Lancia has just launched a new
website, and in the process provided a fascinating insight into the company’s
thinking over the past few years. Lancisti have not had much to sustain their
enthusiasm in recent times, but a series of design sketches released this week
offer a glimpse at various projects that remained stillborn. The array of
sketches fall right into the ‘what if’ category, one after another vividly
capturing the essence of the legendary 104-year old carmaker’s values of style,
design, innovation and driving pleasure, and confirming the cutting-edge design
synonymous with the Lancia brand remains alive – even if it is presently
somewhat choked.
Over the last few years,
there has been repeated talk of a ‘specialty’ model from
Lancia, first from former Lancia CEO Luca de Meo, then
his successor Antonio Baravalle, and finally from the
current incumbent Olivier François, although hopes in
this direction have now evaporated. The sketches offer a
tantalising look at what might have been on the minds of
senior management as they looked for a ‘halo’ project
that was never given the green light.
Most sensationally, the
sketches reveal that a modern-day interpretation of the
legendary Lancia Montecarlo sportscar was seriously
considered – this an iconic model that has long since
entered the history books as a true representative of
everything good about ‘made in Italy’. The 2008
sketches, by designer Dennis Braga reveal a dramatic
form that puts it straight into the ‘supercar’ category,
and are bursting with current family DNA, most notably
from the Delta. The interior images for the project also
portray all the dashing style and innovation built into
the brand’s heart by founder Vincenzo Lancia, and for
which it is still synonymous today.
The other sketches
similarly reveal a flurry of dramatic projects that slot
right into the Lancia mould, including high-performance
sports cars, such as Stefano Bertolo’s 2008 ‘Latorama’
concept and outlines for a ‘new Stratos’, as well as an
aggressive-yet-elegant coupe, also dating from 2008.
Detail is also provided
on the compact sporty ‘Deltina’ hatchback project, as
well as possible thoughts towards the interior of a new
Thesis, while a four-door coupe proposal from 2005, a
potential SUV from 2008, and Braga’s futuristic ‘Velo’
highlight the creative richness still emanating from
Lancia Centro Stile. Insight is also to be found into
early thinking for the next-generation Ypsilon, due next
year, as well as a fascinating city car project dubbed ‘Heres’.
All can be instantly recognised as offspring of the
brand in their evocative design language and
reinterpretation of its historical influences.
In addition, a number of
the sketches reveal a thoroughly futuristic streak
running through Centro Stile, with proposals for new
‘experiential’ Lancia dealerships, ‘augmented car-human’
urban transport solutions, and even ‘Star Wars’-style
‘pods’, showing definitively the level of imagination
pumping through the design studios despite the brand’s
lack of new metal.
While it is somewhat
curious that so many sketches should be released onto
the official website, Lancia Centro Stile is understood
to currently be in competition with Chrysler’s designers
to determine the future of the joint Lancia-Chrysler
entity, and the presentation of these images helps
graphically illustrate – were proof needed – that the
Italian carmaker still has some of the finest automobile
designers working today on its books.
