Lancia V4 engine

Italian automobile company Lancia was the first to manufacture cars with V4 and V6 engines in series-production. This started with a number of V4-engine families, that were produced from the 1920s through 1970s.

The Lancia V4 pioneered the narrow-angle V engine design, more recently seen in Volkswagen's VR5 and VR6 engines. By using very shallow V-angles — between 10° and 20° — both rows of cylinders could be housed in an engine block with a single cylinder head, like a straight engine. A determining characteristic was the use of overhead camshafts (either single or double), in which a camshaft would serve the same function for all cylinders — in both cylinder banks.

Lambda

File:Lancia Lambda Airway Saloon 1927-5.jpg

Lancia Lambda V4 engine

The first V4 was used in the Lambda from 1922 through 1931. It was a 20° narrow-angle aluminium design. All three engine displacements shared the same long stroke, and all were SOHC designs with a single camshaft serving both banks of cylinders.

Engines:

• Template:Cvt , Template:Cvt at 3250 rpm
• Template:Cvt , Template:Cvt at 3250 rpm
• Template:Cvt , Template:Cvt at 3500 rpm

Artena

The Lambda engine was updated for the Artena. Bore was set at as in the 2.6 L Lambda, but stroke was reduced to a more conventional . Total displacement was Template:Cvt, with Template:Cvt produced at 4000 rpm.

Augusta

An all-new V4 was designed for the Augusta. Produced from 1934 through 1938, the Augusta's engine displaced Template:Cvt with a bore and stroke. Power output was Template:Cvt at 4000 rpm.

Aprilia

The engine was redesigned again for 1936's Aprilia. The first-series cars used a Template:Cvt version with a bore and stroke. Output was Template:Cvt at 4300 rpm.

A second series was unveiled for 1939 with an enlarged Template:Cvt engine. It did not share its predecessor's dimensions, with bore and stroke now at . Power output was nearly the same at Template:Cvt.

Ardea

File:1952 Lancia 'tipo 100B' engine in an Ardea.jpg

Tipo 100B engine in a 1952 Ardea

A small V4 (tipo 100) powered the compact 1939 Ardea. It was a 20° narrow-angle engine displacing just Template:Cvt. Bore and stroke were new again at , and output was just Template:Cvt at 4600 rpm. For the 1949 tipo 100B power was increased to Template:Cvt.

Appia

File:Desfile de autos antiguos 188.JPG

Lancia V4 in a third series Appia Berlina

The V4 returned after the war with the 1953 Appia. It featured an even narrower 10° cylinder bank and just Template:Cvt of displacement, fitting below Italy's 1.1-liter tax threshold. An initial Template:Cvt of power grew to Template:Cvt in 1956. Template:Cvt was available in 1959.

Fulvia

Lancia's final V4 series were used in the Fulvia, remaining in production up until 1976. Designed by Ettore Zaccone Mina, it used a narrow angle (13°) and was mounted well forward at a 45° angle. The engine was a true DOHC design with one camshaft operating all intake valves and another operating all exhaust valves.

Displacement began at just Template:Cvt with Template:Cvt with a bore and stroke. A higher (9.0:1) compression ratio raised power to Template:Cvt soon after.

The engine was bored to to enlarge engine displacement to Template:Cvt for the Coupé model. This, and some tuning, raised output to Template:Cvt, further enhanced up to Template:Cvt for the HF model.

The engine was re-engineered with a slightly narrower bank angle and longer stroke for 1967. Three displacements were produced: Template:Cvt bore, Template:Cvt bore, and Template:Cvt bore. The latter engine is most common, with the first unit only sold in Greece. Three levels of performance were available: Template:Cvt for common 1.3 Liter (commonly imported in USA and described as "highly tuned" by Road & Track at the time); Template:Cvt for its 1.3s evolution and Template:Cvt for the Rallye HF.

The engine was redone again for a new HF with an even narrower 11° cylinder bank and longer stroke for its final incarnation. A bore of gave it a displacement of Template:Cvt, and power shot up to between Template:Cvt depending on tune.

See also

• Volkswagen VR6 engine, for a more technically detailed article about narrow-angle V-engines

External links

• Lancisti.net - An Information Exchange and Support Community for Lancia Owners and Enthusiasts