Lancia Fulvia, yes or no?

[Ferrer]

As some of you might know (actually I doubt it nobody cares any more about Lancia these days) Lancia are choosing a specialty (read niche) car to built in 2008-2009. So far they have come up with 5 possibilities of which we know some. One is an SUV, probably a sister car to an hipotetic Kamal based in the Premium platform (they same that underpins the 159/Brera/Spider). Another one is a folding metal roof convertible probably built on either the Punto's or the forthcoming Bravo's platform. A third one is a big-ish Coupe, based on the Bravo's or the Premium platform. And the fourth one could either be a big 4-door saloon (Thesis replacement) or maybe someyhing else.

What's interesting is the fifth option. And this one is to built the Lancia Fulvia as was presented (or maybe with minor alterations) in the 2003 concept car. The concept car was 392x166x133cm and weighted 990kg, achieved through the uses of lightweight materials like aluminium. It would most probably be based on the Punto's platform. More info and pictures can be found here.

What I ask you is, what would you rather prefer Lancia built? The Fulvia or something else?

EDIT I'm of course all for the Fulvia.

[Mr.Tiv]

I am with you. the Fulvia, unless they surprise us with an even better concept for something small and sporty like the fulvia.

[LotusLocost]

I couldn't agree more...
I think large sales in the future lays in smaller cars.
Especially in amongst the European brands.

I hope the SUV bubble will burst soon..
Who needs 4 wheel drive when global warming gives us summer all year round?

Fulvia pleas

[cmcpokey]

i think the fulvia would be good, but it begs a better platform than the punto. lancia used to be a premium brand, but they let that slip. i think something fast and sexy off of the brera platform would be better. something that woudl hearken back to the aurelia would be best.

[DesmoRob]

Just looked up pics of the Fulvia, and I'm all for it too. Is this a performance oriented car or rather a regular car dressed sporty? Also, if they make it, is there a chance they'll use it for rally racing like the old one?

[Ferrer]

Just looked up pics of the Fulvia, and I'm all for it too. Is this a performance oriented car or rather a regular car dressed sporty? Also, if they make it, is there a chance they'll use it for rally racing like the old one?

Judge yourself. 215kg less than the Mini Cooper S and 325kg less than the Clio RS. Now an hipotetic production car won't be as lightweight, but the concept car is a good precedent and weight can be kept to a decent level. Rallying is very unlikely indeed, though.

[The_Canuck]

Fulvia, looks kinda like an old Alfa which is kinda cool...also lightweight is good.

[Mr.Tiv]

The only thing I can think of that would be as good an option as this would be a modern Beta and Monte Carlo.

[LandQuail]

The only thing I can think of that would be as good an option as this would be a modern Beta and Monte Carlo.

EVO makes its way to central Arkansas via a caravan of donkeys, and so I've just gotten the eCoty issue. Interestingly, one of the writers said of the Lancer EVO IX "just imagine those mechanicals in a Lancia Delta bodyshell."

Intriguing. Deeply intriguing.

For some reason, Lancia just let the whole rally hommologation special craze, which they helped invent, fall to the wayside in favor of odd-looking executive sedans and warm hatches. Surely, among people who buy drivers' cars, the name "Lancia Delta" still has some clout. Wouldn't it be great to see a modern interpretation?

[Mr.Tiv]

EVO makes its way to central Arkansas via a caravan of donkeys, and so I've just gotten the eCoty issue. Interestingly, one of the writers said of the Lancer EVO IX "just imagine those mechanicals in a Lancia Delta bodyshell."

Intriguing. Deeply intriguing.

For some reason, Lancia just let the whole rally hommologation special craze, which they helped invent, fall to the wayside in favor of odd-looking executive sedans and warm hatches. Surely, among people who buy drivers' cars, the name "Lancia Delta" still has some clout. Wouldn't it be great to see a modern interpretation?

to keep it short, yes, to all of the above.

Lancia is/was, depending on how you look at it determines the tense, one of the most successful marques in rally and they let it fall to the wayside. If you ask me, and I know you didn't, they need to get back to what made them great-fast, nimble cars.

What, I must ask, is better than lancia's mid-eighties, group b, powerhouse line up? I direct you here - http://www.groupbrally.com/lancia.shtml - for info and pics.

Triflux 600bhp at 8000rpm from an 1800cc engine, thank you Lancia.

The fulvia is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.

[NSXType-R]

I'm not very familiar with Lancias so bear with me here.

Is the Fulvia something in the class of say, the MX-5? If it is, it better be good because it's in some steep competition. I wouldn't be worried about the Saturn Solstice though.

On the other hand, I'd be happy to see this be produced if it helps Lancia in any way. I loved the Delta Integrale and if they do make a comeback, I hope that they make that first and put it as a competitor to the STI and Evolution. I realize that it's a far step to the Delta, but if it helps, by all means, produce it.

However, I do find the Fulvia concept to be quite bland. I don't see what's so appealing about it. As I said, I'm not familiar with Lancias. Someone care to explain?

[Ferrer]

I'm not very familiar with Lancias so bear with me here.

Is the Fulvia something in the class of say, the MX-5? If it is, it better be good because it's in some steep competition. I wouldn't be worried about the Saturn Solstice though.

On the other hand, I'd be happy to see this be produced if it helps Lancia in any way. I loved the Delta Integrale and if they do make a comeback, I hope that they make that first and put it as a competitor to the STI and Evolution. I realize that it's a far step to the Delta, but if it helps, by all means, produce it.

However, I do find the Fulvia concept to be quite bland. I don't see what's so appealing about it. As I said, I'm not familiar with Lancias. Someone care to explain?

The Lancia Fulvia concept car could be regarded as what Lancia stands for in today's market. Alfa Romeo has long taken the role as the sporty premium brand, which Lancia used to held until Fiat bought Alfa Romeo in 1986. The main problem with Alfa Romeo is that with different apporcahes they (Lancia and Alfa Romeo) are basically chasing the same customer. Therefore it was decided that Lancia would go for the luxury customer, whereas Alfa Romeo would go for the sporty one. Lancia's approach has so far resulted in a spectacular failure and Alfa Romeo is more or less recovering from the dark days.

As such there are simply no possiblities for Lancia to revive the old late 70's and 80's days when they produced hairy chested homologation specials which used to terrify the rivals in the world rally championship. The only possible approach for an hipotetical sporty Lancia, is the original (that means before the Fiat era) way in which sport was mixed with luxury, as well as engineering and attention to detail. And that's were the Fulvia comes in. It stands for all those values, of sofistication and simplicity, elegance and sportiness. Where Alfa Romeos are loud and showy Lancias are understated and elegant.

In my opinion this a better approach than the other one, which usually meant some lairy cars but mainly average ones, because it means that all cars will be better, and that you'll be able to enjoy a entry-level Lancia as much as a top-spec one. Of course the struggle remains if Fiat wants Lancias to have a bit of sportiness at all, because in the current range there's not much hope (except for the Thesis, but if you want we'll speak about it another day as it is another story). The Fulvia could be the car that could change the situation, for better.

[digitalcraft]

(Lancia vulva, haha)


I think it's a neat idea, but if they're going to make a sporty lightweight car, I'd hope for a bit more aggressive look. The design doesn't have a ton of personality.

[dydzi]

even though fulvia would be cool, i'm even more interested in seeing more serious supercar, like that mazel-designed one (i think its name was granturismo)

[Ferrer]

even though fulvia would be cool, i'm even more interested in seeing more serious supercar, like that mazel-designed one (i think its name was granturismo)

The Granturismo Stilnovo wasn't a supercar. It was a 3-door C-segment hatchback. An hipotetical Delta substitute.