IAA 2011: Lancia Displays its Stars and Stripes

If anything else, and with a few exceptions such as the Ypsilon supermini, the aging Musa and theDelta compact hatchback, Lancia's range is beginning to look eerily similar to that of the Chrysler brand.
At this week's 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt, the Italian company displayed its entire lineup including the Thema sedan, Flavia Cabrio and the Voyager MPV, which are rebadged versions of the Chrysler 300, 200 Convertible and Town & Country respectively.
The rear-wheel drive Thema will go on sale in Europe in October with a choice of V6 diesel and gasoline units. The Voyager will also reach dealerships at the same time with buyers having the option of either a 287HP 3.6-liter V6 petrol linked to an automatic transmission or a 163HP 2.8-liter Multijet diesel with a manual gearbox. .
Lancia has not yet clarified when the Flavia Cabrio will enter production, but it is believed that it will go on sale in Europe early next year. The roofless model shown in Frankfurt is equipped with a 175HP 2.4 litre petrol engine matched to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Even though Lancia exhibited a sedan variant at the Geneva Show earlier this year, the company decided against offering it in Europe due to the high cost of adding a necessary diesel engine option.

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IAA 2011: Lancia Displays its Stars and Stripes in Frankfurt

If anything else, and with a few exceptions such as the Ypsilon supermini, the aging Musa and the Delta compact hatchback, Lancia's range is beginning to look eerily similar to that of the Chrysler brand.

At this week's 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt, the Italian company displayed its entire lineup including the Thema sedan, Flavia Cabrio and the Voyager MPV, which are rebadged versions of the Chrysler 300, 200 Convertible and Town & Country respectively.

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IAA 2011: New Stratos Makes its Motorshow Debut in Frankfurt

While the Fiat Group has more or less cut ("neutered" would probably be a more appropriate word…) Lancia from its past, a dedicated fan of the Italian brand with a lot of money to spend, decided to resurrect one the most famous sports cars of all time.

We are talking of course about German businessman Michael Stoschek and his one-off New Stratos that made its first public appearance at a major automotive event in Frankfurt.

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Lancia Rolls Out New Thema at 68th Venice International Film Festival [Video + Photos]

The Fiat Group may have forced Lancia to give up on the art of…making cars, but the Italian company is trying to compensate by mastering the art of…promotion.

The Italian firm's new flagship model, the Chrysler 300-sourced Thema, is making a special appearance at the 68th Venice International Film Festival, of which Lancia is the main sponsor for the seventh year running.

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Lancia Flavia Cabrio Coming to Frankfurt Show

The Fiat Group may have exhibited both the sedan and convertible variants of the Chrysler 200 re-branded as the Lancia Flavia at the Geneva Salon in March, but at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Italians will only bring the open top model.
Citing inside sources from the Fiat Group,Autonews reported that only the convertible version of the Flavia will make it into production as the cost of adding an essential diesel engine wiped out the business case for the sedan model in Europe.
Fiat insiders claim that while the absence of a diesel option would kill any chances of success for the saloon, the convertible can attract buyers with a gasoline-engine only.
At the Frankfurt show, the Lancia Fulvia Convertible will be displayed with a 2.4-liter gasoline engine that generates 175-horsepower and is hooked up to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Lancia said that its version of the Chrysler 200 Convertible comes with a "wealth of standard equipment" including leather upholstery, electronic stability control (ESC) and traction, numerous airbags (front multi-stage, side and window bags), the Uconnect multimedia system complete with satellite navigation system, and a “Boston Acoustic Sound System.

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Frankfurt Show Preview: Chrysler 300 Wears Italian Undies and Becomes the New Lancia Thema

After its international public debut at the Geneva Salon last spring, the new Lanica Thema will be making one more appearance at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt next month before it goes on sale across Europe in October.

Lancia's contribution to the transformation of the Chrysler 300 to the Thema is restricted to the Italian brand's badges, plus the higher quality materials and different trim options for the interior.

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Lancia Flavia Cabrio Coming to Frankfurt Show, Sedan Plans Axed

The Fiat Group may have exhibited both the sedan and convertible variants of the Chrysler 200 re-branded as the Lancia Flavia at the Geneva Salon in March, but at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Italians will only bring the open top model.

Citing inside sources from the Fiat Group, Autonews reported that only the convertible version of the Flavia will make it into production as the cost of adding an essential diesel engine wiped out the business case for the sedan model in Europe.

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Meet the New Chrysler Delta…but it's not for U.S., it's for the U.K.

Do you remember the Chrysler-badged Delta hatchback that made a surprise appearance at the Detroit motor show in 2010?

Well, the Chrysler Group has presented the final production version but it is not for U.S. consumption. Instead, the Delta will be offered in the United Kingdom where all Lancia products will be marketed under the Chrysler brand.

The only changes made to the original Lancia model, which was recently updated with a new front grille, concern the Chrysler badges inside and out.

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Ferrari Says: No to Plans for New Stratos

“Despite Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo’s excellent assessment of the New Stratos after his test drive at Fiorano, Ferrari does not consent to construction of the planned limited run by either Pininfarina or any other Ferrari-dependent suppliers.”

And with the above short statement, Ferrari announced to Michael Stoschek, the man behind the 21st century interpretation of the famous Lancia Stratos of the ‘70s, that it won’t let him use its chassis, engines nor allow any of its suppliers to participate in the build.

Therefore, if the company wants to build a limited run of the New Stratos, they won’t be able to use the 360 Modena, F430 or 458 Italia as donors, nor rely on Pininfarina to build the carbon fiber bodywork, as originally planned. As Stoschek himself put it, they’ll have to do so “only via companies that are not dependent on Ferrari”. Currently the only car in existence is based on a Ferrari F430 Scuderia.

Come on, Ferrari, your boss said he was so impressed and now you get cold feet? What are you afraid of? Surely, your long waiting lists won’t be hurt by a limited run of 40 or perhaps even less examples of the New Stratos.

We hope some other company, preferably Italian in order to keep the character, will step in and help the New Stratos be built.

What do you say, Lamborghini; are you interested? You already have the hardware – the Gallardo and its V10 would make an excellent donor car. Wouldn’t you like to go against your arch-rival and earn the respect of car enthusiasts all over the world?

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