Chrysler=Lancia & VV

[Philip]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbZ33ugfSvE

curious what u guys think!
maybe this will result in right hand drive Lancias but at what cost to its heritage...

[gamma a.i.]

I think it is a lot of head in the clouds, nonsensical double talk.
No one in Europa is particularly wild about buying Chrysler 'made in n. America products'; regardless of what badges they wear & no one in N. America, except for a few scattered diehard Lancia fans, even know what a Lancia is, nor do they care. Nor should they !

Nor do many N. Americans know knows anything about the history / brand name 'Lancia'; which (lets face it) has not been in the forefront of much of anything in the last years; except "strange promotion" of the Y.

What is the plan ?

Chrysler N. America products get Lancia badges for the Euro Market & Lancias...? which model ?,,, become what ??? in the N. America ?? Chrysler's "made in Italy". Ho hummmm, didn't Iacocca try this before `

How dumb does someone think the buying public is ? Where is the benefit & for whom is there a benefit ?

[Philip]

the new 300C becomes a Thesis replacement in Europe
the new Sebring, based on a 'Fiat' platform will become a 'new' Lybra replacement, above the current New Delta...this could be interesting id they get the quality right!
The Delta might be used as a Chrysler of sorts...
and maybe the new Ypsilon will spawn a Chrysler version too
and to crown it all, the Voyager might end up being badged Lancia as a Phaedra replacement...b ut who needs these behemoth, oxymoronic 'minivans' any more in Europe?

[Geoff]

I'm not sure anyone would label marchione as "dumb".....

But a lot of this plan certainly could use some clarification. OTOH, its not my money....

[gamma a.i.]

what I don't understand is what will be built where ?
are we discussing each continent building its own cars based on the same frame or are Lan going to shipped to the USA & Chr to Europe?
The last model Voyager is / was ? (at least partially) built/assembled by Steyr Austria, so badging a new Voy as a Lancia shouldn't be much of a problem (if it it built in Europe). It could actually be a better solution than the 4 brand French Van that is/was a LanFiaCitPeu.
I say is/was because I am not sure if either the Voy or the 4brand vans are still being built, anywhere, by anyone.

If the VoyLan is Steyr built, will it fly as a Lan in Italy...which is, I believe, the only country in which the Lan Version outsold the Fia Ulyssee Version. & what would become of the Fiat Ulys; which was as good as the Lan, but a lot less expansive,

Yes, it is confusing & yes, as long as governments (worldwide) subsidize saving the auto industry, no one is dumb for taking the money.

With the price of almost any safe, reliable, economical vehicle being so high these days, I wonder how / why anyone would want to buy any new car anyway. I surely have no plans to do so !
One good thing, however, is that there hasn't been a run (yet) on valuable...never going to be cheaper...Lancia

My Ital car-nut friends have reported a crazy run in Italy on old 500 & 600 Fiats...doubling in price in the last 12 months,,,now being double priced than when they were new !

[Koen]

In 2014 there will be a whole new Chrysler Voyager / Town & Country. This car will be 'rebadged' / conversed in a new Lancia Phedra (or whatever name they will give it).
Platform = Chrysler.
This Lancia will be build in the former Bertone plant (Grugliasco), bought by FGA.
The Dodge Grand Caravan will be the 'rebadged' / changed Fiat Ulysse.
Platform = Chrysler

If the current Phedra disappears in the next two years, its possible that it will be changed for the current Chrysler Voyager ('rebadged' / conversion in Lancia 'style').

In 2013 there will be a whole new Dodge Avenger / Chrysler Sebring on a C-EVO platform (= FGA).
Dodge and Chrysler won't be available in Europe at that time (normally).
The Chrysler will be 'rebadged' / changed in a Lancia "Thema".
Production site : former Bertone plant ?

In 2010 (next year ) a new Chrysler300C will arrive in North America.
There are plans to 'rebadge' / change it in a new 'Thesis'.
Arrival on the market : ?
Production plant : former Bertone* plant ?

*Which is closed now for almost the next 2 years for reconversion : now you can count...

Koen

[gamma a.i.]

thank you; it will be interesting to see what really happens & "if it works".

[Ralph deMasi]

My first reaction was ...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

But after calming down this makes alot of sense for FIAT. Where they were always half heartedly pushing the Lancia brand which had a limited audience they can now amortize those costs over more products sold to more markets; as the Chrysler in the U.S. and as the Lancia in Europe.

Alfa Romeo and the FIAT 500 will be sold in the U.S. way before any Lancia makes it to those shores.

Sergio comes off as a guy who seems to know what he's doing. Either that or he can hide the BS alot better than the Chrysler and GM execs can.