The
Lancia Phedra MPV, introduced earlier this year is part of the Fiat/Lancia/Peugeot/Citroen
joint MPV project. It sits upmarket from the Fiat Ulysse, aiming to slot
into Lancia's "luxury" image. Full equipped with all the latest on-board
technology and safety features, Lancia hope that it will sit at the top
of the MPV sector. It will be a difficult task in a crowed sector with
more and more new entrants.
The Phedra replaces the dismal selling Zeta MPV, which it is believed last year sold around 1,800 units. The Lancia "family" styling, seen first on the Thesis and later on next years Y prototypes, is clearly identifiable. Unlike the first generation Fiat/PSA MPV project where the Ulysse and Zeta differed externally only in the grille and headlamps, the new Phedra has its own individually styled front end. The sides and rear however are virtually identical, giving the conventionally styled Phedra a somewhat bland look. Observers feel that the styling has not moved on much from the Zeta, and the fresh, innovative thinking seen previously on models such as the Multipla has been lost on this "comittee" designed MPV.
Like the Thesis, the Lancia Phedra has also learnt a lot from the Dialogos, the concept car that envisaged a car passenger compartment as ideal microclimate, living-room and stress-free drive. A lot of ideas have been put into practice.
The Phedra claims a luxurious, comfortable interiors trimmed in Alcantara or leather and a multizone automatic climate control system, standard throughout the range that maintains different temperatures for driver and passengers. Other features include Xenon headlights with automatic alignment corrector and automatic headlights that come on as dusk falls or as the Phedra enters a tunnel. Automatic windscreen wipers that switch on when it starts to rain, proximity sensors that aid parking manoeuvres and deflation sensors that let the driver know when a tyre is punctured or flat. Lastly, Cruise Control allows the driver to maintain an automatic cruising speed without pressing the accelerator.
Practicality has been addressed over the old Zeta. Beginning with the antiglare facia that is user-friendly, enhanced by two large closed compartments and complemented by mahogany inserts and burnished or chrome details, and continuing with a host of storage compartments scattered throughout the car and practical fold-down tables located behind the seat backrests. The wrap around seats can also be easily adapted to different load requirements as they can be folded flat, folded up or taken out altogether to alter the proportions of interior space destined for passengers and luggage.
The front seats may be heated and adjusted using optional electric controls. They are also available in a swivelling configuration, an idea drawn from the Dialogos, and can be turned through 180° to make a "lounge". The rear seats claim to be proper armchairs arranged in two rows and complete with head-restraints that may be adjusted individually, back and forward or up and down. All the personal settings for the driver's seat and door mirrors can be stored at the press of a button ( for two people ).
Technology comes as standard on the Lancia Phedra. The CONNECT is the most advanced infotelematic device currently available on the market. Safety is also paramount: six airbags ( two multistage front airbags, two front sidebags and two window bags to protect side passengers in all three seat rows ), ABS complete with electronic brakeforce distributor EBD, antslip regulation device ASR, electronic stability program ESP and an emergency brake assist device HBA. Three-point seat-belts with pretensioners and load limiters ( except on central seats in the second and third rows ), an electric door lock that the driver can choose to engage automatically when the speed exceeds 10 km/h, electric safety locks for children and Isofix attachments to install child seats.
The Lancia Phedra range has been given a range of powerful engines to keep to its top of the segment ambitions. Firstly two power units that Fiat claim combine high performance with great running economy ( the 136 bhp 2.0 16v petrol unit and the 109 bhp 2.0 16v jtd ), a common rail turbodiesel engine able to ensure a satisfactory drive under all circumstances ( the new 128 bhp 2.2 jtd 16v ) and a high-performing engine ( the brand-new three litre 204 bhp 24v ).
The range also includes two specifications, Executive and Emblema, three seat configurations, standard with 5 seats or six and seven-seater options, and four gearboxes, two automatic and two manual.
