Lancia�s Glitzy Ypsilon Promotional Videos

Lancia has released new videos of its 2012 Ypsilon, the posh supermini that made its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this week alongside the subtly revised Delta and the Chrysler-sourced Thema sedan, Grand Voyager MPV, and Fulvia Saloon and Convertible (the last two shown as concepts).

The videos clearly link the new Ypsilon to fashion and luxury, essentially building on the image created by the supermini�s predecessors. Although the outgoing Ypsilon was perceived more of a lady�s car, the automaker wants to send the message that its successor targets both hairdressers male and female buyers.

At least this is what comes out from the first video, called �Fashion World�, where the car is pictured next to trendy young couples posing in different life snapshots. In the second clip, the Ypsilon is the main actor. Under the tagline �New Ypsilon - Essence of Luxury�, we see details of the interior, close-ups of the sculpted five-door bodywork and the two-tone paintwork, which is an option carried over from the previous model.

The Ypsilon will have a range of three engines: a 1.2-liter petrol unit with 69 hp (with an optional LPG system), a 0.9-liter TwinAir turbocharged two-cylinder petrol with 85 hp and a 1.3-liter Multijet II turbo diesel delivering 95 horsepower. The car will be badged as a Chrysler in the UK and Ireland and, as Carscoop has learned, Lancia officials did not rule out the possibility of a U.S. launch in the future.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEOS

VIDEO: Eminem Meets Italian Opera at Lancia's Presentations of the 2012 Thema and Flavia Concepts

The 81st Geneva International Salon marked Lancia's biggest but also, most controversial motor show appearance in recent years. Biggest because Lancia rolled out a total of six new vehicles and concept models, most controversial because four of those cars including the Thema flagship, the Flavia sedan and convertible concepts, and the Grand Voyager MPV are nothing more than rebadged Chryslers.

Lancia and Chrysler CEO Oliver Francois presented the Chrysler 300-based Thema under the sounds of an odd music mix. "Introducing this car of two continents in Geneva became a very personal affair, therefore I personally worked out a little piece of music, a blend of two musical cultures, Eminem's typical Detroit beat with a touch of Italian opera," said Francois just before the 2012 Thema saloon entered the stage.

Francois also took a stab at rival German premium carmakers saying that "there is a large pool of customers out there looking for an alternative to the German monochrome". However, the Italian firm's CEO quickly noted that "many have burned their fingers [in trying to compete with the Germans] in the past including Lancia", but also added that "according to the American press", the new 300 rivals the best Japanese and German premium models including the Lexus LS and the BMW 7 Series. Remember, we didn't say it, Francois did.

The American-Italian tune was continued with the presentation of the other three rebadged Chryslers, the Town & Country-based Lancia Grand Voyager minivan and the Chrysler 200-based Lancia Flavia concept cars, which Francois said rival the Rolls Royce Ghost- could enter production in less than six months from now.

Scroll down to watch Lancia's Geneva Motor Show presentations and have your say in the comments below.

VIDEO

Classic Flashback: The Ferrari-Powered 1986 Lancia Thema 8.32

All the talk about the Fiat Group's plans to re-badge the redesigned 2011 Chrysler 300 (see our high-res gallery here) and re-brand it as the Lancia Thema in Europe, brought to mind the original Thema of the mid-1980s and -1990s, and especially, the Ferrari V8-powered 8.32 model.

Introduced at the 1984 Turin Motor Show, the Thema was Lancia's flagship sedan, sharing the "Type Four" platform with the Fiat Croma, Alfa Romeo 164 and the Saab 9000.

Shaped by the hands of Giorgetto Giugiaro, the boxy sedan model featured a 0.32 drag coefficient, which was an impressive figure at the time. Being a luxury model, it featured a comprehensive list of standard and optional features, including automatic air conditioning and heated seats wrapped in leather or Alcantara.

It also came with a wide range of engine choices, while in 1986, Lancia enhanced the range with the introduction of the Pininfarina-styled Station Wagon. All in all, Lancia sold a total of 358,000 examples of the Thema between 1984 and 1994.

Two years after the launch of the model, Lancia executives decided to step it up a notch with the presentation of the Thema 8.32, perhaps better known as the "Thema Ferrari". The Italian Q-car was fitted with a 3.0-liter 32valve V8 engine (hence the 8.32 in the name) sourced from Ferrari. Power was sent to the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox.

There were two Thema 8.32 models, the Series 1, which was produced from 1986 to 1988 and featured a 215HP version of the Ferrari V8, and the Series 2, built from 1989 to 1992, which came with catalytic converters and was rated at 205 hp.

The Ferrari-powered Thema completed the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in 6.8 seconds (Series 2: 7.2 seconds) and achieved a top speed of 240 km/h or 149mph (Series 2: 235 km/h). At the time, some argued that the available 2.0-liter turbocharged model was equally capable in terms of performance, while being lighter and more agile than the 8.32, but that's another story.

The styling of the Thema 8.32 was rather discreet with exterior upgrades being limited to the different grille, tailpipes, gold/yellow pinstripes on the sides, a retractable rear boot lid spoiler and the alloy wheel designs. Inside, the flagship Thema offered buyers a full leather treatment (or Alcantara) along with a wood trimmed dashboard featuring unique gauges and a three spoke leather steering wheel.

A total of 3,971 Thema 8.32s were built, out of which 32 Series 1 and 32 Series 2 models were offered in a special Ferrari-red finish. You can check out some used examples from Europe in the links below.

Links / Photos Lancia Thema 8.32: Mobile & eBay UK

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New Lancia Stratos in Rally Car Guise and More. Could be Built in Limited Numbers if there's Interest [with Video]

The New Lancia Stratos has completed yet another step of its lengthy unveiling process. This time we have information about the official presentation, which took place on November 29-30, at the Paul Ricard Circuit in Le Castellet, France. There, a select few had the opportunity to see the cabin for the first time, a racecar concept, while they were also informed that the New Stratos could be built in limited production run if there's substantial interest from potential buyers.

The New Stratos is the modern-day incarnation of the legendary Lancia Stratos HF of the �70s. Back in 2008, German businessman Michael Stoschek commissioned Pininfarina to build this unique car, after having dwelled on the idea since 2003.

The story of the original Stratos began in 1970, when Italian design studio Bertone presented the Zero Concept Car. Being a light machine with ideal weight distribution, it was only a matter of time until motorsport fans would see it on the rally tracks.

And sure enough, the concept caught the eye of Lancia�s rally team manager, Cesaro Fiorio, so the Stratos HF made its debut in 1973. Featuring a Ferrari Dino V6 engine, it rocked the world of rallying and eventually won three consecutive World Championships.

With such an impressive heritage, the New Stratos had to be every bit as good. As mentioned, Pininfarina was commissioned to give life to the successor, under the direct guidance of Mr. Stoschek.

The owner of the Brose Group � the fifth largest family-owned automotive supplier in the world � told Pininfarina that �because the design of the Lancia Stratos was characterized by the contrast between round and rectilinear elements, I wanted to see that tension to be carried over into the New Stratos as well�.

Looking at the pictures, it�s obvious that the famous Italian design house did a great job. We simply cannot imagine a better shape for this retro-flavored beast. Speaking of which, the design wasn�t the only thing that needed to be solved properly. The new model had to excel in the performance division as well.

For this, engineers turned their attention to Ferrari. Work started with a F430 Scuderia platform, which was heavily modified for the best results possible. Hence, the New Stratos not only impresses on paper, but also managed to win over Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo and other company officials.

New information was at hand for those lucky enough to attend the press event. For the first time, the car's inner-works were displayed. The cabin boasts a pair of body-hugging bucket seats, metallic accents and an impressive Ferrari-sourced steering wheel, complete with LED lights for upshift guidance. It also get storage spaces for helmets, just like in the Stratos Zero.

The second item on the menu was the unveiling of a scale model, painted in rally livery. There�s no official information, but this could be a hint to a New Stratos racecar in the near future.

Last but not certainly not least, the creators of the New Stratos revealed that they will build the car in limited quantity if there's enough interest. Those willing to spend a small fortune on a unique sports car are advised to contact the company at "contact -at- new-stratos.com" for more information.

By Csaba Daradics

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