Italian automobile company Lancia was the first to manufacture cars with V4 and V6 engines in series-production.

All three engine displacements shared the same long 120 mm (4.72 in) stroke, and all were SOHC designs with a single camshaft serving both banks of cylinders.

Total displacement was 1.9 L (1,927 cc), with 55 PS (40 kW; 54 hp) produced at 4000 rpm.

It featured an even narrower 10° cylinder bank and just 1.1 L (1,090 cc) of displacement, fitting below Italy's 1.1-liter tax threshold.

A higher (9.0:1) compression ratio raised power to 71 PS (52 kW; 70 hp) soon after.

The engine was re-engineered with a slightly narrower bank angle and longer 69.7 mm (2.74 in) stroke for 1967.

The engine was redone again for a new HF with an even narrower 11° cylinder bank and longer 75 mm (2.95 in) stroke for its final incarnation.

A bore of 82 mm (3.23 in) gave it a displacement of 1.6 L (1,584 cc), and power shot up to between 114 and 132 PS (84 and 97 kW; 112 and 130 hp) depending on tune.