Lancia launches new concept

Is this the return of a once-great marque?

Lancia is launching the Delta HPE Concept, with the world premiere taking place at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival, starting on 30 August.

The Italian company reckons its car takes its inspiration from the practical, sporty, elegant Lancia Beta HPE from the late 1970s and offers "an up-to-date take on the idea of a sporty yet practical saloon". This medium-sized vehicle is said to provide roominess in the back and travelling comfort, accessibility, and a versatile, modular and capacious boot coupled with a "compellingly slender, sporty shape".

The concept is intended to draw from a century of experience to continue the tradition of the great medium-sized Lancia cars: the Aprilia, the Appia, the Fulvia, the Lancia Beta HPE, the Prisma, the Dedra and the Lybra.

Four Lancia qualities embodied include:

Styling that reinvents the Lancia tradition with original body features: an overhanging 'flying bridge' roof, a large rear window without a lower frame and a chrome grille that reinterprets the classic Lancia grille of the 1950s for a new generation. A flash of chrome along the side underlines a great expanse of glass and adds an extra sporty touch to the side panels.
The second quality of the new car's design, reckons Lancia, is plenty of room for driver and passengers -- said to be limo-like. Its sliding rear seat with reclining backrest allows the 400-litre boot size to be increased or it can be pushed back and tilted for total relaxation, like a business class seat on an intercontinental flight.
Quality of life on board -- it's quiet due to its sound-absorbent roof -- plus plenty of light due to a generous sunroof and side windows. Its also got an automatic dual zone climate control system, and a good quality Bose stereo with steering wheel controls, that includes a Windows Mobile-based system combining Bluetooth technology with a USB port that allows you to use your MP3 players or USB flash drive.
Interior design -- Lancia is trading on its Italian heritage and interiors that complement the exterior lines with a passenger compartment that's "a veritable lounge, where the facia, door panels and front and rear seats are the highest expression of Italian exclusivity".
Top-quality materials used for looks and touch sensations they offer: including wood trim, chrome detailing, Alcantara and leather upholstery and velour mats.

Finally, the Delta HPE concept is designed to be equipped with a wide selection of petrol and turbocharged diesel engines with power ratings ranging from 120bhp to over 200bhp, combined with six-speed manual and automatic gearboxes, plus tried and tested mechanicals using SDC suspension with electronic damping control.

Lancia didn't tell us if it plans to produce the car, nor what its plans are for the UK, from whence the marque has been long gone, leaving behind a slightly bitter taste of disappointment, given the poor quality of the products that remain, coupled with a sense of regret about what might or could have been.

Here's hoping that if the marque does return, it'll be with a fresh approach, exciting cars and modern manufacturing methods.

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aston67

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