Fiat Group has confirmed it will not launch the prestige brand Lancia in the UK in 2009.
A spokesman for the Italian firm said: “We are still looking at the possibility of bringing Lancia to the UK but it will not happen this year.”
However, it is understood the global economic climate played a significant role in the cancellation of the brand’s reintroduction to Britain. Almost 18 months ago the Fiat Group had plans to launch the brand at the end of 2008 or start of 2009 with a right-hand-drive version of the Delta that would have rivalled the Audi A3.
Fiat‘s former fleet boss Tony Dittli, who was in charge of examining the possibility of bringing Lancia to the UK, is now in charge of Fiat’s new flagship dealership in London.
