Editing Lancia (section)

== Foundation and early philosophy (1906–1914) ==

Vincenzo Lancia, a former racing driver for Fiat, founded the company in Turin with the ambition of producing technically superior motorcars rather than mass-produced vehicles.

Early Lancia models were characterised by:

* Lightweight construction
* High-revving engines
* Mechanical precision
* Attention to balance and handling

The company adopted a naming convention based on letters of the Greek alphabet, a practice that would continue for decades.

Pre-war models introduced before the First World War included:

* [[Lancia Alpha]]
* [[Lancia Beta]]
* [[Lancia Gamma]]
* [[Lancia Theta]]

The Theta, introduced in 1913, became the first European production car to be equipped as standard with a complete electrical system.

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