In a brand new copyright submitting on the European Union Mental Property Workplace (EUIPO) from January thirtieth, Stellantis has reserved unique rights to use the Fulvia identify to, “powered autos to be used on land.” And, whereas that’s a good distance from a affirmation – there’s purpose to hope.
Whereas it’s a standard sufficient factor for automobile manufacturers to resume the emblems of names used of their iconic fashions, the Lancia model has been having fun with a little bit of a renaissance as outdated movies of Group B rally racers get larger and greater followings on TikTok and Reels. On the similar time, design companies are paying tribute to the model’s legacy with new ideas whereas the not too long ago revealed Ypsilon has included among the model’s iconic styling cues and paving the way in which for a brand new, premium Gamma crossover set to debut later this yr and a totally electrical, high-performance Delta hatchback set to reach in time for the 2028 mannequin yr.
In the meantime, the most recent Fiat Panda is having a viral second whereas Renault’s retro-tastic (and equally Group B impressed) Renault R5 and R5 Turbo 3E is making headlines in the one approach that issues for these items: by placing up massive gross sales numbers.
In that context, a brand new electrical (or electrified, anyway, given Stellantis’ current historical past) Fulvia doesn’t appear so far-fetched.
That mentioned, even when Lancia actually is nearly the one model that’s getting its act collectively beneath Stellantis’ management, it’s unlikely that Lancia has the finances to develop a devoted sedan berlina mannequin just like the OG Fulvia constructed between 1963 and ’76. It’s more likely that, if it occurs in any respect, we’ll see the historic Fulvia identify seem on one thing like a small crossover.
Assume Mustang Mach-E, however at 7/8 scale.
Why are we speaking about Lancia?
There’s an outdated adage within the automobile enterprise that goes, “win on Sunday, promote on Monday.” It sounds nice, but when successful races truly bought automobiles, Lancia can be the best-selling automobile model on Earth.
In 1974, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992, totally different automobiles carrying the Lancia protect and flag emblem received the World Rally Championship – and the automobiles that introduced the model its final success couldn’t be extra totally different from each other. There was the Fulvia, in fact – however the fairly little coupe would ultimately give solution to the snarling, mid-engined, Ferrari-engined Stratos supercar in later years. That automobile was changed the RWD 307, which itself was changed by a four-door hatchback referred to as Delta, which propelled Lancia to its best period of rally dominance.
Lancia’s glory was unquestioned throughout three a long time. Its gross sales, then again, had been dismal.
Gross sales had been so dismal, actually, that Lancia pulled out of the US market after the 1982 mannequin yr. In Europe, the state of affairs wasn’t a lot better. Regardless of some vibrant moments right here and there, Lancia ultimately pulled out of each single worldwide market.
In 2021, you would nonetheless purchase a Lancia solely in Italy – and the one mannequin out there was a sluggish, overprices “luxurious” subcompact in regards to the dimension of a Toyota Yaris referred to as the Ypsilon, or “Y” … as in, “Y hassle?”
The brand new Ypsilon? I wouldn’t name it nice, however it’s good. Heck, I would even name it fascinating – however I’ve regardless of the newest DSM says it’s that might make a person purchase six Lancias, so I wouldn’t put a lot inventory in that.
The copyright information was first reported (so far as I can inform) within the Dutch-language AutoWeek weblog. There’s not a lot right here, however Lancia followers have been residing off lots much less for many years, and the previous few years have been priming us for one thing actually good. Right here’s hoping it involves one thing.
Unique content material from Electrek; the featured picture at prime was launched into the public area by its writer, ChiemseeMan, on the English Wikipedia venture.
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