Manufacturers Lancia

The 1980s were a wondrous time. 

The latest episode of The Grand Tour features a great movie detailing the epic battle between Audi and Lancia for the 1983 World Rally Championship.

Offered without reserve, this extremely rare 1992 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione is expected to fetch between $175,000 to $225,000.

Earlier reports of Lancia getting axed have been debunked by Chrysler spokesman Scott Brown, stating that those rumors are indeed false and that Lancia will continue on in Europe.

Fiat– Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne made a series of significant announcements in a teleconference earlier today, not the least of which is the termination of the Lancia brand.

The Lancia Stratos isn’t just one of the world’s rarest cars, but one with an iconic cult following like no other. In total, 492 Stratos are believed to have been built, with the majority of them being competition or Rally race cars.

While past reports have suggested that the Dodge Avenger is dead, speculation has apparently been a bit premature. Chrysler/ Fiat have plans for a number of new cars in the future including the introduction of new midsize sedans which will update the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger for 2013. The new Avenger and 200 will be based on the Dodge Dart platform. Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne also intends to have a Chrysler premium compact hatchback in the mix, known for now as the “Chrysler 100.” If given the ‘okay’ for production, then the Chrysler hatch will be exported as Fiat European luxury brand Lancia as well.

Chrysler is getting some Italian style thanks to former Ferrari designer Lorenzo Ramaciotti, 63, who will now be lending a hand at Chrysler and Lancia.

With Italy as one of its main markets, it’s no surprise that the Fiat Group would bring a huge collection of new and special edition models to the Bologna Motor Show. This year, the Fiat Group will headline the local auto show with a new 2012 Fiat Sedici model, a Fiat 500 Nation Limited Edition, a Fiat TwinAir 500, a Fiat 500C by Gucci, a Lancia Ypsilon Black&Red, an Abarth 595 turismo, 595 competizione, 695 Assetto Corse, and a Punto scorpione.

However, due to a fall in demand, this model was axed in the North American line-up. But in Europe, the wagon lived on, albeit with a different nose and badge. It was called the Chrysler 300C estate, which was basically a Magnum body with a 300C nose.

Chrysler has launched their first two re-badged Lancia product in the UK (where the Lancia brand has been defunct for a number of years), with a pair of hatchbacks based on the Lancia Delta and Ypsilon compact and subcompact cars.

It’s that time of the year again as Car of the Year begins the laborious task of whittling down new Car of the Year contenders for 2012.

A total of 59 journalists, representing automotive authorities across 23 European countries, have been recruited for the task of choosing top car. The number of journalists to represent each country is based on the relative size of the said country’s car market. Countries like Spain, Germany, Italy, and Great Britain have a well established market, and each will be represented by six journalists.

As for cars, only completely redesigned new models that have launched within the twelve months before the contest are counted. Each car must be available in at least five European countries and must have an expected sales volume no less than 5,000.

Categories considered include design, safety, performance, and price. This year, says the judging committee, technical innovation and value will be especially influential. What also makes Car of the Year unique is the absence of separate genres for its candidates. Rather than selecting the best of the compacts or the best trucks, vehicles with all sorts of engine size and body types will be vying for the same allotment of points.

Comparison testing of the vehicles will be performed in Sweden.

The following 35 candidates selected for the 2012 Car of the Year award include:

Fans of Italian cars should prepare to dry heave, as Lancia has just released an image of their new Flavia Cabrio, looking like a poorly rebadged Chrysler 200.

The only engine available is a 175-horsepower 2.4-liter V6 mated to a 6-speed automatic. Thrilling. Lancia will also get a re-badged Chrysler Town & Country, known as the Voyager as part of their rejuvenated, Chrysler-infused lineup. You can check back for  AutoGuide’s for live Frankfurt coverage starting on September 13th.

Hit the jump to see the press release below

We should be thankful that millionaire Michael Stroschek hasn’t sealed away his priceless Lancia Stratos recreation; instead, he races it regularly, as seen here in this video.

In a rousing example of bringing public art to the masses, Stroschek races his Stratos at 2011’s Sachsen Rallye with co-driver Dieter Hawranke, in front of a camera-toting crowd on closed-down city streets. After the race, Stroschek went back to his underground cave to resume his lifelong goal of defeating the Joker.

Click the video to experience the wailing Stratos in all of its glory.

On August 19th at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch, Monterey California, Concorso Italiano will open the traditional Monterey/Pebble Beach Weekend. The event will feature more than 800-1000 beautifully designed Italian cars on display. Enthusiasts can engage in conversations with fellow car lovers and enjoy Italian fashion, food and art. There will no doubt be an astonishing variety of Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, Maserati’s, Alfa Romeo’s, Pagani’s, and Lancia’s on display  The event will run from 9:00am- 5:00 pm and admission will cost $130 per person.

Fast forward nearly 40 years since the first Stratos was produced, and a new Stratos has come among us. This one too has a Ferrari engine and even the underpinnings of the Ferrari F430 as its basis.

As a part of Fiat’s control of Chrysler, the company will breath new life into its Lancia division by re-launching it using rebadged versions of Chrysler products – including the new 2011 300.

Lancia’s version of the Chrysler 200, likely dubbed the Flavia, will debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March. While the idea of a Lancia-badged Chrysler is unpalatable to many enthusiasts, the fact that Chrysler has decided use the much vilified 200 will surely make it the automotive equivalent of the Antichrist.

Fiat will look to reinvent its struggling Lancia brand at the Geneva Auto Show, breathing some life into the marque by unveiling its new flagship luxury sedan.

We at Autoguide have a theory that the best race car liveries are all for products that aren’t so great; cigarettes, vermouth, oil companies and cramped airlines with good food – such as the New Stratos, decked out in Alitalia livery.

Fiat’s got a new boss, but fans of black sweaters shouldn’t fret; Sergio Marchionne, the man who lives by the phrase “business casual”, will still retain control of the Fiat/Chrysler monolith.

Lest we forget that Fiat itself is also a car brand, and somebody needs to oversee the Fiat car lineup. For that job, Andrea Formica (center) has been named as the CEO of Fiat cars. After doing stints at Toyota and Ford, Formica has been given the job, along with having to manage sales for Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Chrysler’s European division. Formica’s predecessor, Lorenzo Sistino, has been moved to head up Fiat’s International Operations.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

[Source: Fiat]