Wanna see a Lancia Delta S4 (as heard in our previous aural pleasuring session) on an indoor kart track? Of course you do.
Forget about names and credentials. Looking at the spec sheet alone, the Lancia Delta S4 is perhaps one of the most fantastic cars ever produced. Nearly 600hp from a turbocharged and supercharged 1.8-liter engine mounted in the middle and driving all four wheels of a 2700-lb car? Lunacy. Oh, and they made a road-legal “Stradale” version you could take home too. Some might use the phrase “jaw-dropping” to describe the S4, but I think “laughter-inducing” is more accurate. I know Top Gear failed to mention the S4 on their recent tribute to Lancia, but while not as cool as the Stratos, I think the S4 is the most striking Lancia ever.
our kind of "hatchback"
The S4 has been one of my favorites of the Lancia, I was curious to know why Top Gear omitted that model.
Here is another tribute
[youtube XTfHQxLSJ9w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTfHQxLSJ9w youtube]
The Stradale was street-legal, perhaps, but streetable? Somehow I doubt it. It'd probably just as soon murder you as go into second gear.
Sweet leaping Jeebus, that was a beautiful sound.
I'm starting to wonder if it's unhealthy, just how much I love the sound of a well-tuned engine.
Not at all. Huffing the exhaust pipe of said engine might get you into trouble though.
Mitch…
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LANCIA-DELTA-EVOLU...
Buy it
Bret takes a long drag from his cigarette and utters smokely,
"Yeah… that's nice."
I will own a Delta HF Integrale at some point in my life. I will dream of the twin-charged wickedness of the racers every time I drive it.
I think road cars on kart tracks is the hoon's equivalent to meat on a stick.
I thought that meat on a stick WAS the hoon's equivalent.
Also, Jesus, did you hear that turbo? Thats some shits right there.
Finally someone covers this huge mistake! The most perfect Group B car!
The S4 was not designed, it was engineered.
I near pooped when I saw not one, but two of these in the frikkin Auto Trader, selling in the same place, in the west end of Toronto last year!
I can still hear the little white one calling my name and $18 large to come and rescue it from the clutches of some unappreciative, spray-tanned Gino kid.
You kids and your Group B rally cars…(shakes cane at the internet). The Lancia that deserved some Top Gear props was the Aurelia. 1st car with a production V6 engine, you know. Fangio owned one. So did Mike Hawthorn.
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2511/3967095300_a0d9262467_o.jpg">
http://www.velocetoday.com/archives/2748
Also apparently the only production car equipped with lobsters hanging on to the front bumper?
Don't forget the number on the door. Heh heh.
Clarkson and Hammond thought they we being so edgy with the Arse Biscuits BMW racecar. Hah!
Not lobsters……."speed crustaceans"
So what do they call a Dragon in these parts? 'Cause whatever it's called, I'm one for this car.
0-60 Mag used one during a London Tunnel Run they were invited to. Nice Equipment!
I don't think we've managed to set up a tradition around car-humping yet.
Knowing this lot, however, it's just a matter of time.
Priorities people….
DISAPPOINTED!!1!1!
Right now we are more interested in PAH!
maybe you want some forePAH!?
Watch the headlight pots through the entire video. Are we looking at two different cars? Did someone shunt halfway through filming?
I'm assuming that this is what the swarms of locusts are going to sound like when god decides to bring back his child-like little plagues.
If so, I say, "BRING ON THE LOCUSTS!"
I have a friend of a friend in Italy who hillclimbs one of these beasts. I've been trying to convince my wife to take a trip to "visit the family" over there so I can steal a ride. Him in action at a hillclimb:
[youtube ig72JXhXJQM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig72JXhXJQM youtube]
Only thing better than an S4 on an indoor kart track? S4 on ice. *shutter*
[youtube DdcWKFFLxtM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdcWKFFLxtM youtube]
Sorry, second one has embedding disabled. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdcWKFFLxtM
/what a spaz
These cars are freakin' insane. They sound like a bag of cats being thrown into a washing machine set on Spin.
I am reading this article second time today, you have to be more careful with content leakers. If I will fount it again I will send you a link
[...] Eh, it needs work. Whatever you want to call it, a similar induction setup to the Lancia Delta S4 has been fitted to another hardcore mid-engined plastic car. The ensemble of blower whine, turbo [...]