Posted on Sunday 3 February 2008
Lancia’s portfolio is set to expand over the next couple with several hot models supposedly making a return including a possible flagship sports car as well as the legendary Delta. Details about the cars were leaked recently by several Lancia managers, who revealed that the revitalized range will kick off later this year with the introduction of a next-generation Delta compact.
The new Delta will sport a five-door hatchback design and is based on the current Fiat Bravo, although it will feature a slightly longer wheelbase and a more upmarket interior. Customers will be able to opt from leather and Alcantara trim. Expect to see the new car at next month’s Geneva Motor Show, reports AutoTelegraaf. Other versions such as an SUV variant and new coupe-cabrio model are still being discussed but the final decision will be revealed later this year. Pictured above is the Lancia Delta HPE Concept from 2006.
Next year will see the launch of a next-generation Ypsilon minicar, which will be available in both three and five-door body styles. The Thesis sedan, meanwhile, will be discontinued from Lancia’s lineup after the 2010 model year, while the Musa MPV will get a replacement despite its donor car, Fiat’s Idea, being discontinued. As for the rumored flagship sports cars, the source revealed it will share much in common with Alfa Romeo’s stunning 8C Competitzione and could pick up the Aurelia name.
Lancia is a special car company. The Thesis is a profoundly gorgeous car that the Malibu (and the Camry and the Accord) wishes it looked like. The Ypsilon is the kind of small car GM wishes it could build and as minivans go there’s none sweeter than the Phedra.
Lancia would never survive in the USA, not in a million years. I am very sorry to say that their very beautiful cars would very likely be seen as European trash. I really don’t know about their quality (but they’re Italian so watch out for the occasional electrical fire) but aesthetically one could hardly wish for more striking cars.
Even here in Europe Lancia cars are seen as trash. The design is just to special for most. There is no car with decent power in the lineup since the Delta HF Integrale and reliability is something like foreign word for italien cars. So what is the argument to buy one?
My mom had a ‘76 Beta coupé. Beautiful car, with an incredible interior. However, it had never ending electrical problems, and the body rusted like nothing else. I was told that they fixed the rust issues (not enough rustproofing for the Northeast US winter climate), but unfortunately the image that they had built up in the states was of a beautiful car that fell apart within a few years.
The Thesis is too Italian for most tastes, and the Ypsilon and Musa are too expensive compared with the related Fiats. The lack of C and D-segment cars and sports cars makes it nearly impossible to achieve good sales numbers. Since the current Lancia lineup is very narrow, these are all good news.