Stellantis investing in a ten-year plan to bring Lancia back to export markets, following years of neglect within the FCA Group. In the wake of its new era, Lancia confirmed it will launch three new models before going EV-only by 2028 while announcing some interesting design features set to debut in the future range.
Luca Napolitano, Lancia CEO, said: “The future of Lancia is already present and by the end of 2022 we will have a first taste of the new course that will lead us to become a credible brand in the premium market, in the name of innovative, clean and safe mobility”.
Three New Models – Ypsilon, Aurelia, and Delta
Starting with the debuts, a new Lancia will be arriving every two years, with the resulting three-model range covering 50 percent of the market according to the automaker. The all-new fourth-generation Ypsilon will arrive in 2024, available in hybrid and EV variants. It will replace the current Ypsilon which despite being on sale with minimum changes since 2011 remains a best-seller in Italy.
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Lancia’s first crossover will follow in 2026, reviving at the same time the historic Aurelia nameplate, which was used between 1950 and 1958 for a series of sedan, coupe, spider, and convertible models. Finally, the much anticipated reborn Lancia Delta compact hatchback will arrive in 2028. Both the Aurelia and the Delta will be exclusively offered in EV form, most likely based on Stellantis underpinnings. By 2028 Lancia confirmed it will be an EV-only brand, which means that the hybrid Ypsilon will be discontinued after four years in the market.
While we already had a good idea of the upcoming launches, Lancia’s latest press release includes the first info on design. The new models will be taking inspiration from the rich heritage of Lancia, reinterpreting iconic elements “in a modern and contemporary way”.
Illuminated Grilles And Retro-Inspired Interiors With Recycled Materials
The first hint is about the chalice-shaped grille which will be revisited thanks to “innovative lighting elements”. The illuminated grille trend is not something new, since BMW, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, and Skoda are already offering it as an option for certain models. We also guess that the new Lancia grille will be covered since the new models will be mostly EVs.
Responsible for the design of all three Lancia models will be Jean-Pierre Ploué, who was recently appointed director of Lancia Design in Torino Centro Stile.
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Inside the cabin, Lancia will make use of the highest percentage of recycled materials in the Stellantis group. At the same time, the fact that Lancia is benchmarking Mercedes-Benz means we could see a great improvement in quality, fit and finish. The interior ambiance will be inspired by iconic models of the past and furniture from great Italian designers.
Lancia will also introduce the “SALA” virtual interface (Sound Air Light Augmented). Through this, the driver will control the sound of the audio system, the air conditioning, and the ambient lighting. A similar atmosphere will be replicated inside the new Lancia dealerships.
The company wants to create 100 new dealers in 60 major European cities with half of its sales taking place online. While the initial expansion plan is exclusive to Europe, if things go well in the future, Lancia will consider selling cars to right-hand-drive markets. In the second quarter of 2022, Lancia will announce its organizational structure in foreign countries.