MG METRO TURBO
Catch me if you can
LANCIA TREVI VOLUMEX
A new course
YEAR: 1984
In spite of a slow start, today the Trevi is a vintage car appreciated for its sober style, which in the Volumex is paired with sophisticated technology developed from winning solutions implemented in races.
A supercharged car in a blue coat, with an interior signed Ermenegildo Zegna.
Historical background
The first in the world
No, the Roman fountain has nothing to do with its name: “Tre-vi” actually means “three volumes” (three-box). Created as an extension of the Beta project, with a particular aim at export sales and a sober clientele, the Beta Trevi was presented at the Turin Auto Show in April 1980. Developed from the two-box Beta, it shared the same platform and engines: the 1.6, the carburetted 2.0, and the 2.0 i.e. The back was completely redesigned, and perfectly connected with the lines of the front, resulting in a balanced profile. The innovative “Swiss cheese” dashboard, not quite popular at first, became with time the distinctive sign of a spacious and well-defined interior.
On the same stand, two years later on 21st April 1982, Lancia introduced the “Beta Trevi VX Volumex”, the first production car ever with a volumetric compressor. Next to it were the Delta Turbo 4×4 and the Rally (037). A “supercharged” exhibition that reflected a carmaker always looking for technical solutions for both race and road cars.
The rotary-lobe compressor had long been put aside by the automotive industry (its first appearance dates back to 1919,) but Lancia decided to revisit the idea and produce it in series for the three-box Beta (as well as the coupé and the HPE), which was offered from the beginning with Ermenegildo Zegna upholstery—a Piedmontese partnership of the highest profile.
In 1983 the model was updated and even lost the name “Beta”, as if to make it independent from the rest of the range. Gone was the matte grey band in the rear, replaced by the more modern-looking lettering. New air intakes were designed for the rear pillars, and the ratios of gear and axle were lengthened to optimise consumption. The price of 17,052.00 liras was well-calibrated compared to the other saloons in the medium-high tier the Trevi belonged to. However, the internal competition with the Prisma (1982) did not benefit sales. After two years of production, the Trevi Volumex was retired in 1984. A little over 3,800 vehicles were made, making it quite the rare item.
Technical specifications
- BODY STYLE: 4-door saloon
- SEATS: 5
- LENGTH: 436 cm
- WIDTH: 171 cm
- HEIGHT: 140 cm
- WEIGHT: 1,195 kg
- ENGINE: Supercharged 4-cylinder
- DISPLACEMENT: 1,995 cc
- POWER OUTPUT: 135 hp
- FUEL TYPE: Petrol
- DRIVETRAIN: FWD
- TRANSMISSION: Manual
- SPEED: 190 km/h
Driving experience – Not like the others
A true example of understatement applied to the automotive world. Today, the Lancia Trevi Volumex is vintage car that is taking back the role it is owed: that of a balanced saloon with unparalleled technical excellence and just a few stylistic quirks, such as the front spoiler and, in this vehicle, the rubber rear spoiler—a typically 80s accessory, proportioned to the tail in size, that well complements the Lancia blue paint. A detail worth mentioning is the hint of spoiler above the rear window, present in all the engine options for aerodynamic reasons, that enhances the profile of the car. The interior welcomes its passengers with wide, well-contoured seats upholstered in Zegna wool that almost look like comfortable living room armchairs. Amongst the optional extras we find the rear headrests and seat belts. The dashboard continues onto the door panels, embracing the driver and passengers, and its peculiar design makes the environment even more sophisticated.
On the road, its strengths are its balanced setup and the engine’s progressive power delivery. Compared to a turbocharger, the volumetric compressor lacks the turbo lag (the true Achilles’ heel of the supercharged vehicles of the time), and has a steady power delivery never seen before 1984. 135 hp is only 13 more than the naturally aspirated 2.0 i.e., but the torque curve is completely different and lends the saloon a unique driving flexibility, unrivalled outside of higher displacement cars. For this reason, the magazine Quattroruote gave the test VX 5 stars for engine and pickup, as well as brakes—disc brakes on all four wheels—transmission, and steering. These traits highlight the chassis’s qualities, really well-balanced and equipped with independent suspensions. The result is a vehicle easy to drive, fast, entertaining on twisty roads and safe even on wet asphalt.
A prestigious collector car packed with technology, and whose value can only increase.
Passione Classica’s Lancia Trevi Volumex
I searched for it for a long time, specifically a Lancia blue one, and I found it on the other side of the Alps, only a few kilometres from the Italian border. This 1984 second series comes from the garage of a French collector, and was delivered by the Lancia dealership in Nice, as shown by the original stickers on the rear window. The bodywork as well as the rims have already been restored, and the preserved interior still has some remnants of the protective cellophane in some places. The Zegna upholstery was specially treated to protect the wool fibres with a professional technique and “100% vegan” gentle products. Like all cars at Passione Classica, this Lancia—despite already being in good condition at the time of purchase—had its mechanicals completely restored: engine, transmission, and brakes. There is a huge difference (sometimes thousands of euros) between a car in decent shape and a Trevi Volumex like the one you see in the pictures. It comes with the historical significance certificate and two sets of keys.
Driving experience – Not like the others
A true example of understatement applied to the automotive world. Today, the Lancia Trevi Volumex is vintage car that is taking back the role it is owed: that of a balanced saloon with unparalleled technical excellence and just a few stylistic quirks, such as the front spoiler and, in this vehicle, the rubber rear spoiler—a typically 80s accessory, proportioned to the tail in size, that well complements the Lancia blue paint. A detail worth mentioning is the hint of spoiler above the rear window, present in all the engine options for aerodynamic reasons, that enhances the profile of the car. The interior welcomes its passengers with wide, well-contoured seats upholstered in Zegna wool that almost look like comfortable living room armchairs. Amongst the optional extras we find the rear headrests and seat belts. The dashboard continues onto the door panels, embracing the driver and passengers, and its peculiar design makes the environment even more sophisticated.
On the road, its strengths are its balanced setup and the engine’s progressive power delivery. Compared to a turbocharger, the volumetric compressor lacks the turbo lag (the true Achilles’ heel of the supercharged vehicles of the time), and has a steady power delivery never seen before 1984. 135 hp is only 13 more than the naturally aspirated 2.0 i.e., but the torque curve is completely different and lends the saloon a unique driving flexibility, unrivalled outside of higher displacement cars. For this reason, the magazine Quattroruote gave the test VX 5 stars for engine and pickup, as well as brakes—disc brakes on all four wheels—transmission, and steering. These traits highlight the chassis’s qualities, really well-balanced and equipped with independent suspensions. The result is a vehicle easy to drive, fast, entertaining on twisty roads and safe even on wet asphalt.
A prestigious collector car packed with technology, and whose value can only increase.
Passione Classica’s Lancia Trevi Volumex
I searched for it for a long time, specifically a Lancia blue one, and I found it on the other side of the Alps, only a few kilometres from the Italian border. This 1984 second series comes from the garage of a French collector, and was delivered by the Lancia dealership in Nice, as shown by the original stickers on the rear window. The bodywork as well as the rims have already been restored, and the preserved interior still has some remnants of the protective cellophane in some places. The Zegna upholstery was specially treated to protect the wool fibres with a professional technique and “100% vegan” gentle products. Like all cars at Passione Classica, this Lancia—despite already being in good condition at the time of purchase—had its mechanicals completely restored: engine, transmission, and brakes. There is a huge difference (sometimes thousands of euros) between a car in decent shape and a Trevi Volumex like the one you see in the pictures. It comes with the historical significance certificate and two sets of keys.
Price
€ 17.900,00
The cars in my garage
