Chrysler Delta

[Mazerati]

The Maserati GT is slowing being replaced as my favourite car (looks-wise) by the new Chrysler Delta.

Does anyone else share my enthusiasm for this 'space age' car?

 

[Mike0105]

The Maserati GT is slowing being replaced as my favourite car (looks-wise) by the new Chrysler Delta.

Does anyone else share my enthusiasm for this 'space age' car?

I'm still miffed that the 'Chrysler' Delta isn't badged as a Lancia. But that is a whole different debate.

I not see this as a major problem though, they are good looking cars in the metal, not quite a Maserati though!

 

[MitchZ06]

What's space age about it?

Plus, the best looking Maserati has got to be the MC12

 

[Mazerati]

What's space age about it?

Plus, the best looking Maserati has got to be the MC12

It was a subtle joke, because it is always advertised as being 'from space'.
How can you call the MC-12 good looking? Cool? yes. Pretty?, no.

Also, I think it's called a Chrysler for two reasons:

1) Chrysler owns Lancia and Lancias are sold as Chryslers on this country.
2) As with MG, the brand is being over-estimated in this country.

 

[daan]

1) Chrysler owns Lancia and Lancias are sold as Chryslers on this country.

Chrysler don't own Lancia. They are step brothers as they are both owned by Fiat.

 

[ChaosStar79]

Are we talking about this car? Replacing the GT as a favorite? Really?

 

[MitchZ06]

They should've chosen a different name, whenever I think Lancia Delta I think rally car not soccer mum bus....

 

[ChaosStar79]

Yeah, this looks like a Pacifica to me or any of the other mundane people movers out there.

 

[Mazerati]

Chrysler don't own Lancia. They are step brothers as they are both owned by Fiat.

Ah, right, thanks for the correction.

@ChaosStar79 Why not? Look at it!
Name is a bit stupid though.

 

[Robin]

They have pretty much ruined it by badging it in the UK as a Chrysler. People would buy the thing just because its a 'Lancia Delta', they missed a trick there.

Clarkson described it as having Rio Ferdinand's face

 

[Mazerati]

They have pretty much ruined it by badging it in the UK as a Chrysler. People would buy the thing just because its a 'Lancia Delta', they missed a trick there.

Clarkson described it as having Rio Ferdinand's face

Same as I would buy a new MG6 to become a popular British dad.
Sorry,I know it's irrelevant.

 

[Exorcet]

It's trash like the 200 is trash. The only good model they have is the 300.

Chrysler needs to cut off all ties to anything FWD and move up. The 200 should have been an 3 series fighter, and the Delta should have never seen the light of day (as a Chrysler anyway).

 

[Jondot]

They have pretty much ruined it by badging it in the UK as a Chrysler. People would buy the thing just because its a 'Lancia Delta', they missed a trick there.

Clarkson described it as having Rio Ferdinand's face

I thought that. I can see what they're doing - Chrysler doesn't have the tarnished rusting reputation that Lancia do over here, but what they seem to have forgotten is that if you're going to own a Fiat Bravo that's had its metal work messed around with, Lancia is a much more appealing badge to stick on the front than Chrysler.

And to be honest I wouldn't anyway, I'd just buy the better looking Bravo at a fraction of the cost:

 

[Crumpet]

After being to Italy and getting to ride a Delta Taxi, I can safely say I'm sad that this brilliant car is badged as a Chrysler, at least the Lancia Delta is still a car of Italy, and I can never see anyone over there buying the Chrysler varient.

 

[Mark II Blit]

I really can't stand this new Chrysler/Lancia alliance. They plan on introducing the 300 here as the Lancia Thema. I mean, really? Have they lost their minds!? People here like the 300's reputation of a cool, American car. Sticking a Lancia badge on it will do nothing but grind the sales to a halt. Sure, it may still have the looks, but it will lose that special feel and the pride people take in owning their little slice of the American dream with a huge chromed grille, and most important a Chrysler badge. I myself find the new 300 very attractive, but with the Lancia badge on it? No thanks!

This total dilution of the Chrysler and Lancia brand makes me want to hurl all over the Turin car factories. I am no a soothsayer with a crystal ball, but anyone can predict this is going to be a total sales disaster, unless Marchionne knows something I don't. What happened to the man who turned a sinking dinghy (Fiat) into Italy's most glorious yacht? The Delta is just the icing on the cake. It's a hell of a handsome car, and of the best looking hatches in a long time, but, please, just keep it as a Lancia. Now, let's all play a little game. It's called "What will Marchionne launch next?": Dodge Multipla SRT-4 or Jeep Panda 4x4?

Sorry for getting a little carried away

 

[Jondot]

Now, let's all have a competition. It's called "What will Marchionne launch next?": Dodge Multipla SRT-4 or Jeep Panda 4x4?

Nnnnnope, you're quite wrong - it's the Fiat definitely-not-a-Dodge-Journey Freemont!

Even more bizzarely though, the Italians appear to be absolutely eating it up. I didn't see that coming either.

 

[Mark II Blit]

That's Marchionne in a nutshell. His ideas might appear to be absolutely daft at first, but then they turn out to be huge successes.

Although I still doubt Lancia "definitely-not-a-Chrysler-300" Thema and the Chrysler "definitely-not-a-Lancia-Delta" Delta will do well north of the Dolomites

 

[Crumpet]

We never get the Lancia Delta in the UK, will it arrive as a Chrysler?

 

[Mark II Blit]

Yes, it is coming to the UK.

The Thema... no... 300 will also be sold as the actual Chrysler 300 in the UK as the only place in Europe I'm familiar with. Don't quote me on that though.

 

[ChaosStar79]

I'm truly surprised to see that as many people from around the world like Chrysler. In my experience they just aren't great, and that's coming from a guy who owns one. lol.

 

[Joey D]

We will be getting the states with Fiat's C-EVO platform, which is a modified version of the C-platform. Apparently it's going to look quite a bit like the Alfa Giulietta with a Dodge and Chrysler grill attached to it with their respective models. We are also apparently getting a small SUV built on the same platform to compete with the MINI Countryman and Nissan Juke.

The test mules have been running all over around me which basically are a Giulietta with a poorly spliced Dodge grill slapped on them and a welding in section of about 4-5" making the car a bit longer.

 

[noisiaturismo]

Yeah, Chrysler Delta and Lancia Voyager.

Do Chryslers in the EU now have to go to a Lancia dealer?

 

[Robin]

I can see what they're doing - Chrysler doesn't have the tarnished rusting reputation that Lancia do over here, but what they seem to have forgotten is that if you're going to own a Fiat Bravo that's had its metal work messed around with, Lancia is a much more appealing badge to stick on the front than Chrysler.

Yeah I also saw that was the reason they were badging them as Chrysler but it has been a very long time since those issues and the young buyers which it will be aimed at probably won't know much other about the brand other than the old Lancia Delta was legendary.

 

[Mike0105]

Yeah, Chrysler Delta and Lancia Voyager.

Do Chryslers in the EU now have to go to a Lancia dealer?

Not sure many EU customer will notice. Only Voyagers sold are to the BBC for The Apprentice.....

Joking aside, neither brand sells particularly well outside of their home markets, just seems that Lancia has more heritage over here.

 

[Danny]

I can see what they're doing - Chrysler doesn't have the tarnished rusting reputation that Lancia do over here, but what they seem to have forgotten is that if you're going to own a Fiat Bravo that's had its metal work messed around with, Lancia is a much more appealing badge to stick on the front than Chrysler.

And to be honest I wouldn't anyway, I'd just buy the better looking Bravo at a fraction of the cost:

I very nearly typed this word for word when I read this thread this morning.

 

[Mazerati]

Which 'came first', the Ypsilon or the Delta?
Because you wonder how one of them is competing for the most-handsome-hatchback-in-the-world award (Delta), and the other is an ugly sister to the 500 (Ypsilon).

 

[Mark II Blit]

The Delta was penned nearly 4 years before the new Ypsilon. However I have to say, the new Y is a massive design improvement over the old one. I'd actually call it very handsome

 

[Jondot]

Who wants to see the new Flavia!

Oh wait it's just a Sebring. Nevermind.

 

[Tornado]

Geez. Just how bad is Lancia viewed in Europe that badging cars as Chryslers is seen as the better alternative? All of the reactions in this thread are like the exact opposite of what I was expecting.

 

[C-ZETA]

Just how bad is Lancia viewed in Europe that badging cars as Chryslers is seen as the better alternative?

I believe the UK division went bust so that's why they're badged as Chryslers. It was a similar story with Chevy - Chevrolet were previously badged as Daewoo but they've gotten their name back now. It was only for the smaller cars though, since Corvette are a different manufacture to Chevy here. A Daewoo Corvette would have just been a disaster