One of Fiat's most important models in Europe, the third generation Panda, was originally due in summer 2010 but its launch had already been pushed back to September 2011. Now, sources inside the company told the news site that the introduction of the small five-door hatchback will be further delayed until January 2012.
The website pretty much confirms what we said about the New Stratos in our previous article, including that it makes use of the platform and running gear of a Ferrari F430 Scuderia sporting a 510HP 4.3-liter V8 and that it is being built by Italy's Pininfarina.
U.S.-based industry research company AutomotiveCompass said that Chrysler will produce a Lancia Thesis replacement based on the soon-to-revealed 2011 300 sedan, which will continue to make use of the previous generation Mercedes architecture .
Doug Shepard, forecasting manager for the research firm said that the Lancia version of the redesigned Chrysler 300 won't differ radically in appearance from the American sedan.
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In the continuing process of reorganizing Chrysler and Lancia, Fiat will be working to combine both brands' dealership and supply networks throughout Europe.The combined-dealerships will be known as Lancia throughout mainland Europe and Chrysler in the UK. The reason for that is Chrysler is currently established in the UK, while Lancia is not.
The various drawings, which are posted alongside photos of older concepts that we've already seen at major car shows like the Fulvia Coupe and Granturismo Stilnovo, are projects designed in-house at the Fiat Group's Centro Stile. You can check them out in our gallery after the jump.
Fiat's response: "Media speculation about the plan's contents [is] 'premature and groundless.'"
Part of the supposed shift involves a decrease in models built, from fourteen to nine, while ramping-up production of the survivors.
Hit really hard will be Fiat's plant in Mirafiori, Turin. "Mirafiori builds the Fiat Punto Classic, Idea and Multipla models, the Lancia Musa and Alfa MiTo. Fiat is remodeling the plant to use a single line to build the Alfa Romeo MiTo and two new small minivans to replace the Idea and Multipla."
He says "It's an event to commemorate the legends of Rally and other historic race cars. It also has a live rally stage where they run the group B monsters and allow those who weren't around in the early 80s to experience their brute force." Yes, please.
Now if I could find a poster of the jet-engine-to-the-face warning label, that would just be tops.
There's a gallery below; you know what to do. As always, let us know what you like in the comments section.
But while the Detroit Show earlier this year gave us a Chrysler-badged Delta prototype, the Italian firm's press release did not mention any plans for a Lancia-badged Chrysler model, simply noting that two Delta hatchbacks and two 300C sedans will be hosted on a common platform.
The Italian company added that it will show off a special edition version of the Delta finished in dark matte color called "Hard Black" that is further enhanced with chrome-plated mirror frames and new 18-inch burnished alloy wheels.
We don't know much about the two cars, but here's what we do know. They both feature the wider body and detailing of the 1991 Integrale Evoluzione with one of them assumingly motivated by the HF Integrale 8v's 2.0L turbo and the other by the Evo I's 210-horsepower 2.0L 16v turbo unit.
If the two limos are based on original Delta HF Integrale cars or on standard Delta hatchbacks, and if they feature the Integrale's four-wheel drive system or not are questions that we don't have the answers to.
Source: Autoscout24 - Grazie Giovanni for the tip!
Bypassing the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Fiat Doblo van that we already know about, Fiat's product plan concentrates on Lancia, a brand that up until now, was clearly neglected by the Italian firm. That's going to change now that Fiat has linked Lancia's portfolio with Chrysler's lineup.
First of all, 2010 will see a minor facelift for the Ypsilon mini and Musa mini MPV as well as a model year update on the Delta that is rumored to be revealed with a Chrysler badge at next month's Detroit auto show.
2011, however, promises to be a significant year for Lancia as Fiat plans to introduced four new vehicles -all of which will be derived from Chrysler models- to the brand's European lineup.
These include a mid-size family sedan and convertible (a Lybra successor most likely based on the Sebring), a new flagship luxury sedan (Thesis replacement that's rumored to be based on the 300) and a large MPV (probably the Town and Country).
In 2011, Fiat will also gain a Chrysler Group-derived crossover model while the most important introduction for the brand will be the next-generation Panda that will be offered with the firm's new twin-cylinder turbocharged engines.
Other than the new compact-sized Giulietta, Alfa Romeo's plans include a model year update for the 159 sedan, the presentation of the more hardcore 8C Competizione GTA and a light facelift for the MiTo supermini.
As you can see, Marchionne's plans for Alfa do not include the long awaited SUV / Crossover model nor a replacement for the 169. Apparently, the focus on the Lancia brand comes at the cost of Alfa's future...
All in all, over the next two years, the Fiat Group is planning the launch of 17 new models and upgrades of 13 existing models.
PS: The opening photo is a Carscoop photoshop
