The Integrale's visual road presence is awesome, the equal of the Escort Cosworth if not its superior, especially with its rally rear wing in the 'raised' position. The car's bum is wide and squat. The extended arches are subtle, sleek and tough, looking like the very best aftermarket bodykit anywhere (except they're standard on the Evo, of course).

From the front the thing is all grilles and snarl - it needs air and it gets it. There are even grilles around and between each headlight, and the bulging bonnet is festooned with outlet vents to match.

Yeah, it's left hand drive, but Damien sees that as an advantage: 'I love driving on the left. It's the Continental, European style which sums up the Integrale. I wouldn't change it because you lose street cred. They never made a right hand drive Integrale so why alter the car? It is what it is!'

I don't think too many of the Lancia power-freak designers who created the Evo would criticise Damien's choice of wheels. They're Azevs, of course, 8Jx17s, lovingly wrapped in 215/40 Uniroyal RTT1 rubber blessed with the toughest tread pattern on the planet. The wheels makes you think 'Ferrari' somehow, and they're more modern than the standards.

Talking of Ferrari, Damien reckons that he'll want a Prancing Horse one day. Being a financial advisor means that he'll probably be able to afford it in a few years.

But as a financial advisor, would he recommend purchasing an Integrale?

'Absolutely, yeah! Blow every penny of your cash on an Integrale today and forget about pensions and peps! This is too much fun!' But seriously, he does say that Integrales will fetch their money back. He's hoping so anyway, because this car's up for sale. The next one's beckoning. So, is it a Ferrari or maybe a Porsche?

'No, I'm looking at a Nissan Skyline GTR.' Four-wheel drive, monster power, twin turbos... hmm, what was I saying about street cred, quickest point-to-point car, um, er, never forget the Skyline, that's the message.

GTR-san is the only machine on the planet that will give the Integrale a run for its money in the respect department, and the only car that will force its way onto these pages so easily, even in standard-ish form. Only one problem - it's not Italian. Sorry.

These pages are a copy from it's original soarce on MaxPower

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