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Lancia future plans revealed
By Yoann Besnard on 4 February 2008 | 
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As reported in a previous post, Lancia will unveil the new Lancia Delta at Geneva and will be the group’s new attempt to relaunch Italian brand. Indeed the Delta model will be followed by a flow of new models in the coming years.
Lancia will expand its lineup by launching new vehicles and renewing current successful models. Likewise, low volume cars will be discontinued. The first car to disappear will be the Thesis executive saloon which we never saw in the UK. Set to compete with the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series and Mercedes E-Class, the Italian saloon failed by sporting the ugliest grille we have ever seen on a modern production car. This is rather sad as the Thesis comes with an interior padded with leather whose quality compete with Rolls Royce’s. Interior quality was also praised by car journalists and considered by some to be better than the German clique.
The new Delta will be a five-door hatchback featuring an upmarket interior. Lancia might expand its portfolio through derived variants such as a SUV and new coupé-cabrio. Within the next few months a decision will be made on both cars.
2009 will be the year of the next-generation Ypsilon. Despite its qualities, the current model suffered from the competition of the BMW Mini model. This time, the new model will be available in both three and five doors body styles. The Musa which is quite successful in Italy and France, will be also be renewed. Although secrecy surrounds the future small MPV, it is already known that it will feature unique underpinnings as the Fiat Idea is being discontinued.
Lancia also plans to launch an exclusive coupé like Alfa Romeo did with the 8C Competizione in order to spearhead a revival of the marque. The future exclusive coupé might be dubbed Aurelia in reference to the past. The last Lancia model to refer to the Aurelia heritage was the Thesis saloon.
Source: AutoTelegraaf