LANCIA battle plan for UK - USA return????

[Pieter Bergman]

I have a clear understanding of the essential essence of what makes a Lancia "very special" I am able to commuincate and demonstrate this to Potential UK and USA customers.

The question is after a series of calls to Italia, does anybody really want to listen in Turino?

THIS is a CALL to ALL Lancisti who have high levels conacts in Turino to HELP ME get in front of the right people over there.

VIVA LANCIA per sempre.................

Pieter Bergman +44 7974 213 966

[anon]

I think this is a waste of time and energy we are talking about running a business here not the arts council...................I can\'t really see why anyone in turin should be interested

[Pieter Bergman]

Alan, or Mr anom is it/

I don't think you can begin to understand what that email is was all about.

Pieter.........

[ALAN COOPER]

the answer to whether anyone wants to listen is probably no, that is probably why the lancia marque is no longer available in th UK as I think they have never listened to what the market needed. As to what makes a Lancia special , with the current cars really there is not much special about them although they do have a discreet class that sets them slightly apart from the others in the fiat group, what made lancias special in the past was the engineering that set them apart from anything else, this stopped ,if not when the fulvia ceased production, certainly not all that long afterwards, the Beta and Gamma were still admirable and clever cars but later cars share too much mundane under the skin design with their Fiat and Alfa counterparts, the Dedra being pretty much the thin end of the wedge in this respect (I think 'pleasant' is about the most complimentary description you can give it). In the main run of things the Delta Integrale was really an irrelevance built purely for publicity purposes. The Nuova Delta was an improvement on the Dedra but still not special enough being merely adequate in its class if somewhat badly built and unreliable. On the evidence of my Delta HPE I would not buy another new Lancia they are just not worth the extra hassle although I would quite like it as an everyday 'shopping' car if things didn't keep failing and it IS fun to drive. If people are keen enough they can always import a LHD car to the UK, LHD is no big hardship. not many people have.

[Pieter BERGMAN]

Perhaps there is a bit more to a Lancia in the "modern context" than you realize.

It is about brand recognition and the specific values and qualitites that go with the LANCIA brand.

The question is can u recognize them, "differentiate them" from other products, and communicate them ?
to potential customers? If you can then "create a desire to buy" The outcome is simple can you close the sale? and support the product ? Sure it would be an uphill climb, but it is possible

There are further issues that I am not going to cover in detail.

Haben sie das capirdt?

PTB.........................

[ALAN COOPER]

the answer to can i recognise the qualities etc that go with the lancia brand is yes (driven them for 20 years currently own 5 of them) however I am not too sure that Fiat know what these are which has resulted in some confused decisions on model ranges recently. I think it is also the case that the values the buying public want out of a brand of car have changed in recent years, I am not sure that lancia fits that profile.

[Anon 2]

Pieter

I don't think you know what you are talking about after being on the scene for such a short time.

Through my contact on this side of the channel and in Turin, you are becoming a pest.

Having spoken to Dr Masala at the Lancia Collection on 2 occasions Fiat / Lancia managment do not understand the enthusiasm of the British that see this marque as something different.

[ALAN COOPER]

before this gets daft maybe all concerned should agree to differ.............

[Pieter Bergman]

I agree about whether FIAT know how to differentiate the Lancia brand.

If they can find a route to that goal then maybe there is a chance of re-entering
key markets. But it is early days. We have have to wait and see what the new
products are like.

If you have been driving Lancias for 20 years, based on that experience
Can you tell me in a suscint manner. What are the Lancia brand values.

Pieter Bergman

[Hermann]

Hi Pieter,

I suggest: you better forget about !!!

Nowadays Fiat-Lancia is a bunch of ignorants, I learnt it the hard way after owning a Gamma Coupe and a new Thema (apart from my 3 Flaminias I still enjoy).

I traded in the Thema against a 260E Mercedes (my wife had a 250 Merc) and from then on I forgot about new Lancias and was happy again. Its sad to say, but it is like that.

Look at Audi: they came from nowhere, motorised tins, but Mr. Piëch had decided to push Engineering and Quality.
See what happened. Audis sell like fresh rolls and in the meantime they have the reputation Lancia had BEFORE the Fiat period.

It may be helpful if GM takes over Fiat, because they desperately need a brand with reputation (who buys a bigger and expensive Opel?).

Kind regards

Hermann