AutoRAI 1999: the concept cars:
Lancia
Mike Robinson's Lancia Dialogos is both a show car and a driving laboratory
in which new technology is tested. The elegant styling combined with the classic Lancia
front has resulted in a beautiful car. Lancia is so proud of this car that they had
created a special podium for it, separate from their stand at the AutoRAI. This podium was
surrounded by seats on which the spectators could sit down and look at the car in
admiration. And people did, as you can see on the pictures.
Okay, so it is pretty and refined, but is it that special that you have to
sit down and watch? In a way maybe; after the very serious rust and reliability problems
of the seventies and eighties Lancia is trying to get back on the way up. Owner FIAT wants
it to be their premium brand. Problem is however that nowhere in the world, except for
Italy, Lancia is seen as a premium brand. Lancia has made beautiful cars, has a long and
rich history and has had a successful racing career, just like BMW and Mercedes. But the
Italians have thrown all respect and admiration away by making lousy cars and very much
underestimating their customers. And that's not something that is easily forgiven and
forgotten.
So Lancia wants you to take a long hard look at their Dialogos to convince
yourself that all problems are in the past and that you can be proud again to own a
Lancia. Well, I guess it takes a bit more than that. Like cars you can actually buy that
look just as good and are even better to drive. And a build quality comparable to that of
Mercedes and BMW. I think FIAT and Lancia will have though job reaching that level, but I
really hope they succeed. The Lancia heritage deserves to be remembered well.
The interior of the Dialogos looks classic and luxurious with leather
upholstery and wooden trimmings. The lacking of the so called B-pillar between the front
and rear doors seems to be a trend, just like the opposing doors. See the Citroën C3
prototype for instance. It reminds of the French Facel Vega Excellence of the early
sixties that had just the same.
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