From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Lancia Delta was a successful car sold by Lancia from 1979 to 1994. In Sweden it was sold by Saab as Saab 600. Saab also helped with the logistics and the model was actually better suited for colder climates and less prone to rust than other models.
While the majority of Delta models where ordinary, compact family cars, the most famous model was the Delta HF integrale, a 4WD sport car with a very powerful engine. A tweaked version of the HF dominated for years the World Rally Championship and has won the Constructors Championship six times in a sequence (1987-1992), which is a record.
It was elected Car of the Year in 1980.
In 1993 the successor - the so called Delta Nuova -, based on the Fiat Tipo platform, was introduced. A car targeted on more comfort-oriented customers, because since Fiat accuired Alfa Romeo in 1990, there was no need for them to build sport cars under two different labels. But still the Delta Nuova could offer up to 187 DIN-bhp and the famous four wheel drive.
Even today, one can find around Italy old HFs rallying around, with modified versions with 300 to 500 hp.
See also: rally
