Lancia was founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and became part of the Fiat group in 1969.
Many Lancia designs were seen as ahead of their time, with cars like the aerodynamic Aprilia in 1937, which featured independent suspension all round, hydraulic brakes and an aluminium V4 engine. Later highlights included the 1963 Fulvia coupé, the futuristic Bertoné-designed Stratos of 1970 and the Beta in 1972.
It was with the Delta that Lancia became more mainstream. It was launched in 1979, claiming the Car of the Year title a year later.
The car was best known in the World Rally Championship in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and Lancia offered road-going versions of these cars: the Lancia Delta Intergrale, for instance, was regarded as amongst the finest hot hatchbacks of its time.
Lancias were not known for their reliability, however, and rust in particular blighted ownership for many, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. Lancia withdrew from right-hand-drive markets in 1994.
The brand, which is owned by Fiat, will return to Ireland next year, though.
Adrian Walsh, chief executive of Fiat Group Ireland, expects to see it in place by summer 2009. "There will be a small, network of dealers, probably two in Dublin, one in Cork and one in Galway," he says. "These have not been identified as yet and the brand wont be introduced until these dealers are in place."
The range will be relaunched with the Delta, followed soon after by two other new models.
For the 40 members of the Lancia Motor Club Ireland, the new Delta will signal the return of an icon. One of its number, Dave Mirolo, will be putting his name down for the new car. His already-extensive Lancia garage includes a Y10, a Thema and an Integralé.
"I think the styling is brave and they certainly have taken themes from the cars of old, especially with the grille, which is like the old B20," he says. "That large, imposing grille might not be to everyones taste but I certainly think I will be buying the new car."
For more, see www.lanciaireland.com