New Lancia models

[Shant Fabricatorian]

All of the information below is a compilation of various bits and pieces of information I have managed to stitch together from the press, rumours and people well-connected inside Lancia about the marque’s plans for the next few years. I’m rather hoping that someone who is better-connected than I am will be able to either dispel or confirm these plans, I’m especially interested if someone can confirm (or, alternatively, reject) the plans regarding the new Delta, as well as the proposed return to the WRC...

Anyway, here goes:

There will be a new Lancia Delta, to be launched in 2006, based on the floorplan of the forthcoming Alfa Romeo 148 (replacement for the 147), with all petrol models to use the same in-line five cylinder turbocharged unit from the old Fiat Coupé Turbo 20V, albeit extensively revised and in various states of tune. All will comply with the Euro 4 level.

There will also be a new, limited edition, Integrale, fitted with a 4WD system utilising three electronically-controlled differentials with a 43:57 front-rear split. The price is estimated to be in the region of €46,000 (32,600 UK pounds).

The four-wheel drive Integrale transmission will be standard across the entire range.

The only petrol engine available will be the modular five cylinder Fiat engine. However, it will be offered in three different states of tune, with all versions making use of variable valve timing technology. The ‘light’ pressure version will develop around 205bhp and 350Nm of torque, the medium version 240bhp and 355Nm, and the Integrale anything from 280 to 300bhp and 370-400Nm of torque. The sales forecast by the Lancia Business Unit involves selling 40,000 Deltas in 2006.

The Integrale’s body will make use of aluminium and composites and will be a five-door, 4.30 metres in length. I have heard about the body being a ‘facelifted’ Evolution, but I am not sure about this as the sketches I have seen look horrid and given that the sketches do not look like any current, or projected, Lancia, I can’t see the benefit of merely making an uglier version of a car which was, after all, launched in 1979. In any case, the impression I gather from the above is that it will be a ‘hot’ version of the ‘shopping trolley’ A3/147 class of car, and not a separate body. The rumours have been saying for some time now the new Delta will take styling cues from the Nea concept car of 2000. Once again, not sure about the truth of this, but no doubt we’ll find out soon enough.

However, this is not the extent of Lancia’s plans, as the rumours about a new Stratos and Fulvia are both apparently true.

A new Stratos will also be launched in 2006, like the Delta, to celebrate Lancia’s 100th anniversary. It will be limited to 1000 cars, styled by Bertone and said to have had substantial technological input from Ferrari. Once again mid-engined, it is believed to be rear-wheel drive, but some rumours are circulating about a 4WD drivetrain. The current choice of engine is believed to be the new Alfa Romeo/GM ‘Electron’ V6 (yuck), 3.6 litre capacity and generating 340bhp, although it is possible that the Ferrari/Maserati 4.25 litre V8 (390bhp) will be offered.

The new Fulvia will be front-drive. There have been rumours about a 4WD drivetrain, but it appears that this has been ditched in favour of a solution involving a viscous coupler, the same as that used on the forthcoming Alfa Romeo 156 GTAm, which has to handle 300bhp.

There has been much confusion over the technical specifications of any potential production Fulvia. The Frankfurt show car used a 1.8 Fiat Barchetta engine, but it has been rumoured that the production version would use a development of the same engine being planned for the Delta, the 2-litre in-line five cylinder turbo with variable valve timing, generating about 240-250bhp. Like the Integrale, the body will make extensive use of aluminium and composites (for the bonnet and other such components), while seating will be 2+2. However, at this point it appears that the car will hold true to the spirit of the original, with a relatively small engine, light weight, and minimal driver aids.

If approved for production, it is likely to be on sale either next year or in 2005. Originally scheduled to be a limited edition of 2000 cars, plans are apparently in place to make it a mass-production model if demand outstrips supply, with a wider range of engines to be offered, including the 2.4 Multijet JTD 20V VVA, tuned to develop around 200bhp.

Autumn 2005 will see the launch of the new Lybra, the ‘Medea’, heralding a return to the concept of ‘High Performance Estate’ or HPE. From what I gather, the car’s appearance will be based on that of the recently-unveiled Granturismo Stilnovo, not a bad starting point, and will represent a cross-over between a coupé and an estate. The floorplan will be the GM ‘Epsilon’ platform. Length will be in the region of 4.65-4.68m, and the interior based on that of the highly flexible Maserati (Italdesign) Buran prototype. Different versions will be offered, including a five-seat version and a four-seat, ‘executive’ version. The car itself will be based on the same platform as the forthcoming Fiat ‘Large’ Croma replacement, a D-segment estate with SUV overtones, in the same vein as Opel’s new Signum. Now, whether this means that it is a proper Lancia or a dressed-up Fiat, we will have to wait and see. Personally, I’m hopeful that the Lancia will be sufficiently different to be acknowledged as such. I think that the new management have finally grasped the fact that Lancia needs to be more than that if it is going to survive and prosper.

Depending on the engine choice (anything developing more than 200bhp), Integrale transmission will be available, and an HF version may be available with a V8, developing between 310-330bhp, although on the information I have this is yet to be confirmed. The full engine choice will comprise both petrol and diesel, with 4, 5, 6 and 8 cylinder engines, while as a guide, the 3.2 litre V6, a version of the joint-development ‘Electron’ V6 with GM, will develop around 240bhp. This engine will also be found, slightly more tuned, in the new Alfa Romeo 157.

There were, perhaps still are, plans for a ‘hot’ version of the Ypsilon, the HF, to be launched in 2004, but I haven’t heard anything substantial about this except from one source, so can anyone confirm/deny...? My source suggests a naturally-aspirated 1.6 litre four cylinder developing 120bhp, and following on from this, a turbocharged version will be released in 2005, utilising variable valve timing and generating 180bhp and 240Nm.

2006 will be a big year for Lancia, provided it survives that long, as it is also planning to make a return to RHD markets, notably the UK, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. There has been a comprehensive overhaul of the dealer network for the past year or so in Italy, France and Germany which is ongoing, and beginning with the new Ypsilon, every new Lancia model will offer customers the choice of either a five-year warranty, or three years free maintenance.

A return to the WRC is also under consideration, although not before 2006. Should the programme be green-lighted, it is likely that 2006 will involve a few exploratory appearances, with a full championship campaign in 2007. The chosen weapon will again be the Delta HF Integrale, although the WRC programme is facing competition from a possible return to the World Sportscar Championship (with the Stratos), or a factory attempt at Rally-raid with the new Pangea sport-utility vehicle. Personally, I believe the WRC would be the best way to go, as Maserati is already planning a return to the World Sportscar Championship, and Rally-raid is not something I believe would provide the requisite brand exposure, certainly not compared to the amount now garnered by success in the World Rally Championship. Furthermore, Rally-raid is often seen as a stepping-stone to world rallying, so this is taking a ‘short-cut’ to the WRC rather than a more indirect route.

The World Rally Championship would be ideal as there are now confirmed rounds in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Japan. It is also highly associated with the marque, and there are certainly many fans around the world who wish for its return. Finally, there is also good growth potential in the championship, which makes it attractive to prospective manufacturers, though this point's appeal has been lessened somewhat by the FIA's recent efforts to comprehensively ruin the championship (IMHO).

HOWEVER, and it is a big proviso, all of these motorsport decisions depend on the sales of the new Ypsilon and upcoming Nea C-segment MPV, designed to take on the Renault Megane Scenic and others of its ilk. These two cars are crucial to Lancia’s future, so fingers crossed they will succeed. If they do, then a return to Lancia’s prestigious position of years gone by is not so fanciful, both on the road and on the rally stage…

[Nicola]

Wow! That's some report. Good info there, and I hope most of it comes to pass. One question, any mention on when/if Lancia will make a US comeback after they get there house in order in 2006?

I know that Alfa Romeo is looking to come back to the States in 2007. A number of combined Alfa Romeo/Lancia dealerships offering a wide selection of vehicles would do nicely to entice Americans to buy Italian cars again (outside of the chosen few who can afford Ferrari/Maserati/Lamborghini/Paganis, etc.)

A look farther down the road? Depending on how Fiat Auto's relationship with GM develops, I'd like to see Fiat as a whole back in the US with a lineup that would attract American consumers. Fiat doesn't have a great reputation in the US after some of their cars in the 1980s, but I've heard that marques like Renault and Pugeot are heading back to the States after 2010, and if they can make a comeback, no reason to think Fiat couldn't either.

[Shant Fabricatorian]

I haven't heard anything about a US return for Lancia (not yet, anyway).

It's possible, but I severely doubt it at the moment. The thing is that the Alfa return has been in the planning at least since 2000 - it was mentioned at the original tie-up between Fiat and GM as a stated goal, so you can see how long it takes to plan and actually get these things off the ground. I'd like to see it happen, but I wouldn't put money on it, put it that way.

I know Fiat recently came to an arrangement with GM to distribute their cars in Mexico via the GM dealer network though, so who knows? If it did happen, though, I must insist on a separate distribution line for Lancia. Perhaps grouping it with Alfa might not be a bad idea.

First I've heard of Peugeot heading back though? I thought I saw Folz say it was a relatively low priority even in the medium term?

[Randy Adams]

I suppose I must be the wet blanket I usually am on these things.

The U.S. market is notoriously difficult and GM is having enough trouble holding onto market share here without expending capital launching or re-launching marques that will just compete with its own cars (including Saab). I seriously doubt that GM will ever be interested in bringing into the U.S. anything other than perhaps a few of the most sporting Alfas which don't really compete with their other products. Please observe that GM hasn't bothered to bring Opels into the U.S. for many years. Why would it do any differently with the Italian cars?

The U.S. is a huge country. It is dauntingly difficult to set up and maintain a good enough dealer and distribution network to convince buyers. Linking the Italian cars with existing GM dealers will definitely NOT be a viable solution. All that will yield is the "not invented here" syndrome resulting in the Italian cars' stepchild status at those dealerships. Unfortunately (from my viewpoint), the days of significant numbers of buyers willing to tolerate the occasional complications of spare parts delays and somewhat distantly located dealers is long gone here. Americans don't like to have to think about their cars. And neither do the mechanics in a country that looks down on that profession and therefore discourages people with the intellectual material necessary to grasp modern machinery from entering it. So cars are made to blandly function in a lowest common denominator fashion and the components are designed for a strictly "pull out and plug in" orientation minimizing the skill necessary from the mechanics. That's why the Japanese won their pre-eminent position and why French and Italian cars have largely disappeared from the market here. The few Americans who are still interested in enjoying cars that engage them have to scrape together their coins to buy second hand Ferraris, Maseratis, etc. And they are so few in number that the limited productions of these exotic companies are sufficient to supply them.

Tell me I'm wrong. I would love to be wrong on all of this. Unfortunately it is very unlikely that I am wrong.

[Shant Fabricatorian]

I have to confess that, being based in Australia, I don't know all that much about the American market, so I'll just have to take your word on that. But if what you say is true, then it's very sad, but also almost certainly highly accurate. And presumably it explains why the locals have been losing market share too?

I'll also grant that it's hugely unlikely that Lancia will make a return there without a massive and unforseen occurrence, in the current circumstances. I basically have to agree that GM will not like Fiat Group brands poaching its sales and will prevent them from launching there in any meaningful sense. Mind you, I actually think Alfa Romeo could do well with its current model range. But yes, there is no way that the number of people we can class as potential customers justifies two brands, let alone three.

[Randy Adams]

Ah, Australia!

Land of limitless space, great music and a great Lancia club!

If you folks didn't insist on right hand drive, I and my Flaminias would already be on a boat steaming toward you.

[Adam Pase]

Randy, your LHD Flaminias can be driven here in Australia legally now that they are more than 25 years old...

I for one would pony up the $ now for a Nuova Fulvia if I knew it would be released in RHD. I have emailed Lancia Italia and the local Fiat/Alfa importer with the same info. Our local motoring press indicated however the the Fulvia would only be built in LHD. I'm not sure how Lancia plan to mount a comback here, but obviously the first step would be to produce cars that we can legally drive!

[Jan]

Hi,
is the Fiat Barcetta not available in RHD?
If it does, a RHD Fulvia won't be very complex to build;
Regards,
Jan

[Simon]

Jan,

The fiat Barcetta was available in the UK but it reamained in LHD, only the lights and speedo were changed.

Nice try

Regards

Simon
England

[Nico]

To get Lancia demand buzzing in right hand drive for UK Australia NZ Japan & South Africa, I think some clever "product placement" of new Lancia Delta, Fulvia, Stratos models in some upcoming Hollywood movie would be the way to go. This way it gets instant recognition World Wide to co-inside it's 100th B'day.

All I want is Lancia in back in Australia.

Someone must know someone that can make it happen!