Stellantis Bets On Lancia And A New Delta Is On The Table

When the late Sergio Marchionne ran Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), he was determined to restore the Alfa Romeo’s brilliance with large investments, a decision that led to the complete abandonment of Lancia. The Turin-based luxury firm did not disappear, but was limited to a single car (the Lancia Ypsilon) for the Italian market.

However, the partnership of PSA and FCA that has resulted in Stellantis speaks of Lancia as one of its 3 premium brands (along with DS and Alfa Romeo). Therefore, the new automotive group has a bright future in mind for the Italian brand. The plans are between 2024 and 2027 and the goal is to launch 3 new models. To everyone’s surprise, a new Lancia Delta could be one of them.

You have not read wrong. The icon of an era for its successes in the World Rally Championship could return with a fully electrified fourth generation. Of the 3 launches, the first will be a new generation of the Ypsilon in 2024, followed by an electric crossover in 2026, to complete the range in 2027 with a model to be decided.

Is a new electric Delta possible?

Being clear and direct: yes, a new Lancia Delta is possible. This would make all the sense in the world, but nothing is decided at the moment in the absence of the final decision. Before undertaking model development, manufacturers must ensure that demand will be sufficient and assess which shared components of the group will be used.

Within the group, a new wave of European compacts has just been presented (the Peugeot 308, the Opel Astra and the DS 4), all of them technically identical. In any case, a hypothetical new Delta would not use their platform (EMP2) as a 100% electric undercarriage could not be fitted.

Instead, the model would use one of the 4 new STLA modular platforms that Stellantis has introduced as part of the $35 billion electrification plan. More specifically, it would equip the medium format, prepared for C and D segment cars with a range of up to 700 kilometers. This allows front, rear and total traction undercarriage, with powers between 170 and 250 hp.

It is also said that, if the project receives the green light, the new Lancia Delta could use an aesthetic inspired by the first generation, the most popular of the saga. It should be noted that in June 2021 Lancia hired a new design director who will also oversee the studio of young talents that the brand has in Turin.

First clues

In November 2021 Lancia celebrates 115 years since it was founded by Vincenzo Lancia in 1906. On the occasion of this celebration, the brand will hold an event on November 27 in which we will learn more about the new strategy to follow. If the rumors are true, the first information about the new Lancia Delta will be revealed here.

Lancia Delta, from glory to oblivion

The Lancia Delta has had 3 generations throughout its history, with a brief absence between the second and third. The first iteration came from the hand of Giorgetto Guigiaro in 1979, extending with many changes until 1994. There is no doubt that it is the most famous, in addition to the one that laid the foundations of what should be a sports compact.

This model had a lot of sporting pedigree, since it was the base chosen by Lancia to compete in Group A of the World Rally Championship once Group B was repealed in 1986. Between 1987 and 1992, it won 6 consecutive Constructors’ World Cups. This feat places it as one of the most successful cars in the sport.

A year before the end of production of the first Delta, in 1993, the second generation was presented, much more conventional and based on the Fiat Tipo platform. It never had the acceptance of the public, so it was positioned in the shadow of its predecessor in the 6 years that it was on sale. Not even the HPE 193 CV versions changed a negative trend situation.

Will be worth?

We had to wait until 2008 to see what would be the third and at the moment last generation of the Italian compact, this time with a shared chassis with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and the Fiat Bravo. With just over 100,000 units sold, it was a failure that accelerated (more if possible) the decline of the brand in Europe.

The commitment to luxury instead of sportsmanship was also a resounding no for the most purists, who saw how their rally car became a very expensive fashion object. Something similar happens with the Ford Puma, an SUV that recycles the name of a coupe. With all this data, we can only ask ourselves the following question: if it is real, can the new Delta reverse the charts?