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Chrysler Planning Lancia-Based Unveiling For Detroit Auto Show?

 
3 2,404 views Dec 21, 2009
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Lancia Delta

Lancia Delta

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The world has been waiting and watching closely to see what form the products of the Fiat-Chrysler union will take, and it looks like we might get our first taste of the Italo-American duo's deeds in Detroit in just a few weeks with a Chrysler-derived Lancia at the 2010 NAIAS show.

The reports of the car's arrival in Detroit are still unconfirmed, but the need to leverage Fiat-brand products to Chrysler's advantage, particularly in the areas where it's weakest--small and midsize cars--is fundamental. So the theory behind the projected unveiling is sound, at least.

So what car might be at the root of all this inter-brand activity? The Lancia Delta is a fair guess. Positioned to slot in about where the Chrysler Sebring sits now in terms of size, the Delta would offer better aesthetics and a more premium feel in keeping with Chrysler's intended direction.

Chrysler getting a car from Lancia makes sense from a turnabout perspective as well: a revised version of the 300 is expected to make the trip to Europe as a Lancia.

Of course, this is all speculative at this point. We'll have to wait until the 2010 Detroit Auto Show to find out for sure--and Motor Authority will have a whole crew of journalists on the floor, bringing the latest photos, news and behind-the-scenes details as they break, so stay tuned.

[Bloomberg, PlayAuto]





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Comments (3)

  1. By  gazzed Posted: 12/21/2009 4:52pm PST

    Lancia has lost the plot.. what a shame really.
    Gone are the days of what Lancias used to be, they seem to attract a sort of cult following with the likes of Delta Integrale, Stratos and even Beta Monte Carlo/Scorpion plus their awesome B-Rallye cars but nowadays their line-up is simply atrocious.
     
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  2. By  ssd hard drive Posted: 12/21/2009 6:43pm PST

    Lancia is to Fiat as De Soto was to Chrysler moreso than as Plymouth was to Chrysler. It's still an imperfect analogy, because De Soto was more high-end sporty, like a luxurious Dodge, while Lancia is generally more of a luxo-odd line except for the wild rally cars. Plymouth, however, was the "entry level" for Chrysler.
     
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  3. fb_100000275684479 avatar Michael Escobar Posted: 12/22/2009 10:38am PST

    Meh- I might be interested if Lancia produced a true successor to the Delta Integrale, instead of a SEAT lookalike. They need to do a retro-futuristic car based on the boxy lines of the original. Then, if successful, they could produce a new, retro-inspired Stratos as a halo car to further boost their image. Oh, and get back into rallying, Lancia! Then you can come back to America.
     
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