Lancia CEO Hints At Future Plans For The Italian Brand:

Lancia CEO Hints At Future Plans For The Italian Brand:​

Trio Of New Vehicles In The Works...​

Earlier this year, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares laid out a plan to give each of the company’s 14 brands a deadline of 10 years to prove their worth or face elimination. Instantaneously, people started to point fingers at both the Chrysler and Lancia brands, two brands that are only a fraction of what they once were.

Lancia CEO Hints At Future Plans For The Italian Brand:

Earlier this year, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares laid out a plan to give each of the company's 14 brands a deadline of 10 years to prove their worth or face elimination. Instantaneously, people started to point fingers at both the Chrysler and Lancia brands, two brands that are only a fraction...

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[bill burke]

Thought Lancia-Chrysler linkage was a sound idea. Did see a bunch of Lancia Thema/ 300 during my visits to Italy and even one in Paris. Saw the Chrysler Delta hatchback at the NYC Auto Show and it did attract attention and interest. Water under the bridge now, but the Lancia expansion move seems logical. Still waiting for something on Chrysler.

 

[redriderbob]

Thought Lancia-Chrysler linkage was a sound idea. Did see a bunch of Lancia Thema/ 300 during my visits to Italy and even one in Paris. Saw the Chrysler Delta hatchback at the NYC Auto Show and it did attract attention and interest. Water under the bridge now, but the Lancia expansion move seems logical. Still waiting for something on Chrysler.

I thought the Delta would have made a good replacement for the PT Cruiser and Pacifica crossover, fit right between them both. I saw it at the 2009 NAIAS show in Detroit, along with the glitzed up girls standing in the display.

 

[bill burke]

That is it, the one I saw in NY. Different girls. How close to production do you think this Delta spin off was?

 

[redriderbob]

That is it, the one I saw in NY. Different girls. How close to production do you think this Delta spin off was?

It made it to production in the UK

 

[pumadog]

Strange plan. Why start in the UK in 2022?
1. the European market where Lancia was absent for the longest time, since they sold the cars as Chryslers.
2. their only right hand drive market. Worth it?
3. no new product until 2024. Why restart with an old product from 2011?

 

[jorisr]

Strange plan. Why start in the UK in 2022?
1. the European market where Lancia was absent for the longest time, since they sold the cars as Chryslers.
2. their only right hand drive market. Worth it?
3. no new product until 2024. Why restart with an old product from 2011?

Obviously something´s got lost in translation.
The original story was the first markets outside of Italy that will relaunch the Lancia brand will be Austria, Belgium, Germany, France and Spain. That will happen in 2024.
Then it was added that Lancia will actually return to the U.K. for the first time since 1994 at an unspecified time after 2024.
That in itself really is news because untill now the U.K. has never been mentioned as a possible market for Lancia.
Lancia´s reputation has been terrible in the u.k. since the Beta debacle in the early eighties and they left the U.K. market at a time when they were still relatively successfull in Europe.
This would also indicate that Lancia would develop RHD versions of it´s cars adding significant cost. It would also open the door to the japanese market where Lancia used to have a cult following.

 

[Deckard Cain]

Japanese do seem to love italian cars. It's the third biggest market for Alfa Romeo after Italy and the US. And the Fiat 500 sells reasonably well there.
I didn't know they ever did a Chrysler Delta. No one can change my mind that the Chrysler 200 wasn't designed with a Lancia version in mind. Its grille and overall shape really seemed perfect for a Lancia version. Shame that the sedan market in Europe was drastically collapsing already.
It's funny to think on what could've been for both Chrysler and Lancia if that pairing had been successful.

Currently, I think Lancia might have a chance if they make new takes on iconic models such as the Delta or the Fulvia.
DS already occupied the market that Lancia could occupy with some success so it remains to be seen if Lancia will be successful.

 

[pumadog]

Obviously something´s got lost in translation.

Thanks! Now it makes sense. Couldn't read the original behind the paywall.

 

[KrisW]

Lancia used to do very well in the UK. The Beta problems were amplified into something of a smear campaign by a particular BBC journalist during the early 1980s. As Lancia was a direct competitor to the UK’s Rover, then in serious trouble, I always wondered just how impartial the whole thing was, really.

Interestingly, when Lancia left the UK and Ireland in 1994, my local dealer reported that most of his former Lancia customers moved to owning Mercedes-Benz cars, not Alfa Romeos.

On a re-launch, I really think that DS, Lancia and Chrysler should become effectively one brand with different badging, much like Opel/Vauxhall. All three are in the same part of the market, and the branding could be chosen based on which is stronger in each territory. Alternatively, I’d go as far to suggest a single “Lancia-DS” brand for Europe. After all, the brand formula for DS was basically lifted from what Olivier François had done with Lancia in the 2000s.

Finally, connecting this to another rumor about new product at Mirafiori, I would love if one of the new cars was an eMini-based Ypsilon...

 

[patfromigh]

If there is engineering and development that is already done for the DS sedans and crossovers, it would make sense to use that knowledge on a Chrysler based BEV. French interiors are too way out for many Americans, but the Vauxhall vehicles based off of Peugeot products show remarkable restraint. Let's hope Stellantis passes that on to the Chrysler brand.

I'm not sure about making Chrysler part of one global brand. Global automotive designs have a high mortality rate in the USA. Whatever is sold on the North American continent must be tailored for our market. Toyota does a good job with its products sold here by making sure their vehicles meet American tastes. GM, on the other hand, failed. That is probably why Opel and Vauxhall ended up in the Stellantis orbit to begin with.

 

[Deckard Cain]

I agree with Kris that DS and Lancia could probably be merged. As for Chrysler, there's a big difference there.
I think Chrysler merits their own cars even if they have a history of rebadging imported models. Their most successful cars were unique. The design language that was used in the Chrysler 200 and Pacifica could be easily translated to a Lancia but with the refresh I don't believe that's the case.
At least in the next 10 years we will get some interesting models.

 

[KrisW]

What I was saying is that there’s not much need for separate technical solutions for Lancia/DS versus Chrysler, and you could have the same D-sedan (for example) and tailor it using different front-and-rear clips, suspension damping, material options and dashboard inserts, plus different powertrain options. Electrification will make even the powertrain differences go away, and US models will just get bigger batteries than Euro models due to longer driving distances.

 

[patfromigh]

What I was saying is that there’s not much need for separate technical solutions for Lancia/DS versus Chrysler, and you could have the same D-sedan (for example) and tailor it using different front-and-rear clips, suspension damping, material options and dashboard inserts, plus different powertrain options. Electrification will make even the powertrain differences go away, and US models will just get bigger batteries than Euro models due to longer driving distances.

The consolidation of platforms announced on the EV Day presentation reveals a strategy with great potential. I am surprised to learn that the DS9 sedan is not made in Europe, but in China. At this moment there isn't a battery electric DS9, only a plugin electric. I expect the current generations of DS products (and all other legacy PSA offerings) will not see use for North America. Most likely there will be products developed from the various sizes of announced STLA platforms for this market.

The luxury car brands such as BMW, Cadillac, Lincoln and Mercedes have invaded the traditional price tiers of the Chrysler brand. The products from those new competitors are small sedans and crossovers such as the 1 and 2 series BMWs or front drive Mercedes. The Cadillac offerings are larger, such as the XT6, but except for Lincoln, these competitors have drab interiors. Chrysler only has the aging 300 sedan and a thoroughly modern minivan. The brand definitely needs the sedan and crossovers such as what DS offers. The styling for the Chrysler brand must be homegrown for both the interior and exterior. from what I've seen of the Pacifica, Ram pickups and Wagoneer interiors, they can achieve excellent results. The power trains should be as well, even if its battery electric. From what Stellantis has revealed already about electrification, I think they understand that.

There is a dilemma with the greater driving distances of the North American continent. Larger batteries are needed, but this will add weight and cost. More batteries also means longer charge times. Chrysler is not a high end brand and only the most affluent will have easy access to the highest speed charging stations. A more efficient solution would be a plugin hybrid for some Chrysler branded vehicles.

 

[redriderbob]

The consolidation of platforms announced on the EV Day presentation reveals a strategy with great potential. I am surprised to learn that the DS9 sedan is not made in Europe, but in China. At this moment there isn't a battery electric DS9, only a plugin electric. I expect the current generations of DS products (and all other legacy PSA offerings) will not see use for North America. Most likely there will be products developed from the various sizes of announced STLA platforms for this market.

The luxury car brands such as BMW, Cadillac, Lincoln and Mercedes have invaded the traditional price tiers of the Chrysler brand. The products from those new competitors are small sedans and crossovers such as the 1 and 2 series BMWs or front drive Mercedes. The Cadillac offerings are larger, such as the XT6, but except for Lincoln, these competitors have drab interiors. Chrysler only has the aging 300 sedan and a thoroughly modern minivan. The brand definitely needs the sedan and crossovers such as what DS offers. The styling for the Chrysler brand must be homegrown for both the interior and exterior. from what I've seen of the Pacifica, Ram pickups and Wagoneer interiors, they can achieve excellent results. The power trains should be as well, even if its battery electric. From what Stellantis has revealed already about electrification, I think they understand that.

There is a dilemma with the greater driving distances of the North American continent. Larger batteries are needed, but this will add weight and cost. More batteries also means longer charge times. Chrysler is not a high end brand and only the most affluent will have easy access to the highest speed charging stations. A more efficient solution would be a plugin hybrid for some Chrysler branded vehicles.

DS9 and the new C5X. Its a shame.

 

[TripleT]

What I was saying is that there’s not much need for separate technical solutions for Lancia/DS versus Chrysler, and you could have the same D-sedan (for example) and tailor it using different front-and-rear clips, suspension damping, material options and dashboard inserts, plus different powertrain options. Electrification will make even the powertrain differences go away, and US models will just get bigger batteries than Euro models due to longer driving distances.

Gross...

better argument would be made they are the same brand with local badging variation. That is doubtful to work as we saw previously with Lancia/Chrysler as the market needs are more diverse then imagined. They really do need distinctive model to fit those markets.

 

[redriderbob]

UF would have been a great addition to the Lancia family

 

[KrisW]

The front structure of UF was designed in a way that meant it could not meet European pedestrian impact safety requirements. I think that was nuts, but it was the decision at the time.

And yes, it would have made a pretty good Lancia D-segment.