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| Delta HF Integrale | |
|---|---|
| Name | Delta HF Integrale |
| Manufacturer | Lancia |
| Production | 1987–1994 |
| Class | Compact executive car |
| Body style | 3/5-door hatchback |
| Layout | Front-engine, four-wheel drive |
| Engine | 2.0 L turbocharged inline-4 |
| Predecessor | Lancia Delta HF 4WD |
| Successor | Lancia Lybra |
Delta HF Integrale The Delta HF Integrale is an Italian high-performance hatchback produced by Lancia in the late 1980s and early 1990s, developed for homologation in the World Rally Championship and celebrated for its rally dominance. It combined a turbocharged Fiat-sourced engine, advanced all-wheel drive derived from Sanderro engineering practices and bespoke Lancia chassis upgrades, yielding a car that bridged road and rally competition across Europe and global motorsport. The Integrale’s influence reached manufacturers, teams, and drivers associated with Marlboro-sponsored campaigns, Martini Racing, and key figures in Automotive engineering circles.
Introduced as an evolution from the HF 4WD, the Integrale was positioned to meet homologation rules for the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile-sanctioned World Rally Championship and to exploit advances by rivals such as Audi with the Quattro and Peugeot with the 205 Turbo 16. The model blended components from Fiat Group affiliates including Alfa Romeo and Magneti Marelli electronics, serving customers across markets in Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, and export regions. Public and private racing outfits from Jolly Club to Prodrive engaged with the platform as a competitive and versatile base.
Lancia’s engineering team refined the Delta HF platform with input from homologation regulations established by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and lessons learned during competition against teams like Audi Sport and Peugeot Talbot Sport. Chassis stiffening, widened wheelarches, and upgraded suspension were influenced by suppliers such as Sachs and Bilstein, while turbocharging and engine mapping incorporated technology from Magneti Marelli and development partners within Fiat Group Automobiles. Interior and aerodynamic updates referenced contemporary designs seen on cars campaigned by Lancia Martini and privateer squads including Jolly Club and Equipe. The Integrale’s compact hatchbody also reflected packaging trends at manufacturers like Volkswagen and Renault.
The Integrale used a 2.0 L turbocharged inline-four with an intercooler and multi-point fuel injection calibrated by Magneti Marelli, producing horsepower figures competitive with rivals from Toyota Team Europe and Opel’s hot hatches. The permanent four-wheel-drive system with a central differential and torque distribution geometry was comparable in concept to systems developed by ZF Friedrichshafen and Ricardo consultancy work. Braking hardware, ventilated discs, and ABS options involved suppliers such as Brembo and electronics homologated in line with Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile standards. The suspension geometry, roll center control, and anti-roll bars reflected inputs from motorsport-tested setups used by teams like Prodrive and Sallon-class entrants.
The Integrale achieved significant success in the World Rally Championship, contributing to multiple manufacturers' titles, and contested iconic events including the Monte Carlo Rally, RAC Rally, and Tour de Corse. Drivers associated with Integrale campaigns included stars linked to Lancia and rival marques—competitors who also raced for teams such as Sainz Racing outfits and privateers backed by Martini Racing-style sponsorship. The car’s reliability and tuning flexibility made it a favorite for events promoted by organizers like the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and national federations in France, Spain, and Finland. Historic rally series and endurance events later saw the Integrale campaigned by collectors and specialist teams with ties to Jolly Club alumni and former factory engineers.
Across its lifecycle, the Integrale was offered in several iterations—each with incremental power, chassis, and aerodynamic changes similar to development paths taken by contemporaries at Audi Sport and Peugeot Talbot Sport. Limited-production versions and special editions mirrored collector-focused releases from firms like Alfa Romeo and BMW M, featuring uprated turbos, intercoolers, forged components, and revised gear ratios from transmission specialists such as Getrag. Road-going acceleration, handling balance, and braking performance were benchmarked against hot hatches from Volkswagen GTI and Ford performance divisions; rally-spec cars received bespoke rollcages, suspension travel, and cooling packages used by championship-winning crews.
The Integrale is widely regarded among journalists from publications linked to Automotive journalism and commentators who compare seminal performance models like the Porsche 911 and BMW M3 for its rally pedigree and road usability. Enthusiast clubs, historic motorsport series, and museums in Italy and across Europe preserve examples, while aftermarket companies and restorers with connections to Magneti Marelli and Brembo continue parts support. Its legacy influenced later small high-performance cars developed by groups including Fiat Group successors and inspired collectors alongside models from Toyota, Subaru, and Mitsubishi that pursued rally-derived road cars.