Elegance and temperament: two qualities that will sum up its presence which will be headlined by the debut of the vitally important Delta.

Elegance and Temperament: two qualities that will sum up Lancia’s presence at the Geneva Motor Show. A presence that builds on everything earlier shows have taught us to expect from Lancia in terms of image, inimitable flair for interacting with the public and, naturally, products.

One thing, though, that nothing earlier shows could have prepared us for is the new Lancia Delta, the eagerly-awaited car that will debut on Press Day at Geneva: for the entire first day of the show, the Delta will be the sole star of the stand that, for the remaining days of the event, will be graced by the entire Lancia line.

The stand’s theme is “Lancia Fashion”, the original concept unveiled at last year’s Geneva show that is now making its mark on Lancia showrooms the world over. The dominant colour is black, offset by the purity of white and accented by rays of blue light. Every detail, even the stand’s furnishings and trim, reflect the hallmark craftsmanship and painstaking care that goes into all Lancia models.

Naturally, visitors to the stand can enjoy the Lancia Café: one of the many that have proved their appeal at car shows and a host of other venues in the past few months. After the Venice Film Festival, that put the Lancia Café in the public eye as a favoured haunt of many of the movie stars and glitterati who flocked to the Lido for the occasion, the recently inaugurated Lancia Café in the heart of Berlin is the first of several that will soon be opened in Europe’s major cites and capitals. This is an initiative designed to revolutionize the entire approach to the automobile, making it into a sensory experience that centres on the café. It’s a new way for the public – in Europe’s capitals just as at the Motor Show – to connect with Lancia in the relaxed, convivial atmosphere of an elegantly casual lounge.

The most important aspect is that the look and feel of the stand is only the visible manifestation – the tip of the iceberg – of the two years of intense teamwork that have paved the way to Lancia’s most splendid accomplishment since its centenary celebrations in 2006: the new Delta.