Lancia Delta is a six-time WRC Constructors' Champion

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The first generation Lancia Delta was released in 1979, and ceased to exist in 1994, when the hatchback was discontinued. The first model was the Fiat Ritmo, produced with 1.1 or 1.5 liter engines. The interior of the car was equipped with numerous options according to the latest technology. The Car of the Year title is an achievement for the first Lancia Delta. Feedback from the owners confirmed that he deservedly received this title.

And so, in 1985, a new generation came out, called Delta Integrale. It was no longer a civilian car, but a real athlete. The global auto industry remembered this model for a long time.

Integrale has won the Constructors' Cup six times in the world rally championships. No one could seriously compete with the Italian hatchback at that time. No one has matched his record of six consecutive WRC wins from 1987 to 1993.

Today, the automaker has finally “tied up” with motorsport. Now the entire range of Italians does not have all-wheel drive models. Whether this decision is correct or not will become clear over time, and now the FIAT subsidiary is engaged in the production of representative "asph alt"cars.

The second generation Lancia Delta was produced from 1993 to 1999. She did not enjoy the same popularity and was not remembered for much. The novelty did not have sports successes, and it was very far from the previous results. The financial problems that the Italians faced at that time did not allow the release of the next, third, generation. Only nine years later, FIAT decided to create the next version.

Dimensions

Delta is a rather large hatchback with a length of 4509 mm, a width of 1797 mm and a height of 1499 mm. The wheelbase of the car is 2700 mm. It is built on the same platform as Alfa Romeo. The cost of the Lancia Delta puts it between the C and D segments. Despite the many options and good technical specifications, the model is very affordable. The difficult situation of the auto company affected here - it cannot afford to increase the price of products.

The main features of the new Delta were taken from the Gran Turismo Stilnov, which first appeared in public in 2003 at the Barcelona Auto Show. Eminent design studios worked on its development: Studio Cancerani and Carrozzeria Maggiora. The new model was not just another remake of its predecessor, but created from scratch. The car has many similarities with the Delta HPE, presented in 2006 at the Paris auto show. The expressive appearance, lighting technology and radiator grill of the model migrated to the 2008 Lancia Delta.

Salon

The interior of the car speaks of its considerable cost: high-qualityfinishing materials, magnificent style from the best world designers. It should be noted the good capacity of Delta, in which it surpasses most of its "classmates". At first glance, it seems that only luxury materials are used in the cabin, but upon closer inspection, you notice that this is not entirely true: Italian designers have managed to combine expensive materials and cheap plastic.

The center console houses the climate control settings and the Bose audio system, specially designed for the Lancia Delta. Management is simple and clear. In general, compared to the design, the console looks rather poor. In front of the driver's eyes is a tachometer with large numbers. One gets the feeling that the car was created for the racer, for whom it is very important to keep track of the instruments.

Ergonomics of the model is also at a high level. A person of any configuration can comfortably sit behind the wheel of a car. This is facilitated by mechanical settings for height, backrest angle and longitudinal movement of the chair. In addition, the seats have good lateral support. Also of note is the steering wheel with a wide range of settings. The developers of the model also did not forget about the rear passengers: three adults can sit on the second row with a margin of space.

On the road

The car holds the road very well thanks in large part to the ESP stability control system. It reasonably limits the driver's capabilities, but at the same time, turns can be taken at high speed (Torque Transfer Control helps). The car is equipped with another useful system - Synaptic Damping Control. It adjusts the stiffness of the shock absorbers depending on the road conditions.

Trunk

The luggage compartment of the model is increased by folding the backs of the rear seats or moving the sofa to the front seats. In its normal state, its volume is 380 liters, with the sofa retracted - 465 liters, and with the back row folded down, it increases to 760 liters. The transformation of the trunk of a car is carried out in the case when transportation of bulky cargo is required, and for everyday driving, the already capacious luggage compartment of the Lancia Delta is enough.

Specifications

All third generation Delta engines are turbocharged. On the road, it seems that under the hood is not a modest 1.4-liter unit, but a more serious engine. The maximum engine power is 150 hp. With. at 5500 rpm. Italian developers got the most out of the Lancia Delta engine.

Price

Only 2,500 models were produced in the first year. The hatchback starts at $25,000 for base trim.