17.02.2004 LANCIA'S NEW COMPACT MPV WILL BE CALLED THE MUSA WHEN IT DEBUTS IN GENEVA NEXT MONTH

The Lancia Musa will make its debut at the 74th Geneva Motor Show; this new compact MPV is designed for people who do not want to forgo practicality but like to enjoy life with flair and elegance. It is a tall, aerodynamic model, which is spacious and versatile, embodying an elegance that is rich but never ostentatious, and modern, refined styling. The ideal place in which to welcome passengers, making them feel welcome guests, to whom you can dedicate traditional Italian care and courtesy.

Even the name "Musa" itself harks back to typically Italian hospitality. Devised by the Turin-based creative group "515", "Musa" is an Italian name that is soft and seductive, just as the car itself has a soft, seductive Italian way of creating a warm, welcoming, refined atmosphere. The same refinement that is reflected in the graphical presentation of the name: the letter "M" recalls a chaise longue, a symbol of comfort and wellbeing. The Musa logo, like that of the Ypsilon, was developed by Carré Noir Italia, a leading company in the packaging and design field, which continues to collaborate fruitfully with Lancia.

So this is a car whose very name is welcoming and refined, a car to be lived in and not just driven, a car that evokes the deep, sincere values typical of Italian hospitality: good taste, warmth and generosity. Lancia considers these three "secrets of good hospitality" to be the foundations at the base of the Musa project.

To start with, the compact MPV shows "good taste" in its elegant, harmonious lines, in the choice of warm, refined colours, the attention to special details like the radiator grille and two-tone wheels, and the use of luxurious materials like leather combined with microfibre.

The Lancia Musa is also "warmth", an enveloping sensation that can only be conveyed by a welcoming environment that is warm, sunny and airy. This is reflected in exclusive features like the Skydome sunroof, automatic dual-zone climate control and the Bose Sound System. It is a car that allows you to dominate the space around you, thanks to the raised driving position, the modular furnishings, the roominess, the ergonomic layout of the controls and 21 storage places. Last but not least, the Lancia Musa offers the new "Dolce Far Niente" manual gearbox which is transformed into an automatic transmission when you need it.

And finally, the third and last secret of hospitality; the Lancia Musa represents generosity. It is powered by two innovative Multijet engines (the 70 bhp 1.3 and the 100 bhp 1.9) and a brilliant 1.4 16v that delivers 95 bhp. There is a vast, comprehensive array of standard equipment which puts the emphasis on comfort and safety and, finally, the services of Lancia Parure, an exclusive package that lets you extend the regular warranty up to five years from the registration date, or to a maximum of 120,000 km.