Lancia Delta to rise from the ashes
Iconic Italian car to return in 2026 as a premium EV, but no word yet on hot Integrale versionIt’s official – Italy’s Volkswagen Golf rival, the Lancia Delta, will be revived in the latter part of this decade.
The struggling Italian car brand currently has just one model in its stable, the Lancia Ypsilon compact car, and it’s only sold in Italy.
But in a revealing interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Lancia’s new CEO Luca Napolitano said the Delta will be resurrected as an electric hatch in 2026.
“Everyone wants the Delta and it cannot be missing from our plans,” said Napolitano.
“It will return and it will be a true Delta: an exciting car, a manifesto of progress and technology. And of course, it will be electric.”
No details of the new model have been divulged, but it will leverage one of parent company Stellantis’ electric vehicle platforms.
The Lancia Delta made headlines in 1987 when the Delta HF 4WD became the first Group A specification rally car to win the World Rally Championship.
There followed another five seasons of dominance with the iconic Delta integrale model in various forms taking every WRC manufacturer’s title from 1988-92.
Over time it became a household name and even gave rise to an incredible $500,000 Delta Futurista restomod.
But it remains to be seen if the reborn Lancia Delta Integrale model will return as a high-performance electric tyre-shredder.
Ditto for the more exotic Lancia Stratos sports car.
Napolitano implied the entire Lancia range, which will include a new Ypsilon by 2024, will take on a more aggressive edge as former Citroen stylist Jean-Pierre Ploue jumps into role as Lancia’s chief designer.
“We will also turn to a male target, with a higher average age – a more modern and European client,” the new Lancia boss said.
From 2026, Lancia will only sell EVs and will offer a simplified online sales system as it seeks to return to its prestige car roots.
It will sit alongside fellow Stellantis premium brands DS and Alfa Romeo, the latter to go all EV from 2027.
“It will only be the first step in an accelerated path towards a radical change, to restore credibility to the brand in the premium market,” said Napolitano.
The Italian car brand is plotting international expansion, but whether that includes Australia is still to be confirmed.
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