Lancia Ypsilon VERSUS to make Paris Show Debut

In its constant quest to forget its glorious rally past, Lanica has joined forces with Versus, a Versace Group owned brand, to create a special edition version of its Ypsilon supermini that will be produced from March 2009 in a limited edition series of just 500 units. The Paris Show car features a special ‘Bronzino’ bronze exterior paintwork that that bears a screen-printed ‘Versus’ logo on the roof. Other unique features of the exterior are the bronze-colored 16-inch alloy wheels and the bronze finish on the grille, handles and mouldings on the doors and rear bumpers and tailgate handle. -Continued

Not surprisingly, the interior boasts a special upholstery with a ‘Versus’ logo heat-printed in relief that recalls the world of fashion wile the head restraints, the dashboard and the door panels are adorned with an embossed VERSUS logo. Finally, the detailing on the instrument panel, sill plate and gearbox have the same bronze chrome finish as the exterior features.

Lancia Lybra Resurrected by China's Zotye Auto

The Lybra might have bitten the dust in Lancia’s European portfolio but the Italian wannabe executive compact sedan is about to get a second chance in life as China’s Zotye Auto has purchased the rights to produce the vehicle from ‘mama’ Fiat Auto. The spy pictures, courtesy of Sohu, prove that the development of the resurrected Lancia Lybra is well underway from Zotye. There don’t seem to be any styling changes but it’s not clear yet if the Chinese manufacturer will use any of the original engines that were offered in the Lybra and included 1.6-, 1.8- and 2.2-liter gasoline units as well as 1.9- and 2.4-liter turbo diesels. -Continued

Lancia introduced the Lybra in Europe in 1999 as a direct replacement for the Dedra and it was offered in both sedan and Station Wagon variants. The Lybra used a modified version of the very successful Alfa Romeo 156′s platform (the 159′s predecessor) which in turn was based on Fiat’s Tipo floorpan.

Via: Le Blog Auto , Source: Auto Sohu

Video: Driver Makes Unbelievable U-Turn on the Highway

We’ve seen plenty of drivers doing some pretty dim-witted things on the road but this fella that was caught on camera making a u-turn on a Greek highway is without any doubt in a class of his own. Watch how the reckless driver in the grey Lancia Dedra sedan performs a 180 degree turn on the highway before he enters a tunnel and then, deifying all laws of common sense, he drives in the opposite direction of traffic putting everyone’s life in danger just to get out of the exit he missed. You have to see this video after the jump to fully appreciate the idiocy of this driver. 

Fiat Group Postpones Lancia's U.K. Re-launch Indefinitely

The Fiat Group seems to be making a habit out of announcing plans for the reintroduction of one of its brands in key markets and then, for whatever reasons, it postpones its plans – e.g. Alfa Romeo’s return to the U.S… The Latest victim of this “policy” is Lancia as Fiat announced that it will delay the production of right-hand drive version for an indefinite period. “Given the current global economic crisis, Fiat Auto has taken the decision to delay the reintroduction of the Lancia brand in right-hand-drive markets beyond 2009,” said Fiat in a statement.”

Furthermore, Britain’s Autocar magazine was told by a Fiat UK insider that there was no sense in importing the new £20k-plus Delta luxury hatchback due to the economic crisis and that the company has no new schedule in place for a later UK roll-out either . “Right now it would be ill-advised to commit to a date on any relaunch of Lancia in Britain,” the unnamed Fiat source said.

As for those in the UK that may have put a down payment for the Delta, the Fiat source said that any that had, would be reimbursed.

Via: Autocar

Lancia to Introduce Range-Topping Musa Poltrona Frau in June

Lancia has joined forces with the high-end Italian furniture maker “Poltrona Frau” to create a top-of-the-range version of its recently revised Musa minivan. Set to be unveiled in early June, the Musa Poltrona Frau’s seats and dashboard will be covered entirely in special upholstery called “Pelle Frau”. This version will be available in 11 exterior colors (including 4 two-tone) and 3 interior shades (grey, leather, red) while the Poltrona Frau logo will also enhance the Musa’s central pillar.

Via: Motorpasion , Source: Lancia

Lancia: From Rallying to Catwalking

As we were going through Lancia’s official press site looking for car pics we happened to notice the absurd number of images with women –and that’s not including the show car babes. Don’t get us wrong; one of the first things we do at European car salons is to visit the Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Fiat stands, but it did made us think of what Fiat has turned Lancia into.

The company that once produced automotive legends like the Fulvia Coupe and the Delta HF Integrale is now all about haute-couture versions of Fiat cars adorned with chicks. Well, it could have been worse, meaning that Lancia could be making wanna-be luxury versions of Fiats without the babes… Anyways, follow the jump to check out the selected pics we downloaded from of Lancia’s site. -Continued

Lancia Delta – New Official Images & Details, 200 HP 1.8 Turbo Unit Also Planned

Approximately two weeks before the Delta’s official debut at the Geneva Show, Lancia decided to share with us three new images and thorough details on its new mid-sized premium hatch. The new Delta that will go on sale this summer, will be offered from launch with two turbocharged petrol units, a 120 HP and 150 HP 1.4-liter TurboJet and a 1.6 litre 120 HP MultiJet turbodiesel (Euro 5). All engine units will be coupled to 6-speed transmission (manual, robotized or automatic)

Later on, Lancia will expand the Delta’s engine range with the addition of two diesel units, the 2.0 MultiJet with 165 HP and the 1.9 Twinturbo MultiJet with 190 HP along with the all-new 1.8 Di Turbojet petrol unit with 200 HP (direct fuel injection mated to an automatic 6-speed gearshift). –Details and pics after the jump

Lancia Delta: New Images Surface Online

Three new images of the 2009 Lance Delta hatch have wriggled their way into the internet giving us a few more views of the Fiat Bravo based hatch (see the first set of pics here). Positioned between the European C (Fiat Bravo, VW Golf etc) and D-segments (Ford Mondeo, Skoda Octavia etc), the Delta is not only Lancia’s first new model in the 21st century, but it also is the first product of the Italian brand’s new philosophy.

The new Delta will be unveiled for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in early March with sales beginning in Europe this summer. The premium hatch will be offered with a wide range of turbo engines, both petrol and diesel, with power deliveries extending from 120 bhp up to 200 bhp, and a choice of 6-speed transmissions – manual, robotised and automatic. –More pics after the jump

Lancia Delta: First Official Images

Lancia released the first official details and images of the all-new Delta that will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. Essentially, the Delta is the production version of the Delta HPE Concept that was seen at the 2006 Paris Show and it is based on a modified version of the Fiat Bravo’s platform.

However, the Delta hatch is larger than the Bravo measuring in at 4.5 meters in length, 1.8 meters in width and 1.5 meters in height. Power will come from a wide range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines including the Fiat Group’s new 1.4 and 1.6 Turbo units (gasoline). More details and pictures will be released closer to the opening of the Geneva Show. –Image gallery after the jump.