Bit of Lancia News.

[nadepalma]

Nothing really all that ground-shaking here. Most of this stuff dedicated Lancisti would already known. But still good to know they are confirming previous info:

Lancia Lives
Fulvietta for UK Market?
Lancia to return to UK

[JBsZ06]

I had a 76 lancia scorpion that was turbocharged with forged pistons and alcohol water injection..

Beautiful car at the time but what a piece of *****.

I had it for over 160K miles and sold it for half what it cost new..

[t-rex]

Please, Fiat, please revive my beloved Lancia! I want that Fulvietta more than any other to come to market, even though I wouldn't have the chance to buy one!

[Ssom]

It's funny how forgettable Lancia was once the Integrale died. I remember it was 1994 when they left the NZ market (Due to the end of RHD production), but it feels like much longer ago. I hope they come back, because the new Fiats are fantastic cars.

[Bravada]

So the news about Lancia is that there are no news. We've been hearing that the model that is to spark the "turnaround" and fill in the much needed "midmarket" position @ Lancia is the tapir-shaped alien-mover (as derived from "people-mover") Delta HPE, not deserving either name (Delta or HPE - 'twas actually "Beta HPE" originally), and that the cabriocoupe based on the Grande Punto will debut as Lancia Fulvia (which is not a bad idea in itself, but it will not look nearly as nice as the original Fulvia concept, or original Fulvia coupe for that matter).

[Bravada]

PS. I still have some spare time, so here's what I'd do - I always post that, but here's an update taking into account recent developments.

1. The Delta is perhaps the most equity-laden nameplate Lancia has in its portfolio, but it has to be used wisely. The Delta is famous for its Integrale 4WD and impeccable driving experience. I don't think a weird-looking MPV wannabe, however popular MPVs/crossovers might be, is a fit choice.

2. Basing the car on an existing Fiat is a must, there's no denying. I believe, however, that the Grande Punto is a much fitter choice. You could easily imagine a nifty luxury sports compact based on it - just take those CGI images that were circulating before we saw the impending ugliness of what Fiat actually had in its cards and compare to the 5-door GP:




Squint to see the 3-door

Another slew of pics:



(this one looks Bravo-based, actually, without the weird rakish beltline)

(not the best one)


(actual Lancia concept from a few years ago)

BTW, this is how the Fulvia might actually end up looking if it is genuinely based on the GP:



3. To live to its heritage, the Delta absolutely needs to be an Integrale - the question is, where to get the AWD from? Perhaps the revival of Abarth might mean an AWD version of the GP platform is in the cards - if not, creating it would be a must for Lancia. I was previously thinking of using Alfa Romeo's 146 or 156 AWD versions, but seems like Fiat is intend on killing those platforms that don't share much with anything else.

4. How would the Delta be positioned against the Ypsilon and Punto?

Well, the Ypsilon is currently operating in the GP price territory with a plusher interior, cute retro styling and a much smaller body. The bad news is - this is basically what the new Fiat 500 does while being better in almost every way and much more hyped, not to mention newer. I believe the 500 is the beginning of the end of Ypsilon as we know it - until Fiat relaunched the Ypsilon as an even more upmarket 500 version.

That said, there is also the MINI market niche, situated even more upmarket, essentially in the compact car price slot (not to mention some MINIs can fetch price tags not unfit for intermediate-sized cars) - and this is where I believe the Delta would fit.

5. What next?

A. GP-based cabriocoupe, as planned (I would be cautious about the Fulvia name though)
B. Linea-based sedan with a nicer roofline (and the Linea's long wheelbase) coupled with front borrowed from the Delta.
C. Linea-based wagon?

http://www.infomotori.co.uk/a_17_EN_19845_1.html
http://www.allaguida.it/wp-galleryo/...w/lineacop.jpg


If Fiat reserves the Linea SW for themselves, why not combine the 3-door Delta and the SW to create an ACTUAL Beta HPE (3-door shooting break?)

More ideas coming

[TDi]

Originally Posted by Ssom

It's funny how forgettable Lancia was once the Integrale died. I remember it was 1994 when they left the NZ market (Due to the end of RHD production), but it feels like much longer ago. I hope they come back, because the new Fiats are fantastic cars.

There is talk that when Lancia starts to build RHD vehicles again, Japan, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are on their list.

Considering Alfa Romeo and Fiat are travelling well sales wise both here in Australia and New Zealand, you'd think a Lancia return would be on the cards too.

When I was in Sydney three weeks ago for the International Motor Show, I had a Fiat Punto as my rental car for four days.

Not a bad car really. Was easy to drive, especially around Sydney, was great on fuel, travelled well on the M4 and M5 Motorways and was easy to park.

Could have done with a little bit more power and the only real criticisim I had, was the god awful fabrics they used on the inside of the doors and seats.

[Ssom]

Originally Posted by TDi

There is talk that when Lancia starts to build RHD vehicles again, Japan, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are on their list.

Considering Alfa Romeo and Fiat are travelling well sales wise both here in Australia and New Zealand, you'd think a Lancia return would be on the cards too.

When I was in Sydney three weeks ago for the International Motor Show, I had a Fiat Punto as my rental car for four days.

Not a bad car really. Was easy to drive, especially around Sydney, was great on fuel, travelled well on the M4 and M5 Motorways and was easy to park.

Could have done with a little bit more power and the only real criticisim I had, was the god awful fabrics they used on the inside of the doors and seats.

Wow, what rental company lent you a Punto? I'm guessing it was a non-mainstream specialist one? Would make a better rental than the garden variety 1.0 Sirion crapboxes that Avis give out and at least comparable to the run of the mill Fiesta LX that Hertz have.

I nearly made the mistake of getting a Lancia Thema 2.0 i.e. Turbo when I was replacing my Civic a few years ago, I say mistake because I don't know of anyone who's had a trouble free run with a Turbo one (Though the V6's are supposed to be pretty reliable) and I don't think parts would be an easy find for a brand that hasn't been sold here for 14 years...

[TDi]

Originally Posted by Ssom

Wow, what rental company lent you a Punto? I'm guessing it was a non-mainstream specialist one? Would make a better rental than the garden variety 1.0 Sirion crapboxes that Avis give out and at least comparable to the run of the mill Fiesta LX that Hertz have.

Off topic I know, but...........

I looked at both Avis and Budget and they were going to charge me $220.00AUD for the four days , for a 3dr Hyundai Getz LX or a 3dr Toyota Yaris YS and then I came across another company called 'Sixt Rent A Car' which are European based and have only been operating in Australia for a year.

They have a lot of European cars from Fiat, VW, Citroen and Peugeot. For $190.00AUD I got a 5dr Fiat Punto or for $220.00AUD I could have got a VW Jetta or Citroen C4. I took the Fiat instead, just because I wanted to try it out and that I've already driven a Jetta. I could have had Citroen C3 for even less than the Fiat, that I got.

If you ever come acorss the pond from NZ, you should really take a look at them. I'm definately going to use them again when I go to Sydney next or Melbourne. PM me if you want any more info though.