autoevolution
 

Chrysler-Badged Lancias Come to the UK

Fiat announced it would bring the Lancia Delta and the next generation of Lancia Ypsilon city-cars under the Chrysler brand in the UK. The Delta will be available from June and will include almost no modifications as compared to a Chrysler, except for the grille and badge.

The range will be offered with a choice of five engines, including a twin-turbocharged 1.4-liter diesel and a 1.4-litre Multijet petrol engine. Satellite navigation will be offered as a standard feature on higher-end trim levels. Chrysler says the car will be very competitive price-wise in the compact medium segment.

The next-generation Ypsilon will be officially revealed as a Lancia at the Geneva Motor Show in March and will go on sale in the UK at the end of 2011. Although Chrysler sees long-term potential in the Ypsilon, it doesn’t expect to sell more than 1,800 next year.

The two new-comers will join Chrysler’s existing models, a facelifted 300C and the Grand Voyager.

Jeep will also refresh its line-up: the Grand Cherokee will be joined by the newly refreshed Patriot and Compass. The brand will also introduce a mini-SUV in 2014, that will be built in Italy using a platform sourced from Fiat.

Andrew Humberstone, Fiat Group UK’s managing director, said the decision to sell Lancias in the UK with Chrysler badges, instead of bringing the Italian brand back, was based on the fact that “Chrysler was better known.”  We wouldn’t want to challenge his statement regarding Chrysler, but we think they've come to this decision more because of the bad reputation the Italian marque had earned in the UK.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories