Lancia Gamma to be offered with both pure-electric and hybrid power
Italian executive is set to return in 2026 and will come with a hot HF variant
While we knew the forthcoming Lancia Gamma flagship would be offered in pure-electric guise, the Italian firm has announced that a hybrid version will be launched, too.
The new model will form part of an expanded Lancia line-up alongside the recently launched Ypsilon and the upcoming Delta in 2028, as the brand embraces electrification.
It’s been 40 years since the last Lancia Gamma rolled off the line in Turin. The new model will still be built in Italy, although at parent company Stellantis’ factory in Melfi, with production likely to start in 2026.
Luca Napolitano, Lancia CEO, said: “By producing it at the historic Melfi plant, we are strengthening our connection to Italy’s rich automotive heritage and advancing our vision for an electrified future. Gamma will showcase the best of what Lancia stands for: innovation, style and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”
The Gamma will utilise the STLA Medium platform, an architecture that has already been put into use by the Peugeot E-3008 and Vauxhall Grandland.
Lancia initially just had all-electric power in mind for the Gamma, and it’s not yet known what powertrain will be used for the hybrid, although both the 3008 and Grandland come with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged mild-hybrid.
The Gamma will be positioned as Lancia’s flagship, potentially as a fastback or a saloon, although an SUV bodystyle is also possible. It will be 4.7 metres long and likely offer more than the 435 miles of EV range afforded by the Peugeot E-3008 (when fitted with the larger 97kWh battery). Single and dual-motor powertrains are possible, given those STLA Medium ‘multi-energy’ underpinnings.
A hot HF version will be offered on the Gamma as well as the Ypsilon and Delta. HF has traditionally been Lancia’s sportier trim level and while the Ypsilon will get a straight HF version, the Gamma and Delta will be badged HF Integrale – although we’ll have to wait and see what performance upgrades that will entail.
We’ve already seen a teaser image of the new Gamma, although all this showed was the badge and part of the slender rear light cluster.
However, Napolitano provided a clue as to what to expect when he said: “The new Lancia Gamma represents a milestone in our journey towards the future. It embodies our brand’s commitment to sustainability and high performance, while celebrating the unmistakable elegance that has defined Lancia for decades.”
As a more premium marque in the Stellantis group, we expect the Gamma will be pitched against the likes of the BMW i4 (and upcoming Neue Klasse sedan), Mercedes CLA EV and Audi A4 e-tron, if Lancia sticks to a lower-slung body style.
However, the rejuvenated brand is yet to confirm if it will return to the UK market, even though STLA platform cars are designed to accommodate right-hand-drive vehicles, which would make a comeback here more viable.
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