At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Lancia displays the new Thema AWD along with Flavia Cabrio. The four-wheel drive Thema, which will be available next autumn in conjunction with the 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar, will be presented in versions Executive and Platinum. The AWD system is “on demand”, the car normally uses the rear wheels traction and only in case of low grip takes the drive torque to the front axle of the car. The gearbox is a 8-speed automatic ZF that transmits a full 286 hp to the petrol engine.

Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels with all-season 235/55 tires. Inside it stands out the car audio system Beats by Dr. Dre, which integrates many speakers of the highest quality, scattered inside the car that will satisfy even the most refined ears. The Chivasso manufacturer stated that the four-wheel drive system fitted on the new Thema AWD reduces fuel consumption by 5% compared to its competitors.

At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show Lancia also introduced the new Flavia Cabrio. The convertible is the development of the Chrysler 200 and it is already available to order. It mounts a 2.4-litre petrol engine producing 175 hp coupled to a six-speed automatic gearbox. The price list provides an “all inclusive” package which consists of UConnect multimedia system with satellite navigation and touch screen placed on the dashboard. The Cabrio sports LED rear lights and 18-inch alloy wheels; it measures 4.9 meters lenght and has space for 4 people.

In Geneva were also unveiled the new Ypsilon 2012 and the Voyager in Silver and Platinum versions. The Ypsilon is back on the Geneva stage a year after its first appearance showing its new fittings and colours. The Lancia Voyager, an MPV in clear Chrysler style, has replaced the Phedra and can accommodate up to seven passengers. Two motors are available, the 2.8 diesel engine producing 163 hp and the 3.6 V6 petrol with 283 hp.

View the full Lancia Thema AWD and Flavia Cabrio - 2012 geneva Motor Show Live gallery

Independent designer David Cardoso has released the images of his latest concept, an hypothetic and quite interesting Lancia flagship called Imperiale. The concept uses the same styling language adopted by recent Lancia models such as the Ypsilon, Delta and Thesis, with a front-end sporting the classic grille and a quite original headlight layout, whereas the rear end is even more unusual, with a tail-light design that we have never seen before. The car as a whole is quite round-shaped, and its design is both original and loyal to the styling adopted by Lancia for its most recent models. With one exception.

One cannot help but notice how different this concept is in comparison to the recently unveiled ‘real’ Lancia flagship, the Thema, which is basically a re-badged Chrysler 300. In a conversation with website CarScoop, Mr.Cardoso admitted that he is definitely not a fan of the model, which somewhat inspired him to create the Imperiale: “When Lancia recently brought out the Thema that is based on the American Chrysler 300C, I was let down by Lancia as it disowned its own Italian design language. The Imperiale is an attempt to create a worthy Thesis successor“. We have to say that we actually see his point there.

via | CarScoop

Lancia will introduce the new Ypsilon Black&Red Edition at the 2011 Bologna Motor Show, a model that will be available with an engine range consisting of the 1.2 Fire EVO II engine (delivering 69 hp) and the turbocharged 1.3 Multijet II (95 hp). The car will have the same price-tag as the Gold Edition, and will be equipped with a 360° audio system, 15″ alloys and blackened windows. The model will come in four different color schemes: Rosso Argilla (Clay Red), Nero Vulcano (Volcano Black), 3-layer Rosso Fiamma (Flame Red) and the two tone-scheme pictured above, with Rosso Argilla body and Nero Vulcano roof. All models will use the same red/black interior finishing in the cabin (see picture below).

During a recent event for the presentation of the new Thema, Lancia managing director Saad Chebab denied rumors of a possible station wagon version of Chrysler 300 as the investment required for the project would be too high in relation to the profit it might bring. “Sales in the US for estates are too slow to justify the development costs” Chebab said, adding that, by extension, no plans for a Lancia Thema estate are in the works either.

Chebab then revealed that a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission will replace the five-speed gearbox on rear-wheel drive models in 2012, and that a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine will also be made available alongside an all-wheel drive version in the course of the same year.

via | Autocar

Lancia has come back to take over the E segment with a saloon that in these last months has been probably over-discussed and sometimes over-criticised. Nevertheless, all interest surrounding Lancia Thema’s launch can be interpreted as a positive signal and here is a chance to critically analyse if detractions were based on real flaws or just sparked by concerns about Lancia’s identity as a brand.

But let’s start by going straight to the point: we think that the Thema is a remarkable car, valid, reliable, quite refined and of obvious qualities such as being the 15% cheaper if compared to one of the German vehicles in the same segment. Its appearance is quite flashy, with 20in alloy wheels, eye-catching fenders and vertical rear lights that Lancia Designers have compared to Lancia Flaminia’s optical units.

From an aesthetic point of view due to features such as the chrome elements, Lancia Thema doesn’t fit the image of the typical European vehicle nevertheless its elegance is unquestionable. In this regard, we think that the purple-brown tone chosen for the official photo shoot is extremely appropriate and makes it look even more stylish.

The Interiors

Lancia Thema in its Exclusive version comes with leather finishings and refined details, as well as with some flaws that we didn’t expect from a vehicle with a starting price of €55,000. Top marks to the quality leather used for the seats and for the trunk’s lining however the dashboard’s plastics and its design are far less impressive. In terms of soundproofing, Lancia Thema has done a very good job and even at 130 km/h the passengers’ compartment remains noiseless, with maybe the exception of the diesel V6 which can’t cover its excessive rumbling.

The seats come with built in heating and cooling system, are quite comfortable, but we don’t particularly like their side edges: rigid but not defined enough, they result quite ineffective when cornering at higher speeds. At the back, three average size people can easily fit in and the only problem here is that even though there’s an air-con unit, it can only be adjusted from the front.

The Test Drive

Lancia’s new brand manager has declared that the eight-speed automatic transmission is not yet ready for its debut therefore the five-speed version has to do for the moment: less refined if compared to the ZF but still very effective. Actually, we have to say that when we tried the Thema we’ve really appreciated its performance and its seems very suitable for a vehicle that weights over 2 t.

Talking about the gearbox, when changing gears as well as in the kick-down phase it seems slightly slow. The vehicle’s soft stability helps neutralising possible turbulences coming through the 245/45 tyres and the alloy wheels but it all feels too cushy when cornering sequentially. On the road comfort is of the highest standard both on the highway and in urban environments.

View the full Lancia Thema photo gallery.

Lancia has just released a video of its new Thema. The clip includes both static and dynamic shots of this new flagship car, which derives from the Chrysler 300. Soon we will also post the results of our test drive: watch this space.

The new Lancia Thema has been officially unveiled. The new flagship from the historic Italian brand has been developed in the US, on the same LX platform on which Chrysler’s 300 model is based, with front-mounted engine and rear wheel drive, and will hit the showrooms at the end of this month with Fiat Group expecting to sell 10,000 units in the first year.

The car will come with diesel and petrol engines: the Pentastar V6 3.6-litre petrol delivers 286 hp and 340 Nm of torque, that combined with an 8-speed automatic transmission can push the Thema up to 240 km/h top speed. Then there is the V6 3.0-litre M-jet II diesel engine developed by VM, which will be available in two power levels: 190 hp (with 440Nm of torque) and 239 hp (550Nm), both of which coupled with 5-speed automatic transmission. As for the interiors, the Thema uses soft touch materials, luxury interior trims and real wood inserts on centre console, doors, panels and steering wheel. Sapphire Blue LED lighting has been chosen for instrumentation, cabin and dashboard, in the middle of which there’s the huge U-Connect system 8.4″ touchscreen - the largest of its category - providing the passengers with all the technology and connectivity they might need.

LED head and tail lights, bi-xenon headlights, panoramic roof, rearview camera, chrome-plated mirrors and oval twin tailpipes are just a few of the other remarkable features of this car, which can arguably be considered the first global flagship as only front grille design and a few other aesthetic details makes the Thema different from its American sister.

View the full Lancia Thema photo gallery

Lancia Voyager is ready to take on the international market hoping to sell in Europe at least 11,000 units a year: a demanding target in the current financial climate, but nevertheless not impossible to achieve. In Europe we are talking about a starting price of €39,900 which, taking all the trims into consideration, can be quite inviting.

Lancia has introduced some innovations: it has modified the bumper’s design, the front grill, introduced some new LED lights and in terms of passenger compartment’s configuration, the Voyager is adopting a 2-2-3 module, the direct evolution of the 2-3-2 chosen for the Chrysler Grand Voyager. The body is characterised by numerous chrome elements and the optical groups’ design is also been reviewed: the final result is an eye-catching and flashy vehicle that won’t surely go unnoticed.

Talking about the engine, the four-cylinder 2.8 diesel (163 hp / 360 Nm) at first sight doesn’t seem enough considering that the Voyager weights 2.3 t, nevertheless it satisfies this vehicle’s needs. Be prepared for a regular drive though: the Voyager keeps a steady pace without any significant acceleration regardless of how hard we push the pedal. The six-speed automatic gearbox in our opinion feels a bit slow while the braking system is of remarkable good quality: responsive and sharp.

View the full Lancia Voyager photo gallery

An official press release from Lancia has revealed plans and first official pictures for the Voyager, the new large MPV that will replace the Phedra in Lancia’s fleet. The new model measures 5,21 meters in length with 3,1 meters of wheelbase, can accommodate up to 7 passengers and - as the name suggests - is clearly based on the Chrysler historic model with the same name.

Initially the Voyager will be available with two engines: a 2.8-litres 4-cylinder diesel (163 hp and 360 Nm) and Pentastar 3.6 V6 petrol (283 hp and 344Nm). The exclusive Gold version will feature leather-upholstered seats, heated steering wheel, 17″ alloy wheels, cruise control, electric tailgate and CD/MP3 audio system.

Average fuel consumption for the diesel version is 7,9 l/100 km with CO2 emission of 207 g/km, while the petrol version will have 10,8 l/100 km of average consumption, but 90% of its maximum torque value will be available between 1600 and 6400 rpm, making it an extremely flexible model. Both engine will come with 6-speed automatic transmission and torque converter.

In comparison to the current Chrysler Voyager, the differences are only cosmetic - meaning you will find a Lancia shield-shaped logo on the front grille - but none of the most important technical features will be missing, including the Stow ‘n Go system (that allows you to change the space in the cabin by folding the seats), electrically operated sliding doors, UConnect multimedia entertainment system (with USB port and Bluetooth), rearview camera, 9″ LCD screens with remote control and wireless headphones for the back seat and sat-nav, although a few of them will be available as extras. Besides, Lancia has slightly modified the suspension setting in order to make the Voyager more suitable for European markets. The Voyager will be available with Brilliant Black, Carbon Grey, Silver or Stone White bodywork and with Black/Grey or Beige interiors.

View the full Lancia Voyager 2011 photo gallery

Lancia has introduced at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show its new concept car which features high-quality materials and the use of refined paints and varnishes. The Lancia Ypsilon Diamond comes in a peculiar ‘eco-chrome’ color, a result achieved after replacing the traditional electroplating bath technique with varnishing. This luxurious nuance can be defined as resembling white gold and covers most exterior elements such as the roof, the mirrors, the beams’ frames, the bonnet, the doors’ handles, the logos, the spoiler and the alloy wheels. The rest of this show-car is painted with an elegant white tone known as Chiffon Blanc which results in a soft-touch effect.

Interiors feature Galuchat black-bronze leathers for the central part of the seats and for the head-rest, while the soft slightly glittered, paper-embossed Nabuck leather has been employed for the seats’ sides, the dashboard and doors’ panels. The passenger compartment also sports this bi-tone theme, with a light-tint Alcantara contrasting the dark leather of the steering wheel, the handbrake and the gearstick cap.

Very elegant embroideries as well as double-stitchings prove that extreme attention has been paid to every detail. The ‘eco-chrome’ treatment has also been applied to the drawer’s handle, the internal door handles and to the steering wheel’s spokes while the gearstick handle features a crystal-effect methacrylate as a reminder of the vehicle’s name.

Saying “Lancia Voyager” is going to take some getting used to, especially for the US market but luckily they get to keep the original. The Voyager model rounds out Lancia’s offering at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show after the Flavia Cabrio, Thema and the updated versions of the Ypsilon and Delta.

The new Lancia Voyager is much like the Thema in terms of being a rebadged Chrysler, and the Italian brand can once again be thankful that the American lineup is providing some essential models to their range - talk about throwing a lifeline. With minimal changes to the design and interior finishes, the Voyager comes with the 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar engine with 287 hp, and a 2.8-litre diesel with 163 hp.

The diesel gets decent fuel economy figures, stated to be 7.9 l/100 km and and the petrol comes with a six-speed automatic transmission. On the inside we get standard Nappa leather seats, heated steering wheel, LED lights and Uconnect multimedia system. An optional nine-inch screen is available for the rear passengers.

Making itself a truly luxury brand, Lancia has leaned heavily on the Chrysler lineup and we’ll be curious to see how things pan out in the future, especially for the Voyager. The name says it all really, and this is one impressive MPV. But will it work for Europe? It’s on the big side of things, and certainly to American tastes but we guess if you’ve got a large garage and a guaranteed parking spot at work on the old continent, it could do rather nicely. When does Lancia go with the “thank you Chrysler” press release?

The Lancia Thema will soon be available on the European market as the rebadged Chrysler 300 and so it gets its official debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Italian flagship sedan clearly has an American flavour and the project is one whose future is definitely unkown - will Lancia’s new bid at providing a top-range luxury sedan work off the back of its US cousin?

It’s all to be revealed. In the meantime, the Lancia Thema is a rear-wheel drive model with multi-link suspension and two engine options: one petrol and one diesel. The petrol is a 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar with 286 hp and and eight-speed automatic gearbox, and the diesel is a three-litre V6 unit with either 190 or 239 hp and a five-speed automatic transmission.

It’s on the inside that Lancia has done its work to try and make the Thema less Chrysler-ish (or so says Lancia). It gets luxury materials like soft touch fabrics, Frau and nappa leather seats, wooden trim and a Uconnect multimedia system with an 8.4 inch screen. Other features on the car include ESC stability control, various brake system technology, cruise control, forward collision warning and blind spot detection technologies. It’s a pretty impressive package on the whole but whether it will cut it against the German competitors in this segment is a tough call.