The new Lancia Delta shares its underpinnings with the Fiat Bravo and its styling is based on the Lancia Delta HPE concept that debuted at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. The Delta 2009 comes with three engine options: a 120 HP or 150 HP 1.4L Turbo gas engine and a 120 HP 1.6 L diesel engine. All three engines will be mated to a 6-speed transmission with a manual or an automatic option.
The model in brief
Delta is a historical name that represents one of the pinnacles of Lancia's
motoring history, but also a mathematical symbol that stands for change,
progress. Delta is a universal measure of difference, a striving toward
excellence by exceeding a previous limit. Our entire strategy is underpinned by
a quest for an evolved form of the Delta.
So in this sense, the Lancia Delta is the first car to represent the new Lancia
philosophy. An original and unique positioning, a blend of two values that are
intrinsic to the brand: elegance of style and a bold, innovative temperament
that are also the inspiration of every marketing and communication campaign.
Today we welcome the first all-new car from Lancia's second centenary, the
Delta, with its unparalleled design, true to the brand's innovative vocation.
Due to its product features and international development work to support the
launch planned for mid-2008, the Delta represents a turning point in Lancia’s
history and contributes significantly to the development of a strategic plan.
The first developmental shift or 'delta' is the car's ability to reconcile the
traditional elegance of a Lancia with original architectural features that wed
the mettle of a sports car with the on-board well-being of a saloon for the
first time, while also offering extraordinary roominess for the category (a
wheelbase of no less than 2.7 metres adds to the car's imposing dimensions: It
is 4.5 metres long, 1.8 metres wide and 1.5 metres high). And so the Lancia
Delta returns to take its place at the top of the mid-sized saloon segment,
taking the great Lancia car tradition forward into the future: the Aprilia,
Appia, Fulvia, Beta, Prisma and Dedra up to the Lybra.
The new Delta, designed by the Lancia Style Centre features an imposing grille,
an emblem of the brand, and a beefy and imposing grille. The front end is made
more dynamic by a generous lower air intake that speaks volumes about the
temperament of the Lancia Delta’s engine. Innovative headlights have been chosen
to emphasise the sporty, high-tech appearance of the model, that are enhanced by
a row of LEDs on the lower profile. The same dynamism is evident at the side,
where the main theme is a high waist line and trapezoid-shaped rear pillar
providing a natural support for the light-drenched Granluce roof (a
nautically-inspired flying bridge). The generous glazed roof – with its pillars
diverging in distinctive manner toward the rear – ends in a spoiler that blends
perfectly into the original wraparound rear window that features an up-to-date
design without any surround structure. Lastly, cutting-edge technology is
evident at the rear where tall, LED tail-lights accentuate the elegance of the
Lancia Delta.
The car’s slender lines are complemented by chrome mouldings that blend ideally
into the window seals and emphasise the flying bridge configuration – and the
colour contrast of the lower part of the opaque grey side member that reflects
the two-tone colour scheme of the Granluce roof. The two-tone livery so typical
of great Lancia cars of the past now makes a comeback on the latest models
through a laborious painting process (it takes 6 hours longer than the
conventional process): once it was a crafted feature within the reach of a few
but now Lancia offers it throughout its range.
The Lancia Delta is immediately outstanding for its up-to-date finely wrought
design that is in keeping with the unmistakable Lancia style of recent years.
Yet it saves the very best of itself for its guests: as soon as you get on
board, you are immediately enveloped by an air of onboard wellbeing courtesy of
an interior that is exceptional for its sophistication and comfort with fine
colours and top-quality materials. Particular features include a roof made out
of special sound-absorbent material (termed a Noise Absorbing Roof) that
guarantees very low driving noise levels while great brightness is guaranteed by
oceans of glass at the sides and, where fitted, an enormous sun-roof that takes
up 80% of the total area. Everything is made even more exclusive by top-quality
material,- from leather to Alcantara – used for the interior trim and the
presence of an imposing dashboard made out of Benova®, an innovative and
distinguished product made of polyurethane that conveys the same tactile and
visual sensations as real leather. As an option, it is also possible to choose
superb quality upholstery in Poltrona Frau® grosgrain leather, a touch of
exclusivity that combines Lancia class with one of the most famous Italian
designer labels in the world: the final result is a life-enhancing environment
with a very hand-crafted look.
The lounge-like feel of the passenger compartment is enhanced by a sliding rear
seat with reclining backrest (it can be tilted to 25°) that allows the already
spacious boot (380 litres, 465 with the sliding rear seats) to be increased or
it can be pushed back and tilted for total relaxation, like a business class
seat on an intercontinental flight. Not to mention the fact that the Lancia
Delta’s rear passenger room is the best in the segment and it is the only
hatchback saloon to offer the possibility of adjusting the rear seat backrest
and sliding the seat.
The extraordinarily stylish interiors are complemented by instruments with a
pronounced hi-tech look: one example is a good-looking central console that
seems to float like some fantastic high-tech plate on the underlying surface -
and the white lighting of the console that emphasises the original 3-D look
keys. And more: All parts used for driving – console, steering wheel, climate
control and infotainment features display the same colour treatment and material
use, with a high-tech metallic effect that is evident over the entire dashboard.
The chrome detailing on the controls and the stylish steering wheel (reminiscent
of the historical four-spoke version) are an expression of unmistakeable Lancia
class.
The Lancia Delta passenger compartment is therefore a superlative example of
Italian refinement and exclusivity and for all the world like a real lounge that
can welcome passengers into an environment that is unique in terms of class and
comfort while also extremely high-tech. The Lancia Delta is able to offer the
most advanced devices and systems in the in-car entertainment field due to its
cooperation with the very best partners in each sector. for example, you can
experience the musical lift of a Blaupunkt radio or, as an option, a Bose® hi fi
with CD and MP3 player incorporating steering wheel controls. Or you can access
the countless functions of the Blue&Me® device, a system developed in
conjunction with Microsoft that offers handsfree operation with a Bluetooth®
interface and advanced voice recognition, USB port, MP3 player and SMS
interpreter (also available in a NAV version). The Lancia Delta will also host
the debut of ‘Instant Nav’, a brand-new satellite navigation system. This
innovative device, developed with Magneti Marelli, ensures top-level multimedia
performance, great ease of use and the effective integration of numerous
functions in a single system: USB interface, voice commands, management of maps
on an SD card and a high-resolution screen.
The Lancia Delta also expresses its keynote values of elegance and temperament
through its engines and mechanical parts. Firstly, the temperament of its petrol
and diesel power units that offer outstanding technological innovation and
performance. All the Lancia engines are turbocharged and paired with 6-speed
gearboxes (manual, robotised or automatic). Three engines will be available
immediately at the launch. 120 bhp and 150 bhp 1.4 Turbo Jet (both
petrol-driven) and a 120 bhp 1.6 turbodiesel MultiJet (Euro 5) that will also be
combined with an advanced robotised gearbox. These will be joined later by two
brand new products: a 165 bhp 2.0 Multijet and a 190 bhp Twin Turbo Multijet.
The range will then be complemented by another innovative power unit: a 200 bhp
1.8 Di Turbojet (a direct injection petrol engine paired with an up-to-date
6-speed automatic gearbox). These power units, all Euro 5, confirm the Lancia
brand as a benchmark in terms of technology and innovation throughout the entire
automotive scenario.
Elegance of form and materials but also elegance in the way the car interacts
with the outside world. As far as the environment is concerned, the Lancia Delta
diesel engines are already in line with the limits due to be introduced by the
future Euro 5 regulation, a characteristic that certainly marks an extra 'delta'
shift over the competition.
Lastly, the engine performances are complemented by tried and tested mechanical
parts that are optimised for comfort and handling through the use of technical
features unique to the category. Beginning with the Absolute Handling System, an
advanced stability control system that adds many major features over able those
offered by devices available to date, namely LTF (Linearization Torque Feedback)
that considerably improves your sense of mastering the car on bends,
particularly at top speed; and TTC (Torque Transfer Control), an innovative
function that improves traction on bends by significantly reducing understeer
and ensures a more dynamic drive by electrically simulating the presence of a
self-locking differential.
It should be emphasised that the innovative Absolute Handling System always cuts
in unobtrusively due to its pairing with DST (Drive Steering Torque). The active
electronic steering carries out corrections automatically and also controls
oversteer over surfaces with low grip.
As another mark of its advance engineering, the Lancia Delta is fitted with an
electronic variable damping suspension system (Reactive Suspension System) that
considerably improves driving comfort while filtering out more vibrations over
uneven road surfaces. It also further emphasises driving satisfaction by
improving handling under all conditions (the system automatically adjusts ride
according to the type of road and the driving stresses). The Delta's array of
equipment is complemented by a semi-automatic parking system that controls
steering, leaving the driver the task of operating the brake and throttle to
complete the manoeuvre - and a ‘Driving Advisor’ system that acts on the
steering wheel to warn the driver he is about to stray over the edge of the
lane. The aim of all these devices, in short, is to simplify and improve the
driving experience. All together they may be encapsulated by the description
'VIP Driving'.
Because it is destined for demanding customers who love to stand out in a crowd,
the Lancia Delta offers more than 1000 personalised combinations created by
cross-matching 3 specifications, 4 different seat trims, 3 interior colour
schemes, 4 types of alloy wheels, 12 body shades and 12 two-tone body options.
This broad and diverse range confirms the unique nature of the new model
Returning to the theme of ‘delta’ as the symbol of progress, Fiat Group
Automobiles Financial Services is also ringing the changes by offering finance
options that differ from conventional packages because they include exclusive
services guaranteed by the Fiat Group Automobiles ‘Parts&Services’ department.
