No UK return for Lancia

First of all, Lancia had intended a return to the UK market in Summer 2008, spearheaded by the then new Delta. That plan was delayed for a year because the dealer network wasn’t ready, and the company recognised it also needed a second model for those dealers to sell.

Then the brand’s re-launch was postponed indefinitely, a victim of the prevailing tough economic conditions.

Now, following the presentation of Fiat Group Automobile’s 2010-2014 Business Plan, it seems almost certain that Lancia will never return to the UK.

That’s because the Chrysler and Lancia ranges are to be fully integrated in Europe, a consequence of Fiat taking a 20% stake in Chrysler back in June 2009. It has also been decided that all of the unified range will be branded Lancia in continental Europe, while the Chrysler badge will be used for the UK and Ireland.

As well as the Delta, the Lancia line-up currently consists of the Ypsilon supermini, Musa small MPV and Phedra MPV (part of the Citroen C8, Fiat Ulysse and Peugeot 807 family).

Chrysler meanwhile only sells the 300C saloon and Grand Voyager MPV in the UK at present, the PT Cruiser and slow-selling Sebring no longer being offered.

The combined range will look like this:

• Ypsilon continues, with an all-new five door model scheduled for 2011.
• Delta remains in production, but will be joined in 2012 by a new-model compact saloon and station wagon.
• Musa will remain on sale until 2012, with no replacement planned.
• Phedra is to be phased out during 2010.
• 300C will be replaced by a new version in 2011.
• Grand Voyager remains on sale, to be replaced in 2014.
• 2013 will see the introduction of a large saloon (primarily for North America) and a crossover model.

Fiat has set a target of 295,000 Chrysler / Lancia sales across Europe in 2014, to be handled by over 1,000 dealers.