With one of the most unmistakable shapes of all time and a rally pedigree that is almost unrivalled, the Lancia Delta Integrale remains a dream car for many a petrolhead. But is it as good to drive as one would hope?
Words and pictures: Wilhelm Lutjeharms
Thank you note: A special thanks to MotoVillage for making the car available for this article.
Group B rallying will always stand out as a high-water mark in sport of the 20th century. The cars that competed in the (then) pinnacle of rallying developed a crazy amount of power and achieved speeds on ground, and in the air (!) that was almost unbelievable. And the drivers (barely) in control of these beasts were all real-life superheroes.
Perhaps inevitably the series had to come to an end, following a number of fatal accidents. But the success of rallying didn't stop there. In fact, some of the most iconic rally cars of all time (particularly from Lancia and Subaru) emerged from the shadow of Group B and continued to achieve celebrity status in this sport. Many would agree that the most memorable rally car of the '80s and '90s was indeed the Delta Integrale...
History
After the demise of Group B and, consequently its Delta S4 rally weapon, Lancia turned to the most unlikely of platforms for its next rally monster, the Delta family hatchback. Initially offered as a demure front-wheel drive rival for the likes of VW's Golf and Opel's Kadett, Lancia finally launched a 4WD Delta variant in 1986, incorporating lessons learnt during the S4's development. Very obviously... it was going rallying.
If you appreciate the boxy design of iconic '80s cars such as the E30 BMW, especially the M3 with its flared arches, the Delta Integrale will be right up your ally. Designed by none other Giorgetto Giugiaro, the original Delta hatch looked rather plain, but it was developed and improved over the years, gaining a far more macho appearance in the process, particularly so with the Evo and Evo II variants.
Design, engine and cabin
Even the Delta's adjustable rear wing has a clean cut and angular design. At the front the blunt nose features a sudden drop and are studded with the legendary four headlights and multiple grilles. There are also the famous telephone dial wheels and, most notably, a very vibrant interior design when you open the door. The Recaro cloth-upholstered seats offer support along the sides and have a neat multi-stripe theme in the centre that is a further throwback to the late-'80s.
Once seated behind the wheel the square design approach of the exterior is replicated in front of you. The dashboard design and layout is all angular, quite Germanic, actually. Even the layout of the dials is beautifully straightforward with the speedometer to the left, smaller dials in the centre and the rev counter to the right. It does really take you back to the 80s!
Engine
The 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine develops 147 kW and 298 N.m. If you are a Volkswagen Golf GTI fan, those figures may sound familiar. Let’s compare those stats to the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk5 of the mid-2000s which produced 147 kW and 280 N.m. Suddenly the Integrale’s numbers look very impressive! Also keep in mind that the Integrale is lighter than the Golf and was launched a decade and a half before the VW!
Behind the wheel
Pottering around in traffic, there is never the sense that you need to push the Lancia hard and it is actually an easy and comfortable car to drive slowly. The gearlever moves between the ratios with ease and even though it is a left-hand drive car, because of its small footprint, all-round visibility is still very good.
I head to a quieter road, as you should with a car such as this that begs to be driven with enthusiasm... It is when you keep your foot on the throttle for that little bit longer that the full, old-school, turbocharged experience impresses. It builds slowly in a typical turbocharged manner, but then just before 4 000 rpm it dumps all that torque through the drivetrain. Then you have about 2 500 rpm – which goes by rather quickly! – to enjoy this level of performance before you need to shift to the next gear.
Keep your foot flat and you will again be surfing the crest of the torque wave, and if not, you will just have to wait a moment as the boost builds up again. It is a car that rewards the dedicated driver, one that learns its ways. Push the car a little harder through the corners and the high-level of grip (7JX15, 205/50 R15 front and rear) to impresses. I was pleasantly surprised by this performance from a 35-old car!
The steering wheel also provides a good level of feedback, while the Integrale also feels at all times compact in size – which is a rare occurrence considering today’s much larger and heavier cars.
The fact that you can also manually adjust the rear wing is another interesting feature for us enthusiasts, and so is the sticker in the rear window reminding one of Lancia’s World Rally Championship success from 1987 to 1991!
From my limited time with this car, it was evident that it had been looked after. It therefore didn’t come as a surprise that it quickly found a new owner. After all, these cars have a direct historical connection to the immensely memorable rally car versions. This is a hero you won't be disappointed to meet!
Specifications:
Model: 1989 Lancia Delta Integrale HF 16V
Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbopetrol
Power: 147 kW at 5 500 rpm
Torque: 298 N.m at 3 000 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual, AWD
Weight: 1 291 kg
0-100 km/h: 6.1 seconds
Top Speed: 212 km/h