BETTER PARTSForgotten Studies: Lancia Fulvia
Hair, 22. May 2018
What would have happened if? This question often arises. Also in the automotive area, there are vehicles that would have influenced the fate of so many brand. About the Lancia Fulvia Concept from 2003. We tell his story.
The original Fulvia: Star of the Sixties
Between 1965 and 1976-built Fulvia coupe is one of the most famous designs of Lancia. The graceful look with a slim roof pillars created by the in-house Designer Pietro Castagnero. Added to this were the successes in rally sport as the world championship in 1972. However, with the Takeover by Fiat in 1969, Lancia lost its charm, increasingly ruled objectivity. Until about 30 years later should be the change.
Bang on the IAA 2003
Starting in 1998, the Retro Design of the last cars was the craze, many manufacturers turned in their icons: VW introduced the New Beetle, the new Mini, the Ford Thunderbird and the Ford Mustang followed. We can also, thought the "Centro Stile Lancia" by Flavio Manzoni and designed for the IAA 2003 in Frankfurt, a beautiful study. A year earlier, the extravagant Lancia Thesis had caused quite a stir, now the Neo-Fulvia twisted all the spectators the head. Your body made of aluminum transferred to the optics of the then nearly 40-year-old Fulvia coupe in the modern era, including one with a Tanganika wood wallpapered cockpit.
Large-scale technology and Retro Design
Under the beautiful cover of the two-seater conventional high-volume technology from the Fiat group: A transversely mounted 1.8-litre petrol engine hid with 140 HP and front wheel drive. In 8.6 seconds, the Neo-Fulvia should come to 100, at 213 km/h. The only electronic aid was ABS. Despite the overwhelming positive reactions, it was concluded in the case of the Lancia study soon of the plug, the 2003 Fulvia landed on the graveyard of unfulfilled dreams. Self-Luca de Meo, Seat the boss of the group since 2015 and at that time Lancia Executive, admitted that, in hindsight, the Fulvia was one of his biggest "professional aspirations".
Cinquecento instead of Fulvia
Why had to die the Neo-Fulvia? With the safety of the expensive aluminum would not have done bodywork in the series. Anyway, the financial aspect: around 2003, the Fiat group had only limited economic resources. The ultimate manslaughter argument, however, was the technique: was Created, the study on the basis of the 2005 expiry of the Fiat Barchetta, which was based in turn on the first Punto. So a cheaper, proven base lacked the Lancia. Strange however: in 2005, a new Fiat Punto (today, the current model), which would have chronologically fit into the concept appeared. In retrospect, the insight, in the dark, what strategy was proposed in the big Fiat group is pursuing remains without files. The fact is: A Retro-study resulted in only half a year after the Fulvia concept Fiat on the road to victory. From the 2004 shown Trepiuno of the successful Fiat 500.(rh)