page_title: Lancia Delta
section_title: Debut
hierarchical_section_title: Lancia Delta / First generation / History / Debut
caption_attribution_description: 1982 Lancia Delta 1500
context_page_description: The Lancia Delta is a small family car produced by Italian automobile manufacturer Lancia in three generations. The first generation was produced between 1979 and 1994, the second generation from 1993 to 1999, and the third generation from 2008 to 2014.
  The Delta was first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1979. The Delta dominated the World Rally Championship during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The homologation requirements of Group A regulations meant marketing road-going versions of these competition cars — the Lancia Delta HF 4WD and HF Integrale. A total of 44,296 Integrales were produced.
context_section_description: Whilst details about the car were known since the spring, the Lancia Delta was unveiled to the public at the September 1979 Frankfurt Motor Show,
  At launch three models were offered: the base Delta 1300 4-speed, with a 1,301 cc 75 PS (55 kW) engine and simplified equipment, Delta 1300 5-speed, which added more features and an overdrive fifth gear for cruising, and Delta 1500, with a 1,498 cc 85 PS (62.6 kW) engine and a 5-speed gearbox.
  The Delta was met with warm reception at the Frankfurt unveiling by the Italian press and by the German one to boot; in December it was awarded the Car of the Year 1980 recognition by a jury of 53 automotive journalists from 16 European countries.
  Sales started in October 1979; 43,000 were sold in 1980, and by the end of 1981 production had exceeded 100,000.
  At the beginning of 1982 as an automatic transmission option was added, the 1500 Automatica; its 3-speed was built by Lancia in the Verrone plant and was already being installed on Betas.
  In March the top-of-the-line 1500 LX trim level joined the lineup; it featured extended convenience equipment, metallic paint, 14-inch alloy wheels penned by Giugiaro and wool cloth upholstery in a chequered fabric specially designed by Italian fashion house Zegna. Two months after, the trim level was extended to the 1.3-litre engine, which simultaneously increased its output to 78 PS thanks to a raised compression ratio and electronic ignition.
caption: 1982 Lancia Delta 1500
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