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.

The new series comes with a shiny black roof, chrome mirror caps and a unique matt black color for the body that Lancia calls "Hard Black". The five-door hatchback also gets a pair of chrome tail pipes and 18-inch alloy wheels available in a silver or matte black finish.

Inside, the dark color theme is continued with the door panels and seats that are covered in Alcantara and leather.

The Delta 'Hard Black' edition is offered with a choice of two engines, a 200HP 1.8-liter turbo petrol linked to a six speed automatic transmission or a 1.9-liter twin-turbo diesel with 190HP and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) of peak torque.

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

Chrysler Rumored to Unveil Lancia-Based Model at Detroit Auto Show

Earlier today, we learned from a leaked report on the net that GM will allegedly reveal a host of new models at next month's 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Now, we have more news concerning the Detroit event as a report from Bloomberg is claiming that the Chrysler Group LLC is planning to debut an all-new model derived from the Fiat Group's Lancia brand.

The news site stated that it was tipped off by "three people familiar with the situation" who said that the car will be badged as a Chrysler giving us our first taste of how the American firm plans to integrate Fiat's vehicles into its range.

So, which Lancia model will bear the Chrysler logo? Well, sorry to say, the insiders did not give out this piece of information.

But fortunately for us, Lancia's current lineup consists of only four models - the Ypsilon supermini, the Musa subcompact MPV, the Delta compact hatch and the Phedra minivan- so we'd assume that the firm's newest and most prominent car, the Delta, gathers most chances.

Even so, we don't know if Chrysler chose to simply re-badge and re-mask the 4,522mm-long (177.9-in.) Delta hatchback or if the American firm's designers and engineers proceeded to more extensive changes.

Either way, it's safe to say that Chrysler's model will be powered by the Fiat Group's turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines that include a 1.4-liter unit with 120HP and 150HP as well as a 1.8-liter with 200HP.

We could go on and on, but we'll refrain ourselves from speculating about the car until we hear something official from Chrysler or the Fiat Group.

Via: Bloomberg

PS: The opening photo is a Carscoop photoshop

LANCIA RANGE

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

New Lancia Delta in Martini Racing Livery

To the dismay of the myriad of fans of the unforgettable Delta HF Integrale, the Fiat Group has not decided to bring back to life the most iconic model in Lancia's modern history nor will it enter the WRC. This 2009 example of the latest generation Delta hatchback dressed up in the classic Martini Racing livery -just like its WRC predesecor- was allegedly spotted in a Lanica dealership somewhere in Holland. Chances are that it's a custom order by some Lanica aficionado. As they say, hope never dies...

Source: Autojunk , Via: Autoblog.nl