












Rumors about a possible successor for the Lancia Thesis, based on the Chrysler’s 300C, have been making the internet rounds for quite some time now, without coming to fruition. Nevertheless, Automotive News is reporting that Fiat is determined to go ahead and reveal the car. Inside sources told the news site that the car will most likely be called Thema, a nameplate that was used for Lancia's flagship sedan in the mid-'80s to mid-'90s. The new sedan model is said to debut at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show, alongside the next generation of the Ypsilon supermini.
The exterior design of the Thema will feature some minor tweaks, such as a unique front grille and Euro-spec bumpers. Fiat expects the vast majority of clients (about 80 percent) to opt for a new 230 hp 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine from Italy's VM Motori but it will also offer Chrysler-sourced petrol engines.
Both the 2012 Chrysler 300 and its Lancia counterpart will be built at Chrysler’s Brampton plant in Ontario, Canada. The launch date for the Thema has been set for late 2011 with Fiat expecting to shift somewhere around 15,000 units annually.
With the new Ypsilon, Lancia has even more ambitious plans expecting to sell some 130,000 units a year. For the first time, the sub-compact model will also be offered in a five-door body style, which should help attract more buyers. There’s no information as of yet about the Ypsilon's styling or mechanical hardware.
The current generation of the Italian supermini that was launched in 2002 is based on the older Punto's underpinnings. It will remain in production until the end of 2011, even after its successor will go on sale in June of the same year.
By Csaba Daradics
*The opening photo is a Carscoop Photoshop based on the current Chrysler 300
Source: Autonews
The New Stratos is the modern-day incarnation of the legendary Lancia Stratos HF of the ‘70s. Back in 2008, German businessman Michael Stoschek commissioned Pininfarina to build this unique car, after having dwelled on the idea since 2003.
The story of the original Stratos began in 1970, when Italian design studio Bertone presented the Zero Concept Car. Being a light machine with ideal weight distribution, it was only a matter of time until motorsport fans would see it on the rally tracks.
And sure enough, the concept caught the eye of Lancia’s rally team manager, Cesaro Fiorio, so the Stratos HF made its debut in 1973. Featuring a Ferrari Dino V6 engine, it rocked the world of rallying and eventually won three consecutive World Championships.
With such an impressive heritage, the New Stratos had to be every bit as good. As mentioned, Pininfarina was commissioned to give life to the successor, under the direct guidance of Mr. Stoschek.
The owner of the Brose Group – the fifth largest family-owned automotive supplier in the world – told Pininfarina that “because the design of the Lancia Stratos was characterized by the contrast between round and rectilinear elements, I wanted to see that tension to be carried over into the New Stratos as well”.
Looking at the pictures, it’s obvious that the famous Italian design house did a great job. We simply cannot imagine a better shape for this retro-flavored beast. Speaking of which, the design wasn’t the only thing that needed to be solved properly. The new model had to excel in the performance division as well.
For this, engineers turned their attention to Ferrari. Work started with a F430 Scuderia platform, which was heavily modified for the best results possible. Hence, the New Stratos not only impresses on paper, but also managed to win over Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo and other company officials.
New information was at hand for those lucky enough to attend the press event. For the first time, the car's inner-works were displayed. The cabin boasts a pair of body-hugging bucket seats, metallic accents and an impressive Ferrari-sourced steering wheel, complete with LED lights for upshift guidance. It also get storage spaces for helmets, just like in the Stratos Zero.
The second item on the menu was the unveiling of a scale model, painted in rally livery. There’s no official information, but this could be a hint to a New Stratos racecar in the near future.
Last but not certainly not least, the creators of the New Stratos revealed that they will build the car in limited quantity if there's enough interest. Those willing to spend a small fortune on a unique sports car are advised to contact the company at "contact -at- new-stratos.com" for more information.
By Csaba Daradics
_______________________________VIDEO_______________________________
_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Based on Ferrari F430 Scuderia underpinnings, the retrotastic Stratos packs a considerable punch. It measures 4.1 meters in length and tips the scales at just 1.247 kg (2.749 pounds) with the weight distributed 44% in the front and 56% at the rear. Power-to-weight ratio is 2.3 kg/hp, thanks to the 4.3-liter V8 engine, which churns out 540 hp and over 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque. That’s 30 ponies more than the Scuderia’s stock powerplant.
The New Stratos rides on 19-inch alloys, shod in 265/30 front and 315/30 rear Dunlop Sport Maxx tires. Stopping power is provided by 398 mm front and 350 mm rear Brembo brakes.
Pininfarina’s test team wasn’t able to properly put the new car through its paces due to bad weather, so the performance figures announced are preliminary. Even so, they’re pretty amazing.
The sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) is claimed to be just 3.3 seconds and, pushed further, the Stratos can reach 200 km/h (124 mph) in an equally impressive 9.7 seconds. The engineers plan to introduce a new rear axle, which will reduce top speed to 274 km/h (170 mph), but will also further improve acceleration values.
For the complete spec sheet check out our gallery below.
By Csaba Daradics
_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________










_______________________________VIDEO_______________________________

As you may remember, the Inspira is a rebadged Mitsubishi Lancer sedan and is the result of an OEM collaboration between the Malaysian automaker and Mitsubishi Japan. However, we're not so sure if Mitsubishi had this in mind when it was signing the agreement with Proton.
In any case, the Jebat study, which could very well lead to a similar production model, features a wide body kit with blistered wheel arches and splashes of matte black paint all around the car. Power is provided by a turbocharged 4-cylinder MiVEC engine producing 237HP (177kW) at 6,000 rpm and 343Nm of peak torque at 3,000 rpm.
No word if the pseudo-EVO (that does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?) comes with the real EVOs four-wheel drive system, but Proton has announced that the Jebat completes the standard 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 5.6 seconds and tops out at 232 km/h or 144 mph.
Via: Proton and CBT
_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________



