We really hope these are not just rumors and the day will come when we’ll see a new Lancia Delta Integrale.
Apparently, a number of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles executives are asking for an all-new Delta Integrale as one last attempt of reviving the brand.
According to a report from Autocar which cites sources from within FCA, there’s talk at the highest level about reinventing one of Lancia’s most iconic vehicles, the Delta Integrale. Many FCA executives reportedly believe it would be a big mistake to allow Lancia to disappear while the Delta Integrale brand still exerts fascination.
Unfortunately, FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne isn’t among those executives who believe resurrecting the Delta Integrale would be a good idea. His plans to wind down Lancia are well-known and at the moment he is more interested in reviving Alfa Romeo (rightfully so). Therefore, he is likely to see a new Lancia model as a distraction.
The Lancia Delta Integrale’s success in video games is a testimony that it still has a large fan base, despite the fact that the last model was built in 1994 (the HF Integrale 16v Evoluzione II). The Gran Turismo 6 game features a number of historic Lancia models, including the Delta Integrale, an Integrale rally car, the Delta S4 and the Stratos.
I guess the question here is not about fans wanting a new Delta Integrale, but rather if it would make it on a market that has significantly changed since 1994. It’s probably wiser for FCA to wait and see if the Alfa Romeo revival plan is successful before engaging into a new Lancia adventure.
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