What does the future hold for Lancia?

[guy mayers]

This may not be news to everyone but I have just found out that Lancia have decided not to build the Fulvia that has been seen around a few shows this year. Despite the rave reviews it received it will remain a concept car. I am distraught.
I love the Alfa 145 but it won't go on forever.
The 147 does nothing for me.
The only thing on the horizon possibly due out of Italy and within reach was the Fulvia.
So, what next when the 145 has to be replaced? Is there anything else out there with any character?
Guy

[rutthenut]

Not interested in the GTA then?

Still drives the wrong end of the car though:(

I'd like the forthcoming Alfa coupe (not the 156 in drag) but it's somewhat out of my reach...

As for Lancia itself, it's really not clear what they are going to do with that brand. The Fiat group seem to be positioning Maserati closer to Ferrari, and putting Alfa to the fore. What of Lancia? Luxury cars, rather than trading on their sporting pedigree?

[guy mayers]

That seems to be the plans - returning to their pre war ethos of making tourers/luxury cars rather than making the most of their sporting heritage of the 60-90s that any other manufacturer would have played to the death!
I really don't like the shape of the 147 even in GTA form. Don't want one. I wanted a Fulvia. Guess the 145 is going to have to soldier on for a few more years yet.
Guy

[Cloggie]

Interesting debate amongst the Committee members!

Can I suggest that one of you asks our SEC member working at Lancia Centro Stile in Italy to either write an article, or interview him about this topic and publish it in our next newsletter?

Or perhaps we have other Club members reading this who would like to do it? It's fair to say the Committee memberws already contribute a dis-proportionate amount to the newsletter....

Anyone out there, please don't be shy about offering to write SEC Newsletter articles.....

Regards, Nico/

[PANOS]

FORGET ABOUT LANCIA. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH FIAT.PERIOD.

IT LOOKS THAT CARS THAT DEFINED MY LIFETIME LIKE THE FULVIA, STRATO'S, O37 RALLY, DELTA INTEGRALE, WILL NOT BE REPEATED AGAIN FROM LANCIA, MORE'S THE PITY:(

AN EXCELENT OPORTUNITY TO REVITILISE LANCIA WITH THE NEW FULVIA (I AND QUITE A FEW OTHERS I KNOW WOULD HAVE BOUGHT ONE) HAS GONE FOR EVER... IF THE REPORTS ARE TO BE BELIEVED... UNLESS FIAT WAKES UP FROM ITS DEATHBED AND DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT... WISHFUL THINKING MAYBE? :confused:

PANOS:cool:

[colin artus]

Perhaps that should be the next 'consortium' project - buy Lancia off Fiat.

Colin

[Stratos]

Isn't the new GTV going to be RWD? And hardtop/convertible like the SLK?

With a 3.2 V6 that would be interesting.

OK, it's Alfa not Lancia, but still Italian.

[guy mayers]

The Deposit account remains open.
I suggest we offer €1.

We could even suggest that they start rallying again!

[David May]

Maybe we should be asking GM not Fiat?

Dave May

[mogul_x]

Better stick to asking FIAT. Last I heard, GM still owns only 20% of FIAT, and seems determined not to buy the rest.

Probably should be careful about the offer for €1. Given their current financial state, they might just accept!;)

[Cloggie]

So the Club wants to buy Lancia now! (or what's left of it...)

Well, as long as you realise if we do, your subs will go up next year!!

On the other hand, at least we won't have to worry about using the Stratos name in our title anymore.....

Unfortunately, Lancia is still an active brand in many countries although it makes you wonder how and when the brand will ever be built again.....

Maybe we should plan a trip to our SEC member in Centro Stile and get the real story.... (You'll all see his article in the Newsletter when it'sd delivered tomorrow....)

By the way, regarding the newsletter...

David, you'll need to wait an extra couple of days for the Newsletter to get to you by post in Italy....

Panos, you'll have to wait a very long time, as you didn't renew your subs for 2004!!!

Speak to you soon, Nico/

[shaun]

and the French one, don't tell me, a strike.

[PANOS]

FIAT BOUGHT LANCIA FOR A LIRA A SHARE, AS I RECALL AND THAT IS HOW MUCH THEY ARE WORTH NOW I THINK...
IF WE TOOK OVER, I AM SURE WE WILL DO A BETTER JOB THAN FIAT IS DOING NOW...:D

NICO, GOOD THING YOU DIDN'T SENT MY NEWSLETTER YET, AS I AM NOT IN LONDON TO COLLECT IT AND I DON'T WANT IT GOING ASTRAY... WILL BE THERE BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK, HOPEFULLY AND WILL RENEW MY MEMBERSHIP THEN TOO, SO YOU CAN SEND IT THEN...
I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS GOOD FOR THE MEMBERSHIP FEE... :rolleyes:

PANOS:cool:

[David May]

But what would we get for our money? There's no Lancia factory left, no competition division, just a few rebodied Fiats made in Fiat factories.

But to be honest - the Stratos was never a Lancia anyway! It was a Bertone with a Ferrari engine. Perhaps we should bid for Bertone instead!

Dave May

[PANOS]

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT DAVE, THE STRATO'S WAS A BERTONE KIT-CAR NAMED "LANCIA":rolleyes: NO BAD THING THOUGH...

PANOS
:cool:

[David May]

Thanks Panos. That neat observation makes me feel a lot better about my Stratos kit-car. It's not a fake, it's faithful to the original concept!

Dave May