Lancia on its last legs?

MrMickS

Member
Messages
3,951
It looks as though FCA have now pulled Lancia from everywhere apart from the home market of Italy. I've tried the French, German, and Dutch home pages and all you get is a message thanking you for your interest. No options to buy anything just a link to servicing. In Italy the only car available is the Ypsilon.

Is this it for Lancia? It would be a shame but they've been struggling to find a fit between Lancia and Alfa Romeo for years and, with the investment in the Milan brand, it looks as though they've now made a choice. The sad thing is that it looks as they are closing rather than trying to sell the brand on. Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come.
 

wink

Junior Member
Messages
85
Yes, exactly this info in Auto Italia - Lancia has now withdrawn from all world markets, leaving it with just the Ypsilon in Italy. Surely it cannot survive. Really they should have put it out of its misery earlier. Not as if anyone wants to remember the marque for the Ypsilon either :(.
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,746
The 'brand' has just been a badge for years... let it die rather than keep re-badging Dawhoos and Chrislers.
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,101
It's all because there's no SportsLancia forum...

Seriously, an Italian acquaintance of mine only used to hire Lancia Ypsilon even thought they were the same as Panda's etc and make her company pay the extra. Ever since the 'rusty lancias' of the 1980's they've never had a good reputation, only the Delta Integrales (integrali?) were worth having. I did note that the Ypsilon and Delta returned in the Chrysler Badge in the UK but even they were dropped in 2015. Clearly Alfa Romeo and Fiat are the only brands left for the mass market in Europe.
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,038
Lancia died years ago.....Lets remember the Integrale the last great Lancia.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
Such a shame.
Loved my Y10's in the late 80's and early 90's, especially the Turbo...lagtastic ...but it sure did shift on boost!
 

MrMickS

Member
Messages
3,951
Definitely Integrali as the plural and they were the last. FCA have thrown their lot in with Alfa and that's that. Which is odd as Peugeot/ Citroen manage to have two brands in the same space but with different images.

Like I say it's a shame they don't cut the brand loose and see if someone will take it on.
 

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,306
It's bl00dy tragic, I love so many Lancias and would absolutely have more in fact I know I will buy more in the future.
Of all of my cars, I miss my Beta Spyder the most and still hope to see it again one day - If you see FPL 433V for sale, it's been off the road for a while now & I fear the worse - I would buy it back in a heartbeat
Sad, sad times
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,101
Definitely Integrali as the plural and they were the last. FCA have thrown their lot in with Alfa and that's that. Which is odd as Peugeot/ Citroen manage to have two brands in the same space but with different images.

Like I say it's a shame they don't cut the brand loose and see if someone will take it on.
Opel/Vauxhall will be in the Peugeot Citroën set up, so three occupying the same market.
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,756
Lancia have never been loved by Fiat but they needed saving as back in the day the cars were over engineered and under sold. Fiat tried to bring them back on track from the Beta onwards but ultimately failed. Shame as it still one of my favourite brands , Fulvia and the awesome Stratos being just two of the best.
 

Paul - H

Junior Member
Messages
103
Lancia MoteCarlo Spyder, had one in 1982, nicely balanced, Fulvia before that, enjoyed both, wish I'd kept them
 

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
Agree, they all but died years ago. Once they were stopped being sold here, they could only rely on past glory, and engineering excellence. Dead since late 80s I would say.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
It's all because there's no SportsLancia forum...

Seriously, an Italian acquaintance of mine only used to hire Lancia Ypsilon even thought they were the same as Panda's etc and make her company pay the extra. Ever since the 'rusty lancias' of the 1980's they've never had a good reputation, only the Delta Integrales (integrali?) were worth having. I did note that the Ypsilon and Delta returned in the Chrysler Badge in the UK but even they were dropped in 2015. Clearly Alfa Romeo and Fiat are the only brands left for the mass market in Europe.

Or is there? I do own the domain :)
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,113
Nice One Matt.
For me the Fulvia HF many childhood memories from when my Father was involved with the Jolly Club of Milan.
Rallying them in the UK when the RAC Rally was a proper event.
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,756
Lancia was my first intro to Italian cars, one of the lads in sixth form had a 1938 Lancia Aprilia as his daily drive (no I am not that old). His step father was big in the Lancia owners club and had a fully specc'd Fulvia HF Stradale with all the race mods. He also had a Aureila B20 race car as well as many other Flavias, Fulvias, 2000 etc. In fact anything before the Beta era.

Some great cars with some lovely design / style points and totally over engineered build quality.
 

redsonnylee

Member
Messages
1,538
My second car was a Lancia Beta, it never let me down mechanically speaking only disintegrated when someone crashed into me as though it was made of card. It was a time in my life when I no stress so have fond memories.
 

MrMickS

Member
Messages
3,951
There was a lovely yellow Beta Montecarlo at the event I went to on Sunday. I'd have one in a heartbeat if I could store it out of the weather.

It's a shame that there's no one to buy the brand and make a go of it. Even if it's low volume and specialised.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
The problem with Lancia and being bought is they dont own nor produce their own engines. V-A-G have been after Alfa for an age for access to their diesels.

Maybe it will end up going down the Arbath route with small special version of Fiats and Alfas.