Lancia Could Sell the Ypsilon and Delta in the U.S., Has No Plans to Revive HF Integrale or Fulvia

When announcing the new Ypsilon’s key role in Lancia’s turnaround strategy at a press event Carscoop attended in Turin, Italy, earlier this week, company officials told us that the small car could be sold in the States under the Chrysler brand if American buyers will show enough interest towards the recently launched U.S.-spec Fiat 500. Furthermore, the same could happen with the Delta.

On the other hand, Lancia's people told us the company has no plans to revive famous nameplates such as the HF Integrale and Fulvia, simply stating that there’s no market for Lancia sports cars.

Although in its current state, the new Ypsilon doesn’t comply with U.S. standards, Lancia Product Manager Claudio Nervi told us that it could be “easily federalized” and that logistically “it's not a problem, as the Ypsilon could be produced at the [Fiat Group’s] Mexican plant”. However, Nervi also pointed out the decision depends “on the performance of the Fiat 500 in the US”.

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2011 Lancia Delta Update Brings Chrysler Family Grille and New Diesel Engine

The onslaught of new and updated models from Lancia heading to the Geneva Motor Show continues with the unveiling of the 2011 Delta, which comes with a brand-new grille designed to reflect the partnership with Chrysler and the sharing of vehicles between the two brands, plus new proposals in terms of trim options and engine choices.

The first thing you'll notice on the 2011 model year Delta is the new grille design that was penned by the Centro Stile Lancia, and features horizontal instead of vertical chrome bars. It's styling is similar to the one found on Chrysler's latest vehicles such as the 300 and 200 sedans. Lancia also updated the Delta's trim levels which now include the base Steel, Silver, Gold and Platinum versions.

For 2011, buyers can choose from seven different powertrains including: a 120HP 1.4-liter turbo petrol, which is also available in a dual-fuel petrol/LPG version; a 140HP 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo petrol; a 200HP 1.8-liter turbo petrol; a 120HP 1.6-liter Multijet diesel; a 165HP 2.0-liter Multijet diesel; a 190HP 1.9-liter twin-turbo Multijet diesel, and a new base 1.6-liter Multijet diesel.

The new entry-level 1.6 MultiJet turbo diesel is Euro 5-compliant and produces 105-horsepower and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of peak torque, for a 0-100km/h [62mph] acceleration time of 10.7 seconds and top speed of 186 km/h [116 mph]. Matched to a six-speed manual gearbox, the diesel is said to return improved fuel economy (no figures were released) over the 120HP version and CO2 emissions 120 h/km.

The 2011 Delta will go on sale from mid-March across key European markets and from June under the Chrysler badge (like the new Ypsilon) in Great Britain and Ireland.

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2011 Lancia Delta Update Brings Chrysler Family Grille and New Diesel Engine

The onslaught of new and updated models from Lancia heading to the Geneva Motor Show continues with the unveiling of the 2011 Delta, which comes with a brand-new grille designed to reflect the partnership with Chrysler and the sharing of vehicles between the two brands, plus new proposals in terms of trim options and engine choices.

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Lancia Hyena: Zagato's Delta Integrale Coupe Spotted in The Netherlands

Once upon a time, not too long ago, Lancia produced a car that made grown men weep. Yes, we're talking about the last truly desirable production Lancia, the Delta HF Integrale which dominated the rally scene in the late 1980s and 1990s. Towards the end of the Integrale's career, famed Italian design house Zagato and Dutch Lancia importer Paul Coot had an idea: why not create a limited series coupe variant of the Delta Integrale. And the Hyena was born.

Designed by Marco Pedracini in 1990, the Hyena was introduced as a production model at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1992. Even though the two cars shared the same underpinnings including the Integrale's famed all-wheel drive system and the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine tweaked to deliver around 250HP, the Hyena boasted its own unique styling that was a radical departure from the boxy Delta.

Just like Zagato's Alfa Romeo SZ of the same era, the Lancia Hyena is one of those controversially styled cars that you're drawn to even though you feel like that you're not supposed to.

Aside from the unique bodywork and the tweaked engine, the Hyena was also significantly lighter than its five-door counterpart weighing close to 200 kg or 440 pounds less than the Delta HF Integrale. The 3.99m long coupe was said to accelerate from zero to 100km/h in just 5.4 seconds.

Zagato and Coot initially agreed with Lancia to produce around 500 unit of the Hyena, but in typical Fiat Group style, the Italian automaker pulled out of the deal and only 24 pieces were ever built making the Hyena one of the most sought after Integrales of all time.

This particular example (the yellow Hyena) was spotted by a member of the Autogespot forums in the city of Rotterdam in The Netherlands. The Red Hyena is up for sale in the UK by Classic Driver for 105,995 GBP which comes to around $173,000 or €124,000 at today's exchange rates.

Via: Classic Driver & Autogespot

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Lancia Delta 'Hard Black' Edition Goes on Sale in Europe

It's been a while since we've seen something new from Lancia, but at least the Fiat Group is reminding us that the brand still exists by releasing new versions of its cars. The latest addition in the Lancia family is the Delta 'Hard Black' that was previewed at the Geneva Motor Show in March and is now available for order in Europe.

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DIY Video: How to Scrap a Lancia Delta

Agreed; the previous -second- generation of the Lancia Delta wasn't anything special (not that we care about any first-gen Delta other than the Integrale models), but to destroy any car all in the name of a Youtube video, just doesn't seem right any way you hummer-sledge it. Watch the video after the break

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Geneva Preview: Lancia Delta Special Series Finished in Matte Black

For the first time ever, Lancia will share its display with Chrysler at the Geneva Motor Show, demonstrating the Fiat Group's vision for a common future for the two brands.

But while the Detroit Show earlier this year gave us a Chrysler-badged Delta prototype, the Italian firm's press release did not mention any plans for a Lancia-badged Chrysler model, simply noting that two Delta hatchbacks and two 300C sedans will be hosted on a common platform.

The Italian company added that it will show off a special edition version of the Delta finished in dark matte color called "Hard Black" that is further enhanced with chrome-plated mirror frames and new 18-inch burnished alloy wheels.

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Find of the Day: Lancia Delta HF Integrale EVO Stretch Limousine

Just when you think you've seen everything, you stumble across something even more amazing like these two (or at least they appear to be two different models) Lancia Delta HF Integrale stretch limos that are up for sale in Italy at €99,000 (about US$136,000 at today's exchange rates) a piece.

We don't know much about the two cars, but here's what we do know. They both feature the wider body and detailing of the 1991 Integrale Evoluzione with one of them assumingly motivated by the HF Integrale 8v's 2.0L turbo and the other by the Evo I's 210-horsepower 2.0L 16v turbo unit.

If the two limos are based on original Delta HF Integrale cars or on standard Delta hatchbacks, and if they feature the Integrale's four-wheel drive system or not are questions that we don't have the answers to.

Source: Autoscout24 - Grazie Giovanni for the tip!

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Fiat Group's Revised 2010-2011 Product Plan, Includes Chrysler-Based Sedans, Convertible and MPV for Lancia, 8C GTA for Alfa

During a Tuesday meeting in Rome with representatives of the government and trade unions, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed the Italian group's product plan that has been revised after the alliance with the Chrysler Group earlier this year. We already told you about the introduction of Fiat's new twin-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine on the 500 mini next year, but let's see what else the group has in store for the European market.

Bypassing the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Fiat Doblo van that we already know about, Fiat's product plan concentrates on Lancia, a brand that up until now, was clearly neglected by the Italian firm. That's going to change now that Fiat has linked Lancia's portfolio with Chrysler's lineup.

First of all, 2010 will see a minor facelift for the Ypsilon mini and Musa mini MPV as well as a model year update on the Delta that is rumored to be revealed with a Chrysler badge at next month's Detroit auto show.

2011, however, promises to be a significant year for Lancia as Fiat plans to introduced four new vehicles -all of which will be derived from Chrysler models- to the brand's European lineup.

These include a mid-size family sedan and convertible (a Lybra successor most likely based on the Sebring), a new flagship luxury sedan (Thesis replacement that's rumored to be based on the 300) and a large MPV (probably the Town and Country).

In 2011, Fiat will also gain a Chrysler Group-derived crossover model while the most important introduction for the brand will be the next-generation Panda that will be offered with the firm's new twin-cylinder turbocharged engines.

Other than the new compact-sized Giulietta, Alfa Romeo's plans include a model year update for the 159 sedan, the presentation of the more hardcore 8C Competizione GTA and a light facelift for the MiTo supermini.

As you can see, Marchionne's plans for Alfa do not include the long awaited SUV / Crossover model nor a replacement for the 169. Apparently, the focus on the Lancia brand comes at the cost of Alfa's future...

All in all, over the next two years, the Fiat Group is planning the launch of 17 new models and upgrades of 13 existing models.

PS: The opening photo is a Carscoop photoshop

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