Lancia cancels the new Delta, but is working on a stylish urban car as a successor to the Autobianchi A112

According to the French newspaper L'Argus, Stellantis has canceled the development of the new Lancia Delta. This project is now reportedly going to Alfa Romeo, which is working on a compact car intended to fill the gap left by the successful 147 and Giulietta. However, this does not mean that Lancia will have no new models beyond the recently launched Gamma.

Following Stellantis' restructuring, Lancia is now considered a specialized brand within the group’s hierarchy, a category it shares with DS Automobiles. Above them are both global brands (FIAT, Jeep, Peugeot, RAM) and regional brands (Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Chrysler, Dodge, Opel). While DS falls under Citroën’s control, Lancia is now under FIAT’s oversight.

Arnaud Belloni, CEO of FIAT, Abarth, and Lancia, wants the Italian automaker to return to the A segment, a key category in the Italian market. Recall that the previous Ypsilon was one of the best-selling cars in the country throughout its production run, a status it lost with the arrival of its newer, larger, and more expensive generation (based on the Peugeot 208).

When asked about the upcoming Delta, Belloni hinted that its design would be inspired by the original model from the 1980s. However, the target market for such a car is too limited. "From an industrial standpoint, it’s not a priority. It’s better to launch the FIAT Grizzly, the successor to the 500, that kind of vehicle."

Lancia isn’t ruling out launching limited edition models like the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

"Lancia is a paradox because it has more fans than buyers. True Lancia enthusiasts own collectible cars, drive BMWs or Mercedes, and are willing to purchase a 037 or a Stratos, but we don’t offer those cars. Our customers are highly educated women who live in exclusive neighborhoods in Paris, Milan, or London and who historically drove A112s or Y10s."

"Our two real successes were the A112 and the Y10. They were far from being 4 meters long. It’s very interesting because, if we look at the current market, in a segment A where there’s no premium offering, we wonder if the A could become the new B. Especially in the electric vehicle market, where there’s an issue with purchasing power. There’s something that needs to be done. For now, it’s just a plan; I’m working on it."

This new premium urban vehicle might be part of Stellantis’ E-Car project, under which the next CItroën 2CV, FIAT Koala, and Leapmotor T03 models, as well as an Opel model, will be developed. Initially, these models will be produced at Stellantis’ plant in Pomigliano d’Arco, Naples. If this model proves successful, Lancia could produce more exclusive limited-edition models, following in the footsteps of Alfa Romeo and Maserati’s Bottegafuoriserie division. “If we managed to do that, though it’s far from certain, we could satisfy the brand’s avid fans by creating special cars for them in limited quantities.”

Source | L'Argus