Lancia Gamma returns as the new flagship SUV

Lancia’s comeback is being delivered in stages. After the Ypsilon in 2024 and a return to rallying - the arena that brought the brand its greatest acclaim and recognition - the next move comes this year with the launch of the Gamma, set to become the Italian marque’s new flagship.

The name itself carries considerable heritage. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Lancia Gamma sat at the very top of the range. Built from 1976 to 1984, it was offered in two distinct body styles: a fastback saloon and a sleek coupé penned by Pininfarina.

Nearly half a century on, Gamma is preparing to re-enter the manufacturer’s line-up, but with a radically different brief. Rather than a saloon or a coupé, the new Gamma will be an SUV, mirroring the body style currently most in demand.

Even so, the ambition remains unchanged: to reclaim the top spot in Lancia’s line-up. The model is due to be unveiled this year, and the first test prototypes have already been spotted on the road.

What do we already know?

Under the skin, the upcoming Lancia Gamma will be closely related to other Stellantis models, including the DS Nº8 and the future Nº7. It will also share its production site with the Nº7, with manufacturing planned for Melfi, Italy.

All of these vehicles are based on the STLA Medium platform, yet the Gamma is expected to stand out immediately thanks to a broader powertrain line-up. While the Nº8 is offered only as a pure EV, Lancia’s range-topper will include mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric versions.

For the electric variants, expectations are that the Italian SUV will use the same battery packs as the French model, with 74 kWh and 97,2 kWh options. That should translate into ranges that could also exceed 700 km on the combined WLTP cycle.

At the other end of the spectrum, with a stronger emphasis on performance, the most powerful Lancia Gamma should wear the historic HF badge. It is expected to use two electric motors - one on each axle - for a combined total output of 276 kW (375 cv).

French underpinnings, Italian style

Where the Italian SUV promises to pull away from its French "cousins" is in its design. Even though the prototype cars have been heavily camouflaged, the spy shots suggest an evolution of the themes introduced by the Ypsilon. That includes the split light signature featuring the chalice motif (in “T”), which is also set to appear at the rear.

Looking further back, a sharply raked rear window can be made out, topped by a notably generous rear spoiler.

Lancia sits within Stellantis’ premium brand group - alongside DS and Alfa Romeo - so the cabin is expected to reflect that positioning, both in material selection and in assembly quality.

One of the interior’s signature elements should be the tavolino - already seen on the Ypsilon - which, as the name suggests, is a small round table integrated into the centre console. It is a home-inspired touch that the Italian brand wants to establish as a hallmark of its interiors.

When does it arrive?

Gamma’s return forms part of Lancia’s relaunch strategy within Stellantis. With its unveiling still scheduled for this year, the Italian SUV will become the second model of this new era, following the introduction of the Ypsilon in 2024.

Later, in 2028, a new generation of the iconic Lancia Delta is also expected, a name with major symbolic weight in the brand’s history. Its arrival will also mark the end of this first phase of the Italian marque’s revival, which continues to expand across Europe but still has no confirmed arrival date for Portugal.