The sophisticated Lancia Phedra Unique Edition show car - an expression of the Italian art of living - burst onto the big stage in Frankfurt. Equipped with an unrivalled range of safety, comfort and telematic devices, the Phedra Unique Edition is an ultimate luxury transport.

During the Lancia press conference in Frankfurt last Tuesday, brand boss Antonio Baravalle (who has since then switched to take up the equivalent position at Alfa Romeo) hinted that if the response to the show car was sufficiently positive, he would consider putting it into production. The reaction certainly seemed to bode well for its future, but it remains to be if Baravalle's successor - Olivier Francois - seeks to stake out the same exclusive, luxurious territory for Lancia that his predecessor sought to do.

The Phedra Unique Edition has a hushed interior, which is pleasant to look at and to touch; great care has gone into every detail and the effect is one of an ambience designed for enjoyable social relations.

Sophisticated technology for maximum travelling comfort

The Lancia Phedra Unique Edition version exhibited in Frankfurt features exclusive equipment that creates a real multimedia centre, the ideal car for professional people, which is particularly enjoyable to travel in with family or friends. For example, the small table in the centre between the two rows of seats contains a minifridge and computer shelf, both with a 12V socket connection. The two swivelling front seats both have electrical controls, and the driver's seat has two memories and heating (all the seats are upholstered with Hide coloured leather with elegantly contrasting stitching). That is not all. Two screens are built into the backs of the front seats, to project DVDs or terrestrial digital TV. This car is obviously equipped with the sophisticated Connect Nav Plus system, which includes a satellite navigation system with maps and pictograms, and a built-in hands-free GPS telephone, complete with access to the dedicated bConnect services.

Exclusive styling and powerful engines

The elegant Lancia Phedra Unique Edition stands out for its specific 16" alloy wheels and above all for the original Rossini Grey bodywork. This is one of the two new colours available from this year (the other is Brunelleschi Pearl, a light, warm sophisticated pearly colour) which blends perfectly with the elegant Hide Alcantara on the facia and door panels, enhanced by Wenghé and aluminium inserts, and the refined, exclusive floor, also in Wenghé wood.

But the Phedra Unique Edition is not only a question of styling; it also features a powerful, sparkling engine which is particularly enjoyable to drive: the 204 bhp 3.0 V6 24v, complete with a sophisticated self-adaptive sequential automatic gearbox.
 

Performance is excellent (a top speed above 200 km/h and 0-100 km acceleration in 10.2 seconds), the quietness of a 6-cylinder engine, smooth operation and strong acceleration guaranteed by generous torque (285 Nm at 3750 rpm), superb comfort and enjoyable driving.

This performance is the result of an innovative automatic gearbox with three operating logics. First of all, the device has a 'self-adaptive' programme with electronic management that enables the gearbox to adapt to the driver's style, the road profile and the vehicle load. All this translates into smooth, precise gear changes, good performance, lower consumption and the comfort of the engine brake. A conventional automatic transmission changes up when the car accelerates, even if the car is travelling downhill, while the self-adaptive device 'detects' the position of the accelerator, and if the pedal is not depressed it holds the same speed. When road grip is poor, it is possible to switch to 'snow' mode, which favours a higher gear ratio to maximise grip. The third mode is the 'sequential' function: the driver selects the gear ratio from the four available using the selector lever as a joystick (impulse forward to change up, backward to change down).

Prestigious features

The Lancia Phedra Unique Edition is lavishly equipped: multi-zone automatic climate control which adjusts the air flow for the second and third rows of seats, Cruise Control, rain, parking and dusk sensors, headlight washer/wipers and electrically sliding side doors. But also automatic headlights, electro-chromic rear-view mirror, a childwatch mirror, a radio with CD player (8 speakers) and a CD changer.

'5 stars' for safety

Plenty of comfort, stylistic refinement and prestigious features. The Lancia Phedra Unique Edition combines these features with the 5 star EuroNCAP rating awarded to the model in 2004, thus recognising its position at the top of its class for safety. This is a prestigious result obtained thanks to six airbags which are standard equipment (curtain bags on the 3 rows of seats), ABS complete with EBD, the ASR anti-slip device, ESP electronic dynamic stability control, the MSR system that prevents any loss of grip and MBA which simplifies emergency braking. Plus Xenon headlights, a tyre pressure sensor, and automatic windscreen wipers and headlights. And we should also mention the care and attention that the Phedra pays to younger passengers: from Isofix seat attachments to a childwatch mirror, electric deadlocks on the doors and anti-pinch sensors on the windows.