After a 15 year absence from the lucrative United Kingdom market, Fiat-owned Italian automaker Lancia was poised to make a flashy return with the all-new Delta model. However, the automaker says it is officially postponing the return due to the global economic crisis that has crippled demand for Lancia products.
“Given the current global economic crisis, Fiat Group Automobiles has taken the decision to delay the re-introduction of the Lancia brand in right hand drive markets beyond 2009,” Lancia said in a statement.
The Delta was to be sold in select Alfa Romeo dealerships, though the selected dealers had not been announced. The Delta was to be priced around £17,000 and would have competed with Ford’s Focus.
Lancia stressed that it was a delay – not a cancellation of the eventual plans to return to the UK. Car Dealer Magazine says that company insiders suggest that the redesigned Ypsilon – which is due to be launched in Italy in 2010 – will serve as the flagship model in the UK.
12/08, 4:00 PM
posted by:
inline6
I wish we got the Ypsilon, Musa, and Delta here. They’re sexy. The Thesis needs a redesign and better specs. And the new Fulvia can’t come fast enough, while the Phedra is lackluster, even for a minivan.
But the Ypsilon, Musa, Delta, and upcoming new Fulvia would be great to see in the US.
12/08, 4:10 PM
posted by:
sakio327
This is good news for the UK public. I don’t think they need another unreliable Italian maker in their market. Alfa Romeo and Fiat is enough to keep all of the car garages busy in the country. Sure, they make great looking cars, but they’re still not really building 21st century quality.
12/08, 4:36 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
This is a good decision by LanciArmstrong. I am glad he had the balls to make it..
12/08, 5:09 PM
posted by:
Mr. Piston
^^^^ HAHAHA
He signed the documents with a Uni-ball pen!
12/08, 5:17 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
Fiat owns Lancia, And Fiat CEO did say that he predicts that only six global automakers are to survive the global financial crisis, and so if the Delta was to be priced around £17,000 and would have competed with Ford’s Focus, dose that mean Fiat Delta just fortified the fight ageist the Ford Focus,…LOL… De La Hoya should take note… What a sell out, but then again what should I expect from Don Kings predecessor…
12/08, 7:10 PM
posted by:
FSVT_ROCK
Lancia? I hope they are not make the same mistake GM did to bring Hummer back.
12/08, 7:55 PM
posted by:
inline6
FSVT,
What the HELL are you talking about? GM never brought Hummer back. Hummer is owned by AM General, which sold the marketing rights to the Hummer brand to GM earlier this decade.
12/09, 1:57 PM
posted by:
JerkStoreAssistantManager
Keep moving Westward, think about crossing over the pond after the recession ends!