Lancia Kappa

Lancia Kappa
Overview
Manufacturer Lancia
Also called Lancia K
Production 1994–2000
Assembly Saloon:
Rivalta plant, Turin, Italy[1]
Coupé:
Chivasso, Italy (Maggiora)[2]
Estate:
Turin, Italy (Pininfarina)[3]
Designer Ercole Spada at I.DE.A Institute (saloon)
Centro Stile Lancia (Coupe)
Pininfarina (Estate)
Body and chassis
Class Executive car (E)
Body style 4-door saloon
5-door estate
2-door coupé
Layout FF layout
Platform Type E[4]
Related Alfa Romeo 166
Powertrain
Engine Petrol:
2.0 L turbocharged I4
2.0 L I5
2.0 L turbocharged I5
2.4 L I5
3.0 L V6
Diesel:
2.4 L turbodiesel I5
Transmission 5-speed manual
4-speed automatic[5] AISIN or Z.F.
Dimensions
Wheelbase Saloon/estate: 2,700 mm (110 in)
Coupé: 2,580 mm (102 in)[6]
Length Saloon/estate: 4,687 mm (184.5 in)
Coupé: 4,567 mm (179.8 in)[6]
Width Saloon/estate: 1,826 mm (71.9 in)
Coupé: 1,830 mm (72 in)[6][7]
Height Saloon/estate: 1,462 mm (57.6 in)
Coupé: 1,425 mm (56.1 in)[6]
Curb weight 1,425 kg (3,142 lb)-1,580 kg (3,483 lb)[5]
Chronology
Predecessor Lancia Thema
Successor Lancia Thesis

The Lancia Kappa (Type 838) is an executive car produced by Italian automaker Lancia. It replaced the Thema as Lancia's flagship model in 1994 and was itself replaced by Lancia Thesis in 2001. It shared its platform with the Alfa Romeo 166 and was available as a saloon, estate or coupé. The Kappa was only available in left-hand drive, as Lancia pulled out of right-hand drive markets after the demise of the Thema.

Kappa is the tenth letter of the Greek alphabet. Greek letters have frequently been used to denote Lancia models. Back in 1919, Lancia had already produced a Kappa (and its later evolutions called Dikappa and Trikappa),[5] but these are far less known nowadays than the 1990s Kappa. In writing, Lancia often referred to the Kappa simply as the k (lower case "k"), which is fairly similar to the original Greek letter κ.

Lancia Kappa rear side.

The Kappa was not particularly popular, with only 117,216[8] made in total. Italy remained Kappa's most important market, absorbing the bulk of sales. It is also worth noting that in Poland, where Fiat Auto is the biggest domestic car manufacturer, Kappas served as official government cars (replacing Themas). This boosted the Kappa's profile in that country and gave it a peculiar cachet, which is why the Kappa enjoys a solid enthusiast base there.[7] It has also become very popular on the used market and it is generally acknowledged that it is the cheapest comfortable limousine per metre of length on the market (Some selling for as low as 1500€ used).

Autocar's Peter Robinson reviewed the Kappa in November 1994.[9] He commented on the car's bland styling which was justified by Fiat's Paolo Cantarella on the basis that the designers did not want to create too much "visual noise." The body was reported as having twice the torsional rigidity of the outgoing Thema. It was 15 percent stiffer than any of its rivals. The automatic Aisin-Warner gearbox was shared with the Volvo 850. Robinson went on to say "the Kappa´s dimensions ensure a commodious interior, the impression of space only heightened by a low cowl and very Japanese-looking fascia, somewhere between a Honda NSX and Lexus LS400." Rear cabin room was described as "immense" but the cushion was criticised for being too flat, a fault rectified in later iterations of the car. Robinson criticised the "horrid mock wood with which Lancia frames the prominent central console that runs from the handbrake, up the full length of the dash and over the top." About the driving characteristics, Robinson wrote: "If Lancia quietened the starter motor, this would be one refined drivetrain...with no hint of any 5-cylinder unevenness." The 2.4 litre engine tested appeared to have been tuned for low-end torque, a characteristic of this Alpine brand. The engine was praised by Robinson for its "smooth responsiveness" and "torque steer has been eliminated...and the Servotronic steering is terrific, with just the right degree of self-centering." His summary of ride and handling was that car was better than average but not class-leading: "On the Lancia there is too much body roll and the front grip in the wet didn't inspire confidence."

Model history

Kappa SW and Coupé

Lancia Kappa SW front side
Lancia Kappa SW rear side
Lancia Kappa Coupé front side
Lancia Kappa Coupé rear side

The station wagon version of the Kappa, designated "SW" by Lancia, was designed and built by Pininfarina and did not differ from the saloon exterior dimensions - the focus was clearly on presentation rather than cargo space.[5] Only 9,208 cars were built in Pininfarina's factory.

The Coupé was designed by Centro Stile Lancia and built by Maggiora and technically quite different from the saloon, having a shorter wheelbase (by 120mm),[10] wider rear track and a distinctive profile with frameless doors. The front, from bumper to the window screen, was identical to the other Kappas. It was Lancia's first coupé since 1984, when the Beta and Gamma coupés were discontinued, and remains the last Lancia to feature this body style to this day. The small building capacities at the Maggiora factory for this essentially hand-made car, and the relatively high price, destined it to be a rare vehicle. As a money saver the rear lights came from Delta. Only 3263 coupes were manufactured from April 1997 to March 2000, making this model a true rarity.[5] Car magazine[10] described the car as looking "top heavy, like a Bentley Continental that´s been heated up and squeezed at both ends." However, the car's engine range was praised for matching the vehicle's dynamics, the 2.4 litre five cylinder and the 3.0 Alfa-derived V6 coming closest to "infusing the k Coupe with the classy character its styling tries to suggest."[10] "It´s the spiky turbo four that asks the hardest questions of the chassis and the all-strut suspension doesn´t flounder. It shines. A viscous coupling helps the front wheels cope with the onslaught of the engine´s old school, big-bang turbo delivery, and it feels remarkably untroubled."[10] About the refinement and ride, John Barker (of Car Magazine) reported that the occupants "are completely isolated from any vibration while the ride is smooth at moderate speeds, parrying bumps quietly and unobtrusively."[10] The interior was described as "appealing" and having "curvy, attractive door casings, plump supportive Recaro seats and choice plastics.".[10] The 1997 price was estimated at 24,000 pounds sterling.[10]

Engines

The Kappa had engines fitted transversely, all powering only the front wheels. They were available with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, unless otherwise indicated.[5][7]

2.0 20V

2.4 20V

3.0 V6 24V

The 3.0 V6 24V

2.0 16V Turbo

The 2.0 turbo 16V

2.0 20V Turbo

2.4 Turbo DS/JTD

Concept cars and specials

Front view of the Lancia Kayak

Lancia Kayak

The Lancia Kayak or Bertone Kayak was a 4-seater coupé concept car by Italian coachbuilder Bertone based on Lancia k mechanicals, unveiled at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show.[11]

Kappa Limousine

A one-off Kappa Limousine with extended middle section, and wheelbase, was built for Gianni Agnelli. Its concept was very similar to the Thema Limousine from 1987. The car was finished in dark blue with a matte-black roof.

References

  1. ↑ "GUÍA EUROPEA DE CÓDIGOS DE PROYECTOS - 2001-" (PDF). autoindustria.com. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  2. ↑ "M A G G I O R A". .fiatbarchetta.com. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  3. ↑ "PRODUZIONE COMPLESSIVA" (PDF). pininfarina.it. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  4. ↑ "Automotive Design and Production, Feb 2002, accessed via". Findarticles.com. Archived from the original on 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 CarsFromItaly.com Lancia Kappa page accessed via the Wayback Machine
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Lancia specifications at". Carfolio.com. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Polish Lancia Kappa enthusiast page Archived 2006-04-24 at the Wayback Machine. (in Polish)
  8. ↑ "Produzione complessiva modelli Lancia" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  9. ↑ Autocar, November 1994
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Car magazine, July 1997
  11. ↑ Ciferri, Luca (25 February 1995). "Viva le mini—Spider, Ginevra promette". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 1 June 2015.
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Small family car Delta I Delta II Delta III
Compact executive car Beta Prisma Dedra Lybra
Beta Trevi
Executive car Gamma Thema I Kappa Thesis Thema II
Coupé Beta Coupé
Gamma Coupé Kappa Coupé
Cabriolet Flavia II
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