Rare Car Archive

Makes › Lancia Italy › ECV (Group S prototype) · Prototype · 1986 One-off

Lancia
ECV (Group S prototype)

Composite-chassis, twin-turbo "Triflux" Group S prototype; succeeded by the ECV2 in 1988.

Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

Lancia ECV (Group S prototype) (Wikimedia Commons: Lancia ECV)
Lancia ECV (Group S prototype) (Wikimedia Commons: Lancia ECV)
Photo: Jiří Sedláček · CC BY-SA 4.0
1BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
1SurvivingIndependently researched
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
1 Built
Years
1986
Engine
Centrally mounted, longitudinal inline-4 · 1,759 cc / 1.8 LFactory: 1,759 cc
Power
447 kW / 608 PSFactory: 600 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Claudio Lombardi (Lancia / Fiat)
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
1 (independently researched)

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

A carbon-fibre and Kevlar composite rally prototype that Lancia built as its answer to the planned Group S category. It was shown in December 1986, after Group S had already been dropped, so it never competed, but it was the first Lancia built largely from carbon.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityOne-off 1 · Built1
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed 1 · Surviving2

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionThe one ECV1 car, held by the Lancia museum from 1987; the source gives no survivor count 12 Surviving examples Independently researched
Total model productionECV built 11 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Officially called the Fiat Experimental Composite Vehicle (ECV), the car was a development of the Delta S4 and was designed by Claudio Lombardi, who also designed the S4. It appeared at Bologna during the Memorial Bettega event in December 1986, after the Group B and Group S rally categories had been abandoned following the accidents earlier that year.

Its structure was a carbon-fibre monocoque with Kevlar honeycomb, designed as a load-bearing part of the car, and even the wheel rims were made of carbon fabric. The engine was a new twin-turbo unit with a patented "Triflux" cylinder head. The car stayed in the factory as a technology demonstrator and was only taken rallying in 2010, at Rally Legend in San Marino.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard ECV (Group S prototype).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutCentrally mounted, longitudinal inline-43 Independently researched
Displacement 1,759 cc / 1.8 LFactory: 1,759 cc4 Independently researched
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratio7.5:13 Independently researched
Valvetrain"Triflux" cylinder head: four valves per cylinder in a cross pattern, inlet and exhaust alternating on each side5 Independently researched
Fuel systemNot yet verified
InductionTwin KKK turbochargers, used sequentially depending on engine speed4 Independently researched
Power 447 kW / 608 PSFactory: 600 hp · converted4,5 Independently researchedSource states bhp.
Power at 8,000 rpm4 Independently researched
Torque 539 Nm / 55 kgmFactory: 55 kgm3 Independently researchedSource writes mKg.
Torque at 5,000 rpm3 Independently researched

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxFive-speed gearbox, longitudinally mounted at rear3 Independently researched
Gears53 Independently researched
Driven wheelsAll four (four-wheel drive)3 Independently researched

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisCarbon-fibre monocoque with Kevlar honeycomb, load-bearing5 Independently researched
Front suspensionIndependent struts, coil springs and anti-roll bars3 Independently researched
Rear suspensionIndependent struts, coil springs and anti-roll bars3 Independently researched
BrakesVentilated Brembo discs5 Independently researched
SteeringRack and pinion with power assistance (TRW)3 Independently researched
Body constructionCarbon fibre honeycomb load-bearing structure with steel tube front structure3 Independently researched
MaterialsCarbon fibre, Kevlar; wheel rims of epoxy-impregnated carbon fabric with aluminium honeycomb flange (about 6 kg for an 8x16 in gravel rim)5 Independently researched
Wheelbase 2,440 mmFactory: 2,440 mm3 Independently researched
Length 4,003 mmFactory: 4,003 mm3 Independently researched
Width 1,880 mmFactory: 1,880 mm3 Independently researched
Height 1,500 mmFactory: 1,500 mm3 Independently researched
Front track 1,500 mmFactory: 1,500 mm3 Independently researched
Rear track 1,520 mmFactory: 1,520 mm3 Independently researched
Kerb weight 930 kgFactory: 930 kg2 Independently researchedShalco (S1) gives 930kg as Group B weight; the source is the regulation figure for rallying.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tank 25 LFactory: 25 L3 Independently researched

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Lancia ECV (Group S prototype) – Ultimatecarpage.com Level C
    • 1 ECV built
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Quarter of a century on Lancia's ECV1 finally prepares to hit the stages in anger Level C Italiaspeed (Interfuture Media) · 2010-10-06
    • Consigned to the Lancia museum as the Group A era kicked off in 1987
    • An overall weight of 930kg was achieved.
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  3. 3
    Lancia Group S Rally Car (page quoting Autosprint, Dec 1986) Level C Shalco · 2005-03-10
    • Centrally mounted, longitudinal with 4 cyl inline
    • Compression ratio, 7.5:1.
    • 55mKg@5000rpm
    • Five speed gearbox longitudinally mounted at rear
    • Four-wheel drive
    • Independent struts, coil springs and anti rolls front and rear.
    • TRW rack and pinion with power assistance
    • Load-bearing structure made of carbon fibre honeycomb
    • Wheelbase | 2440mm
    • Length | 4003mm
    • Width | 1880mm
    • Height | 1500mm
    • Track F/R | 1500/1520mm
    • Fuel capacity | 25 litres
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  4. 4
    Quarter of a century on, Lancia's ECV1 finally prepares to hit the stages Level C Italiaspeed.com · 2010-10-06
    • powered by a 1759cc twin turbo (dual KKK units) engine
    • two turbochargers were used sequentially depending on the engine speed
    • engine producing 600bhp at 8,000 rpm
    • 600bhp at 8,000 rpm
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  5. 5
    Lancia Group S Rally Car (Autosport, 18/25 December 1986, "Sonic supercar" by Keith Oswin) Level C Autosport, reproduced on freespace.virgin.net/shalco.com via Wayback Machine · 1986-12-18
    • four valves of each cylinder are laid out in a cross pattern
    • Twin turbochargers provide 600bhp
    • carbon fibre monocoque with Kevlar formed into a honeycomb structure
    • ventilated Brembo disc brakes
    • The total weight of an 8x16ins gravel rim is a mere 6kgs
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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