kimera has entered into a collaboration with the Swedish extreme hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg to develop a special biturbo V8 engine. The engine develops 1.000 hp at 7.350 rpm and delivers 1.200 Nm of torque at 5.500 rpm; the rev limiter engages at 8.250 rpm.
According to Kimera, the engine was specifically tailored to the character of the K-39. Compared to the more compromise solutions from Koenigsegg, the charging system has been lightened and optimized to improve responsiveness and driving characteristics. The V8 engine also meets emissions regulations, and software upgrades can be carried out via a cloud platform developed by the Swedes, via over-the-air updates.
Dallara, an Italian motorsport engineering company, is also involved in the project, providing technical advice to Kimera and participating in the development. The goal of the project is to create a hypercar that combines high performance, low weight and the most analog driving experience possible. As is customary with Kimera, the K-39 will be produced in a limited series. More than 20 examples have already been allocated to selected customers before the official launch. The first ten buyers will also receive access to a special Pikes Peak configuration.
Following its premiere at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, the K-39 will embark on an international tour that will include stops at events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Monterey Car Week, Spa-Francorchamps and the Le Mans Classic. It is at Le Mans that Luca Betti will drive the historic vehicle that inspired the K-39 project – as a symbolic link between the past and the future.
With this hypercar, Kimera is finally saying goodbye to its role as a nostalgic interpreter of historic motorsport and is trying to establish its own identity in the world of modern supercars. This is an ambitious step that gains even more weight thanks to the collaboration with Koenigsegg and its debut at one of the most prestigious automotive events in the world.
