Ah, the early '80s. A time when car designers had free reign to throw ideas at the wall, some of which turned into absolute madness, while others turned into the Lancia Orca. ItalDesign’s creation from 1982 was a bold, futuristic concept car that looked like it was crafted in a sci-fi lab, yet it had the soul of a humble Lancia Delta. Yes, under the skin of this sleek spaceship-like sedan was a Lancia Delta Turbo’s four-cylinder, 1.6-litre engine, cranking out a respectable 140 hp. It wasn’t going to set any Nürburgring lap records, but in its time, it had enough grunt to turn heads – both in envy and confusion.

Let’s talk performance. The 1.6-litre DOHC engine, mounted transversely up front, offered a solid 140 hp at 5600 rpm. Coupled with a four-wheel-drive system – which could be disconnected at will – the Orca had more grip than its name suggests. The name "Orca" might make you think of something large, slow, and marine-based, but this thing had enough bite to keep up with the sportier saloons of the day, even if it wasn’t exactly a rocket ship.

At 4388 mm long and 1728 mm wide, it was about the same size as an Audi 80, but with far more flair and futurism. Its design was inspired by the earlier ItalDesign Medusa, though the Orca traded the Medusa’s low-slung nose for something a little more practical and aerodynamic, while still keeping enough space inside for four passengers to feel like they’d been transported into the future.

Habitability? Well, in the cabin, it was a masterclass in how to make a car spacious without turning it into a barge. Despite its striking profile, there were more than 170 mm of internal room to stretch out and enjoy the ride – an impressive feat for a car with such sporty aspirations.

But of course, it wouldn’t be an ItalDesign concept without a dose of eccentricity. The Orca’s controls were all on the steering wheel, which isn’t that odd today, but back in 1982? That was straight out of the sci-fi playbook. Even better, they could be operated by ultrasonic impulses. Yep, ultrasonic controls – like something you'd expect from an alien spaceship. No more fiddling with buttons that spin around with the wheel – everything was fixed in place, making it easier to use while zipping around town.

And just in case you weren’t already convinced that the Orca was designed for the future, it even had a brake light on the front of the car to inform pedestrians and other drivers that it was slowing down. Genius? Perhaps. Necessary? Well, no, but that’s not the point! It’s just one of those quirky features that reminds us of the fearless innovation of the era.

So, the Lancia Orca: a stylish, forward-thinking sedan that dared to blend aerodynamic efficiency, futuristic tech, and good old-fashioned Italian passion. It may not have had a long life on the production line, but it certainly left an impression as one of the '80s most fascinating "what could have been" concept cars. And with a name like Orca, how could it not?

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See Lancia Orca by ItalDesign brochure here 👉 www.cartefacts.com/item/italdesign-lancia-orca-brochure-1982