Lancia Hyena Zagato

Lancia Hyena Zagato

The Lancia Hyena is one of the rarest and most fascinating Italian cars of the 1990s. Created by Zagato in collaboration with Dutch Lancia enthusiast Paul Koot, the Hyena was essentially a Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione clothed in a completely new Zagato-designed and built body. Only 24 examples were produced between 1992 and 1994, making it one of the most exclusive cars of its era.

The project originated when Koot, a successful Dutch businessman and dedicated Lancia enthusiast, approached Zagato with the idea of creating a limited-edition coupe using the Delta Integrale as a donor car. Zagato, always willing to take on bespoke projects, designed a completely new body that transformed the boxy Delta hatchback into a sleek, aerodynamic coupe with dramatically different proportions.

Zagato's design featured their trademark double-bubble roof, rounded body panels that replaced the Delta's angular lines, and a distinctive rear end with a large glass hatchback. The overall effect was of a much more exotic car than the humble Delta it was based upon, yet the proportions and stance remained unmistakably aggressive.

Mechanically, the Hyena retained the Delta Integrale Evoluzione's entire powertrain and running gear. The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine produced 250 horsepower, driving all four wheels through the Delta's proven permanent all-wheel-drive system. The five-speed manual gearbox, ventilated disc brakes, and MacPherson strut suspension at all four corners were all carried over from the donor car.

However, the Zagato body was significantly lighter than the standard Delta, with the Hyena tipping the scales at approximately 1,100 kilograms compared to the Integrale Evo's 1,340 kilograms. This 240-kilogram weight saving transformed the driving experience, making the already quick Integrale noticeably faster and more responsive. The improved aerodynamics also contributed to higher top speed and better stability.

Lancia officially cooperated with the project, supplying new Delta Integrale Evoluzione rolling chassis to Zagato for the conversion. Each Hyena took approximately 3,000 hours of hand labor to complete, reflecting the intensity of the transformation from Delta to Hyena.

With only 24 built, the Hyena is an exceptionally rare collector's item that combines the legendary Delta Integrale's rally-bred mechanicals with Zagato's distinctive design vision. It represents a unique intersection of privateer enthusiasm, Italian coachbuilding tradition, and one of the most celebrated performance cars of the late 20th century.