Lancia expects to see its sales to climb by 20 pct to 150,000 units next year thanks to the impact of the Delta HPE and facelifted models, revealed brand CEO Olivier François at the Bologna Motor Show. Photo: New Lancia Musa at the Bologna Motor Show this week.

Lancia expects to see its sales to climb by 20 percent to 150,000 units during 2008 thanks to the impact of the new Delta and facelifted models, revealed brand CEO Olivier François at the Bologna Motor Show.

Headlining the Lancia brand's display in Bologna, on its usual black and chromed stand, is the New Musa, which made its world debut at the Frankfurt IAA in September. Dubbed by Lancia as the 'city limo' it is making its Italian motor show debut this week, as is the exclusive Ypsilon MomoDesign which was unveiled in Geneva in the Spring.

At the press conference François said he expect Lancia to end the year with sales of around 124,000 units, a year-on-year rise of 6 percent. Next year sales will rise to 150,000 units and will be driven by the mid-year arrival of the new Delta HPE which will straddle C/D segment as it seeks a wide as possible customer base. François also said an upgraded version of the niche-selling Phedra MPV will be launched next year.

The Musa, which comfortably exceeded initial sales expectations and has been the best selling vehicle in the 'monovolume' segment on the Italian market, benefited from a mild internal and external facelift this autumn. Since its October market debut the New Musa has taken 6,000 orders against a full-year target of 40,000 units.

François also revealed in Bologna that sales are up in 8 of the 11 European markets where it is represented, with Belgium up 24 pct, Holland up 26 pct and Spain up by 56 pct. In its home market, which currently accounts for the majority of its sales, Lancia had seen 98,307 units registered, up 5.68 pct year-on-year, by the end of last month. Before the end of the decade Lancia plans to re-launch on markets including Scandinavia, Japan and the UK.