01 Sep 1997

57th Frankfurt
International Motor Show

Lancia presents its entire model range at the Frankfurt Motor Show, from the Lancia Y with its two latest versions, the "Elephant" and the 1.2 16v, to the luxurious Lancia k Coupé.

- Lancia Y: this exclusive car with its unique styling, the world's first mass produced car to be available in more than one hundred colours, introduces the two novelties of its 1997 range. They are the 1.2 16v, with the new 16v Fire engine, and the "Elephant" version, which has already become a great success with the young in the few months since its launch.

- Lancia Delta: all the enjoyment of driving a refined car, as interpreted by Lancia, is reflected in the five door and HPE versions of this successful model. The customer can choose between a wide range which includes three petrol engines (1.6, 1.8 V.V.T. and 2.0 turbo) and one diesel (1.9 turbodiesel).

- Lancia Dedra: the cars on display will include saloon and station wagon versions of this family (1.6 LE, 1.8 LS V.V.T., 1.9 td LE) which was revamped last May to enhance the standard and optional equipment.

- Lancia Z: the practicality and roominess of a multi-purpose vehicle in a refined interpretation from Lancia. There is a choice of two engines: a petrol driven 2.0 Turbo and a 2.1 Turbodiesel, a version which achieves a perfect compromise between sparkling performance and low running costs.

- Lancia k e Lancia k Station Wagon: two flagships which stand out in particular for the quality of life on board. Fast, silent and flexible, with superb roadholding, these cars offer Lancia's latest interpretation of the Granturismo concept dressed up with Italian elegance.

- Lancia k Coupé: on sale since May, it marked Lancia's return to the prestigious market niche of large saloon-derived coupés. The model completes the Lancia k family, a car with a sophisticated personality which not only competes on a par with the best cars in this élite category, but also adds a little something in terms of comfort, driving enjoyment, safety and the personalisation possible with a range of exclusive options.

The Lancia stand at the 57th Frankfurt International Motor Show will also host:

- Lineaccessori Lancia: which offers a wide choice of articles that let the customer personalise the car to his own taste and requirements. They include an extremely hi-tech accessory, the Route Planner computerised navigation system. Items from the Lancia Trophy range for golf enthusiasts, clothing, bags, club covers, balls, visors, etc., will be shown in a separate display case.

- The Technology Gallery: an exhibition area where visitors will be able to take a fascinating journey through the Lancia world, through sophisticated technology (the engines, for example) and the magical dimension of styling and colour. For more detail, particularly on the latter, the computerised "Create the Colour" system lets visitors mix their favourite shades to achieve a particular nuance, and to compare it with the nearest shade in the range of 110 Kaleidos colour tones for the Lancia Y.

- The Internet: for an up-to-date, different approach to Lancia, there are a number of terminals, from which you can visit the Lancia site WWW.LANCIA.COM. One of these is set aside for journalists during the days reserved for them.

The new Lancia Y range

A unique design that cannot be compared to that of any other car on the market today. A different car, built for people who want to break with routine. A compact with the same features as a larger car: comfort, safety, painstaking finish and lavish appointments in just over three and a half metres.

The Y family offers a choice of four engines (1.1, 1.2, 1.2 16v and 1.4 12v), three types of gearbox (5-speed, 6-speed, ECVT), eight outfits, twenty-five options and 134 accessories to make the Lancia Y a true pocket flagship.

But that is not all. Thanks to the option of the Kaleidos system, there is also a choice of 110 body colours, a unique possibility among mass produced cars today.

The Lancia Y is all this, an enormous number of combinations to enable each customer to own not just any car, but "his" car, an exclusive car that is unique for colour, characteristics and personality.

This explains the success of a model for which 200,000 orders have already been received, and which continues to arouse great interest, partly for its innate vitality. In fact, two new versions, the Lancia Y "elefantino" and Lancia Y 1.2 16v were launched recently.

The latter, powered by the first 16-valve Fire engine, confirms Lancia's vocation to play its traditional role as the flag-bearer of technological innovation within Fiat Auto. It is a new 16-valve engine whose outstanding qualities include an amazing top speed of 177 km/h, sizzling take-off (0-100 km/h in 10.9 seconds) and excellent flexibility. All qualities that make for enjoyable driving in the most varied conditions, guaranteeing maximum safety at all times. Fuel consumption figures are a pleasant surprise with such a sparkling engine: at 90 km/h, the Fire 1.2 16v can go almost 20 kilometres (19.6) on one litre of petrol.

Designed primarily for the young, the "Elephant" version has rapidly attained 36% of Lancia Y sales. Its lively, exclusive colours (Metro blue, Titian red and Tropical Yellow), the body-coloured grille, titanium-grey central dashboard, exclusive wheel trims, lively two-tone interior upholstery and the little blue elephant on the pillar distinguish this car and give it a relaxed, captivating personality. The Lancia Y "elefantino" interprets the car's inherent qualities of safety, comfort and refinement in a highly modern key.

The 1.1 Fire engine guarantees very low running costs, which will of course appeal to the young.

The Y range is completed by the LE versions with an 8-valve 1.2 engine and a manual transmission, the LS versions with either a manual gear shift or an ECVT automatic transmission, and the LS and LX versions with the 12 valve 1.4 engine.

The Lancia Delta and the Lancia Delta HPE

The Lancia stand will include both a Lancia Delta, and Lancia Delta HPE 2.0 HF. The latter is the range-topping version (and therefore the one with the best performance) in a range that was upgraded last year with the adoption of new 16-valve engines. They are modern engines, which deliver sparkling, flexible performance, although maintaining low consumption and running costs.

There are five engines in all: 1.6 petrol 16v (103 bhp), 1.8 petrol 16v (113 bhp), 1.8 petrol 16v (130 bhp), 2.0 petrol turbo 16v (186 bhp) and 1.9 turbodiesel (90 bhp). There are four spacifications: LE for the motorist looking for convenience and comfort; LX for the motorist who wants to combine functionality with elegance and exclusiveness; GT for additional performance; HPE for the customer looking for an even more brilliant car, who also has the choice of the HF version, with truly spectacular performance: a top speed of 220 km/h, 7.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.

The Lancia Dedra

The Lancia Dedra is popular because it is a classic car with a great deal of elegance, style and comfort, combined with excellent performance and functionality. This is confirmed by the model's market success which has resulted in over 380,000 sales in Europe since its launch.

Interest in this medium sized Lancia was increased by the recent rationalisation of the range, in May, when the Lancia Dedra, saloon and station wagon both received new standard and optional equipment which raised the car's value for money even higher.

There is a choice of three engines: a 1.6 petrol (90 bhp), a 1.8 16v V.V.T. (130 bhp) and a 1.9 td (90 bhp). The 1.8 with variable valve timing is a state-of-the-art power pack, one of the family built at Pratola Serra, which achieves superb performance levels while keeping consumption low, thanks to its innovative layout and low weight.

Standard equipment is lavish, and includes: automatic climate control, driver's airbag, pre-tensioned front seat belts, electric front windows, height-adjustable driver's seat, head restraints on all seats, central locking, control system, headlamp alignment adjustment, power steering and Lancia Code. To which we should add the ski-tunnel in the rear seat of the saloon, and a split rear seat on the station wagon.

Lancia Z

The Lancia Z is an MPV whose styling, comfort, driving enjoyment and top performance puts it on a par with an up-market saloon. It interprets Lancia's traditional elegance in a new, different dimension, extending it to the sphere of functionality and versatility without losing its élite appeal.

Sober, linear styling has produced a body with no sharp edges, which is essential but refined, surrounding a roomy, light-filled environment which is trimmed in exclusive materials such as Alcantara and leather.

These are basically the reasons for the model's market success (11,000 units ordered since its launch), which are outstanding for a typically niche product like the Lancia Z.

There are two engines: a 2.0 petrol driven turbo (147 bhp) and a 2.1 turbodiesel (109 bhp), and two specification levels: LS, with 5 seats that can be increased to 7, and LX with 6 seats.

The Lancia k and Lancia k station wagon

The Lancia k Station Wagon was launched last year.This élite, elegant, dynamic station wagon carries on the Lancia tradition in this segment. At its launch the Lancia k saloon also benefited from the technical improvements brought in for the station wagon. Important alterations to the engine and engineering which further raised the quality of the Lancia flagship. Today the two cars stand out as refined, powerful, reliable cars which offer a particularly demanding public the physical and psychological well-being which is only perceptible on a luxury car, on which high technology and top performance enhance overall comfort.

There is a choice of five engines on both the saloon and the station wagon: petrol driven 2.0 five cylinder 20v and 2.4 five cylinder 20v, a 2.4 five cylinder turbodiesel, a 3.0 six cylinder 24v petrol unit and a 2.0 16 valve turbo unit.

The exceptionally good handling of the Lancia k Station Wagon is comparable to that of the saloon and worthy of mention. It is achieved thanks to the use of innovative technical features such as the hydropneumatic Boge Nivomat self-levelling suspension system which maintains the suspension level in optimal position even when the load changes.

The quality of life is superb on both the saloon and the station wagon, thanks to the choice of materials, the design of the seats and above all the excellent soundproofing.

Lancia k coupé

On sale since May, the Lancia k Coupé is the queen of the stand. The jewel in the crown of Lancia production, the car that marks the make's return to the prestigious bracket of large saloon-derived coupés, it nonetheless combines the excellent qualities of the basic model with a strong personality of its own. In other words an original line, sophisticated technology (controlled damping suspension and gas discharge headlights), comfort (four comfortable Recaro seats and a boot worthy of a saloon), safety (a torsional rigidity of 160,000 kgm/rad) and the possibility of personalising the car with exclusive options like the 12 colours of the Kaleidos leather upholstery designed exclusively for Lancia by "Poltrona Frau".

The line is modern, but includes attractive references to classic Lancia styling elements, more evident in the rear which recalls the line of the Flaminia Coupé. Inside the car one is immediately aware of the atmosphere of refined luxury created by exclusive materials such as Alcantara and Poltrona Frau leather.

There is a single specification, on which comfort is a standard feature, in addition to airbags for the driver and passenger, automatic climate control, telephone and radio wiring, remote control door release, light alloy wheels, Recaro electrically adjusted seats with Alcantara upholstery, and metallescent paint.

The customer also has a choice of controlled damping suspension, an electric sunroof and futuristic accessories such as Viasat, an innovative safety and satellite location system or the Route Planner computerised navigation system.

The engines are the most powerful of those on the saloon: the 2.4 five cylinder unit delivering 175 bhp, with mechanical gear shift, the 3.0 V6 with automatic transmission delivering 204 bhp, and the 2.0 four cylinder turbo 16v, producing 205 bhp.

Great attention also went into the details and manufacturing quality of the Lancia k Coupé, a car designed for the more sophisticated motorist. A car built to give the utmost in every area, from performance to comfort, safety and the exclusive outfits, but without losing sight of the sense of balance that is the main quality of a truly high class car.

Lineaccessori Lancia

There will be a display of the vast range offered by Lineaccessori Lancia in a special area of the stand. This wide choice of articles make it possible to personalise one's car, making it exclusive and closer to the owner's taste and requirements, includes a prestigious system known as the Route Planner, an example of advanced technology, which is fitted on two of the Lancia k 's exhibited at Frankfurt, a saloon and a station wagon.

This ultra-modern electronic navigation device allows you to reach any location by the best possible route. You just have to inform the computer of your chosen destination using the remote control and the route will immediately appear on the onboard monitor. From that moment until your arrival, you are informed in advance by visual and vocal messages (in six languages) about changes of direction that will help you to reach your destination with the least delay and by the most direct route.