Italian automobile company Lancia was the first to manufacture cars with V4 and V6 engines in series-production. This started with a number of V4-engine families, that were produced from the 1920s through 1970s. The Lancia V4 pioneered the narrow-angle V engine design, more recently seen in Volkswagen's VR5 and VR6 engines. By using very shallow V-angles — between 10° and 20° — both rows of cylinders could be housed in an engine block with a single cylinder head, like a straight engine. A determining characteristic was the use of overhead camshafts (either single or double), in which a camshaft would serve the same function for all cylinders — in both cylinder banks.

Lambda

The first V4 was used in the Lambda from 1922 through 1931. It was a 20° narrow-angle aluminium design. All three engine displacements shared the same long 120 mm stroke, and all were SOHC designs with a single camshaft serving both banks of cylinders. Engines:

Artena

The Lambda engine was updated for the Artena. Bore was set at 82.55 mm as in the 2.6 L Lambda, but stroke was reduced to a more conventional 90 mm. Total displacement was 1927 cc, with 55 PS produced at 4000 rpm.

Augusta

An all-new V4 was designed for the Augusta. Produced from 1934 through 1938, the Augusta's engine displaced 1196 cc with a 69.85x78 mm bore and stroke. Power output was 35 PS at 4000 rpm.

Aprilia

The engine was redesigned again for 1936's Aprilia. The first-series cars used a 1352 cc version with a 72x82 mm bore and stroke. Output was 47 PS at 4300 rpm. A second series was unveiled for 1939 with an enlarged 1486 cc engine. It did not share its predecessor's dimensions, with bore and stroke now at 74.61x85 mm. Power output was nearly the same at 48 PS.

Ardea

A small V4 (tipo 100) powered the compact 1939 Ardea. It was a 20° narrow-angle engine displacing just 903 cc. Bore and stroke were new again at 65x68 mm, and output was just 28.8 PS at 4600 rpm. For the 1949 tipo 100B power was increased to 30 PS.

Appia

The V4 returned after the war with the 1953 Appia. It featured an even narrower 10° cylinder bank and just 1090 cc of displacement, fitting below Italy's 1.1-liter tax threshold. An initial 38 PS of power grew to 43 PS in 1956. 48 PS was available in 1959.

Fulvia

Lancia's final V4 series were used in the Fulvia, remaining in production up until 1976. Designed by Ettore Zaccone Mina, it used a narrow angle (13°) and was mounted well forward at a 45° angle. The engine was a true DOHC design with one camshaft operating all intake valves and another operating all exhaust valves. Displacement began at just 1091 cc with 59 PS with a 72x67 mm bore and stroke. A higher (9.0:1) compression ratio raised power to 71 PS soon after. The engine was bored to 76 mm to enlarge engine displacement to 1216 cc for the Coupé model. This, and some tuning, raised output to 80 PS, further enhanced up to 88 PS for the HF model. The engine was re-engineered with a slightly narrower bank angle and longer 69.7 mm stroke for 1967. Three displacements were produced: 1199 cc 74 mm bore, 1231 cc 75 mm bore, and 1298 cc 77 mm bore. The latter engine is most common, with the first unit only sold in Greece. Three levels of performance were available: 87 PS for common 1.3 Liter (commonly imported in USA and described as "highly tuned" by Road & Track at the time); 90 PS for its 1.3s evolution and 101 PS for the Rallye HF. The engine was redone again for a new HF with an even narrower 11° cylinder bank and longer 75 mm stroke for its final incarnation. A bore of 82 mm gave it a displacement of 1584 cc, and power shot up to between 114 and 132 PS depending on tune.