In ten years’ time the Lambda had evolved from a light touring car to a luxury vehicle and it was decided to built a successor in two versions. The Artena was the four-cylinder model, an indestructible workhorse, the Astura was aiming much higher with a V8 engine. Both shared the same chassis and many components. These were times of economic crisis so saving money in development and production made sense.

The Artena and Astura have a conventional chassis made of steel pressings welded together to form box-sections. A live rear axle was used while the sliding-pillar front suspension has evolved into its definitive form. Unlike the Lambda and Dilambda it no longer has the supports to the top of the radiator and the complete axle can now easily be removed from the chassis. Both models use a narrow-V engine with a chain-driven overhead camshaft. The Astura engine with its perfect symmetry is one of the most beautiful Lancia engines. This V8 is hardly any longer or wider than a conventional four in line, and this made it an easy fit into the same chassis as the Artena. The Astura chassis lent itself well to the coachbuilders art, and atracted the best of the Italian carrozzerias, though later models tended to be very heavy and to have somewhat ‘fascist’ looks.