Iconic Italian manufacturer Lancia will no longer sell its cars outside of Italy, it has been confirmed. Part of the Fiat group, Lancia has struggled for sales, with Chairman and CEO of the Fiat group Sergio Marchionne stating, “Lancia will become an Italian market-only brand.”

But customers interested in taking home the New Stratos won’t get it for cheap. The cost of the New Stratos is $618,000…

320 km/h

The world of motorsport witnessed a convergence of legends in 1982. Lancia, whose Stratos had won three consecutive World Rally Championship Constructors’ titles, introduced the 037 in partnership with Abarth. …

This all means that, even though WRC cars make only about 60-65% (even more since 2017) of the power of the best Group B cars, they are ultimately faster around a rally stage and post better times. However, in a straight off tarmac drag race to their top speed, the best Group B cars would more than likely beat a WRC.

Group B welcomed some of the most spectacular rally cars the world had ever seen, boasting four-wheel-drive and in some cases over 500 brake horsepower.

Group B was initially a very successful group, with many manufacturers joining the premier World Rally Championship, and increased spectator numbers. But the cost of competing quickly rose and the performance of the cars proved too much resulting in a series of fatal crashes.

It has credited the increased sales of its vehicles, especially the Subaru Impreza, with its success in the World Rally Championship, in addition to popularizing its all-wheel-drive system. The team withdrew from WRC competition at the end of the 2008 season due to widespread economic downturn.

Group B rally died on 2nd May 1986, killed alongside Henri Toivonen and co-driver Sergio Cresto on a notoriously treacherous left-hander during the second leg of the Tour de Corse, the “rally of 10,000 corners”.

5 Of The Fastest Rally Cars Ever Built (10 That Are Slower Than A…

• 7 Really Slow: Subaru WRX STI.
• 6 Really Slow: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9.
• 5 Crazy Fast: Renault 5 Turbo.
• 4 Crazy Fast: Lancia Rally 037.
• 3 Crazy Fast: Subaru Impreza WRX.
• 2 Crazy Fast: Ford RS200.
• 1 Crazy Fast: Lancia Stratos.

A rally car can cost upwards of $15,000 to build from scratch. This is how much it would cost to build a car that is fit for a rally stage, but the rally cars used in competitions like WRC cost more, with the cost of a 2020 WRC car being around $1 million.

Lancia Delta HF –

The 10 best road‑going rally cars of all time

• Ford Escort RS1600.
• Lotus Sunbeam.
• Audi Quattro.
• Lancia Delta Integrale.
• Ford Escort RS Cosworth.
• Subaru Impreza.
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
• Peugeot 106 Rallye.

Lancia Delta HF Integrale

The technique is obviously different from a RWD or AWD car but FWD can and does work in rally. FWD cars are cheap and easy to find and turn into budget rally racers.

For Rally, the rules are intended to keep the cars as close to what can be built and driven legally on the street. And that’s the big catch: able to drive on the street. Rally cars NEED to be street legal, pass emissions, carry registration and legal insurance, all the things a normal car has to do.