Lancia Motor Club

Thought I would share this. Maybe not confirmed, but a worrying prospect for the Lancia brand?

In Italian from autoblog.it

http://www.autoblog.it/post/315275/marchionne-procediamo-con-il-risamento-di-alfa-il-gruppo-fiat-chrysler-avra-un-nuovo-nome (http://www.autoblog.it/post/315275/marchionne-procediamo-con-il-risamento-di-alfa-il-gruppo-fiat-chrysler-avra-un-nuovo-nome)

And English from worldcarfans

http://www.worldcarfans.com/114011068578/lancia-to-get-lobotomized-will-become-an-italian-only (http://www.worldcarfans.com/114011068578/lancia-to-get-lobotomized-will-become-an-italian-only)

I say the start of the end but maybe the final nail?

To be honest while I hate what has been done to Lancia in recent years, it's irrelevant to the UK since we've had nothing new since 1995.
While yet again the Lancia/Fiat senior management have shown they care nothing for the Marque or it's future.

Brian
8227 8)

I'm increasingly confused and bewildered by the branding policies of the whole group.  Lancia has been on the way out for a while, but now the Fiat Group seems hell bent on marginalising Alfa and doing very odd things with Fiat.  The oddest thing is now, apparently, trying to push Fiiat upmarket - this a brand which was almost best at, and noted for, mass market small cars.  I've come to the conclusion that they have lost the plot.  Meanwhile in Australia where Fiat 500s retail for the equivalent of £7k and Giuliettas are priced to take on the Golf and Focus, both are selling like hot cakes.

It seems that the thinking maybe to drop the name FIAT altogether. The re-branding would be in the name of each new model. As in you buy a '500' not a 'Fiat 500' or a '4C' not an 'Alfa Romeo 4C'.
Maybe they think they are selling Cornflakes, or Cola...
Then again, when people ask me at shows and suchlike 'What kind of car is that ?'         I'll say its an Aurelia, the reply usually is 'a wha', to which I'll say, 'its a Lancia Aurelia', and they'll reply 'a Lancer ?'
The rot began years ago..........I blame the internet !!

Hi Kevin

Being Devil's advocate, it worked for the Mini......

Peter

[/quote]

Hi Kevin

Being Devil's advocate, it worked for the Mini......

Peter
[/quote]

I agree with you. It might not be a bad idea to drop the manufacturers name. Most things these days (and in the past) have almost become part of the cultural landscape. I would guess that quite a lot of people still 'hoover' the house whilst using a Dyson.
I've never heard anyone referring to owing a 'British Leyland Mini', or an 'Austin Mini', or even a BMW 'Mini'. Its simply a 'Mini.
Opel are attempting it with 'Adam', and I think Peugeot have a similar model although I cannot think of the name.

For what it is worth, I have never heard of people buying a 500......Fiat 500 (or cinqecento) is a much strong brand image. Mini was always Mini and BMW bought that brand. If Fiat try to drop the manufacturers name then they will be in commodity products (vis Head and Shoulders not P&G Head and shoulders) and all the luxury end will disappear as this end of the market it is the creator that has value not the model name.

For me the Lancia name/brand/marque (rallying excepted) whilst under Fiat's wing has been dragged through the mud (no pun intended) for far too long and recently under Marchionne's control is in a worse a state as ever.

If Lancia are to continue as befits tradition, which appears less likely by the minute then Fiat need to sell the name to someone special. Imagine Pagani taking it on to develop a serious Italian luxury challenge to the Germans and also rain on Fiat's parade a bit like what Lamborghini did to Ferrari back in the '60's.

Imagine bespoke competition to Alfa/Audi/BMW/Infiniti/Jaguar/Lexus/Maserati/Mercedes/Volvo etc (no disrespect intended to existing Lancia models but they are generally outclassed by comparison) from the Lancia marque, you know maybe a little more expensive and exclusive whilst the Pagani name continues with it's hypercars, although the engines may need to be worked on, I can't quite imagine an AMG powered Appia or Aurelia.

Just a pipe dream but what a thought.

I think the current range of LANCIA  available in Europe is a very poor representation of what Lancia stood for all those years ago, there was a very poor effort from Fiat to keep the brand alive , If you look at what fiat are doing in Ireland at the moment in which they had the best selling car back in 1999 the "Punto", now they struggle to sell a couple of hundred cars a year. I wonder at it all , if they can make such a mess out of a small market like Ireland what are they doing globally !!! :o. I thought of buying a new Delta  and re-badging , but ! its just not right . Where did it all go wrong ! was it the Dedra ? the Thema ? The Ypsilon . I don't think so, at the time when these cars were on sale Lancia were on top of their game in world rallying . It all goes back to Fiat !! . I reckon in Fifty years time just like Bugatti they will be selling a super car called LANCIA . probably built by KIA. !!!!! ;D