Chrysler Delta? Detroit Auto Show Surprise
- Looks like: A European hatchback
- Defining characteristics: Chrysler name on the grille
- Ridiculous features: An interior that's clearly not designed for America
- Chance of being mass-produced: It sells in Europe, U.S. not likely
Lancia is a brand owned by the Fiat Group, which now owns Chrysler along with American taxpayers.
A Chrysler spokesperson says it's not a concept car and there's no production intent for the U.S. The showcar simply illustrates how future Fiat and Chrysler products could easily share styling and powertrains.
We’ll say easy. The only difference between this and the Delta sold in Russia, Turkey and Europe is the grille and Chrysler's name on the back end. Surprisingly, the exterior design fits well within the current state of Chrysler products and easily outshines most of what’s on dealer lots right now. The interior looks a little disjointed for American tastes, however.
While there are a number of engines for the Delta overseas, it would likely get one of the new four- or six-cylinder engines Chrysler unveiled last week.
Would a Chrysler Delta sell in the U.S.? That’s unclear because it's a premium car overseas but has relatively midsize dimensions and interior room. Chrysler had problems selling itself as an upscale domestic brand in the past with a Celine Dion-backed marketing campaign around cars like the Crossfire. Are times that different?
Check out more photos below.
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I think the interior is decent - no worse than Chevy a few years ago.
All the domestics need right now is some Italian quality know-how...
The interior is a bit over-futuristic, but it's much better looking than current chrysler interiors.
I don't see an issue with the styling. It's not awful, and I think people are expecting some design changes now that Chrysler has been sold, etc - so why would this not sell, if the price is right?
They don't sell Lancia's in the UK, get your facts right.
I think the interior is a minium of the standard they need to bring over exterior and interior. Anything less won't sell in the competitive U.S. market place. You can delete the leather and big navigation screen to right size the price. But design wise middle of the pack exterior and interior. Which would be good deal for Chrysler. Selliing improvement like Hyundai has been doing on there climb upwards.
The exterior looks like a Pacifica & Murano mated and this was the result. Interior looks decent though.
Like a love-child of the Nissan Murano, Kia Amanti, and Volvo C30.
AP,
"...Italian quality..."
That is an oxymoron. When it comes to quality in cars, don't look for it in Italy.
Few comments...
1- As mentioned by GB it is not sold in the UK. Fiat decided to use the cash required to do the RHD conversion on other things.
2- The interior looks lush; better than any of the Ford / GM / Toyota / Honda / VAG offerings out on the market. It might not better MB / BMW / Audi on quality but sure looks a lot nicer.
3- This winter is quite bad in Europe, we will soon find out if they are rust prone :)
4- I have seen this car in real life with two tone paint. It is the most beautiful car in the segment !
If any of you go to NAIAS I am sure you will have positive thoughts about this car. It beats the Corolla / Civic on style all day long!
Tony is right on that one.
This one is like mating a Murano to the C30 and had an affair with an Alfa Romeo.
Alfa front...totally. Does not look like a Chrysler at all, and fortunately it didn't inherit the cheap looking, kindergarten designed plastic interiors of current Chrysler's.
AP,
Yeah.....Italy are known for their beautiful cars like the Alfa's but they are very poor reliability. Which for many the styling makes them overlook it.
The interior is modern and British looking. Very expressive.
i'm italian and i own this car.
trust me.. for the price the car is sold in europe, it's the best car in its segment.
and the price is very low...
i suppose it will be low even in the u.s. because fiat wants to sell as much as possible. i have a question... the thing that i like more of my car is the interior one. is there an american that can explain me why this interiors are so bad? i'm convinced that they were wrong with colours. beige leather is ugly on that car as the colour outside...
search on the net how it is total black... (i assure you that in the night is fantastic), or double-colured white and black!!
Most beautiful car I have seen recently. Fully agree that beats all segment competitors in terms of interior and exterior design. Light years better than what you see in regular Chryslers or GMs
"... When it comes to quality in cars, don't look for it in Italy..."
Yeah... Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, they are all low-quality.
Just so folks know Fiat does routinely score quite low in reliability in Europe's version of JD Power etc.
Manuel,
if your post is sarcastic, let me tell you something...
Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo...
All these are total disaster in quality.
Italians are really concerned about their designs. Ok. Even performance, when it comes to Ferrari, Maserati. But these cars will not run for 10 years without seeing a very expensive service and repair often.
And if you buy a Honda you have a chance that in 10 years there will be no repairs - only service.
Italian cars like French and British(just a bit lesser) are known to be total junk, which can't work trouble-less.
I don't know about Europe. But in US people prefer to pay a little more for the car and have less visits to mechanic. So, even if your Alfa-Chrysler is cheap, still, it will cost more when you think all the repair. And how about the time? The time in USA = money. No one wants to lose their money here.
Ciao Italia.
@Tony.
Things are changed here in Europe since the 90s.
Cars' quality has increased and the FIAT group is absolutely at the same quality level (on reliability) as japanese, german, french and swedish cars.
I know FIAT left US many years ago for quality issues but believe me: today it's totally different.
Franco,
I am sorry. I believe that Fiat is of much better quality that it was one time. But it is still on the bottom of European ranks next to Citroen and Renault. Only likes of Daewoo score even less.
Anyways, to tell how good today's Fiat is we need at least 3-4 years. And Fiat didn't build that reputation to tell today that it is of good quality.
If it comes to US, Fiat will be struggling to compete against Hyundai, which is close to Japanese makes in reliability and improving while Japanese reliability is spotty now and decreasing a bit.
Reputation is everything in car business. GM has survived that long only on the reputation of the past. I remember people buying Oldsmobiles because they didn't know any better while Toyotas and Hondas were better but old reputation was still working. Now same thing works for Honda and Toyota. How do you explain then that people buying Camry in such numbers? It is not even a good car or as reliable as it once was.
Back to Fiat. Will take some time, ok? But the time may be the problem. With bunch of competition that wants to swallow you, Fiat may be doesn't survive next 10 years. Look at Suzuki Kizashi. Beautiful car. I just afraid that the Suzuki will no longer have car division in the USA by the time I am ready to buy one.
At this time it is safe to say that Italian car is like the Italian fashion. It is stylish, head-turning exotic thing, which unfortunately is not very useful.
Well, I own Lancia Delta and I'm surprised with your opinions about FIAT group. As it’s not present on the US market you don’t know nothing about Lancia’s quality. These cars are positioned in a premium segment and Lancia (Chrysler…) Delta is compared to Audi A3. It’s ages from Hyundai or Daewoo (GM…).
Dear Tony,
yo understand nothing about cars !!! what do you drive ?? a skateboard ?? Alfa, Ferrari, Maserati are TOP in Europe FIAT and Lancia are much better thar Renault or Citroen i had all of them and i can say it !! A friend of mine have a Delta and he is very happy.....All you dubts have no sense and are out of any logic.
Dear Tony, again :)
to compare a Suzuky (rubbish) to a Lancia is not possible, asian car (ALL OF THEM) are considered rabbish in continental Europe; lamost nobody buy them. Fiat have the 10% of the market in Europe. More...fashion is very useful..ask to women.
Hey guys. I know nothing. I live in the can. Right?
Germany car satisfaction:
http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2008074
Honda NO1
Fiat NO16
Tony, I think you should go to Germany... Germans are driving VW, Audi and BMW not Honda... So if anyone tries to tell that they are satisfied with Honda it isn't true. It isn't true as well for FIAT...
Japan cars are less popular in Europe than you could think - no style, no soul.
Tony,
I'm from Poland and a have Fiat Grande Punto. I don't have any problems. The same was with my Fiat Uno years ago. Fiat has better quality now.
It's true, European brands are more popular here in Europe than any Jap/Korean brand, though there's a lot of Toyota Yaris cars around and Hyundai's i30 is quite a hit lately...
There's probably some difference in taste between Europe and America, anyway... I think the interior they put on the show looks hideous. Check out Delta's site:
http://www.lancianewdelta.com/
Way better pics IMHO.
Delta is one of them cars which look way better live than on any pictures. I think it's one of the best looking cars in Europe - and definitely the best looking in its price class. And it comes with a lot of equipment even on basic level... I bought myself a new car last spring, unfortunately I didn't have enough money for Delta, but if I did, I'd have bought it without a second thought.
I'm italian and live in Italy, and my advise is: "try Delta on the road, not on internet"
Send us the Fiat Panda 4x4 Diesel and i'll buy it in a heartbeat!!!!!
Delta does look sexy tho..The Chrysler Badge looks very Classy and Exotic!
I had my delta last week and before I had search and got lots of information. I absolutley advise this wonderful car. It is amazing and very comfortable by the way Before lancia delta I was one of the audi users and I had sold my audi whan it was about 7500 km age. If you compore lancia delta with audi a3 delta is much better than audi
I hope they bring this car here it'll be the nicest "American" car sold. As far as interior quality there not as bad as people make them out to be I have a 79 Lancia Beta Zagato and drives wonderfully and interior is in perfect shape. If they bring this car out here I'll be first in line.
Chrysler Delta? If you're wondering wether that's a good idea, just ask the British what badge engineering did for their automotive industry. Most of it's been wiped out.