We know them and somehow we don't. We are not talking about neighbors, but about cars, which remained so unnoticeable, that even today they only know them die-hard fans. Such models were not necessarily polomios, but they were under the radar of the average car buyer. In our series titled “Do you still know this one?” such classic and modern classic cars are recalled from the mists of oblivion.
Many fans consider it a brand spear po takeover by Fiat lost its charm. Especially mid-range models from eighties and nineties of the last century show this with common group platforms and rather arbitrary design. All this culminated in 4,34 meters long model Launch Dedra (type 835), which left the production lines since 1989 to 1999. It was originally intended as a model support Prisma, and she later replaced him. Dedra can be considered as a sedan version second generation Delta, which was introduced four years later in 1993.
Technically, if not visually, it has Fiat Coupe most in common with the model Launch Dedra, which follow it fiat tempra in Lancia Delta II. Because of the design he designed Ercole Spada from the company IDEA, the drag coefficient is only 0,29. In order to group Fiat-Group provided cost advantages, Dedra is based on a platform called Fiat Tipo Three. This is the basis for three different vehicles with three different motifs: In this case it was a model Launch Dedra (1989) elegant, fiat tempra (1990) was comfortable at a competitive price, Alfa Romeo 155 (1992) was sporty.
Premiered in April 1989
April 1989 Lancia presented the model Dedra with engines 1,6, 1,8, 2,0 and 1,9 tds, and the sedan was introduced on the German market on January 2, 1990. Price: from 25.500 German marks. The press praised the good use of space and quality materials in the interior. Can be put in the trunk 480 liters luggage. Engines they did not bring special highlights and proved to be inconspicuous everyday engines. Dedra Integrale was introduced in 1991. It uses a similar engine and transmission as the Delta Integrale 8v. It's a 2,0-litre petrol-injected, twin-cam four-cylinder engine that's equipped with counter-rotating balancer shafts, an intercooler and a turbocharger Garrett T3. Enough for 124 kW (169 hp) with a catalytic converter.
Dedra Integrale it is also equipped with a new traction control system Visco Drive 2000 and electronically controlled suspension, available as an option for versions 2.0 and above. The equipment largely corresponds to the equipment of the model Dedra LX, with some changes such as more padded seats and a sports steering wheel. Integral is available with all-wheel drive, whereby 56 percent power transmits to the front axle. The Integrale is also equipped with a rear spoiler as standard, which improves stability at high speeds. At the same time as the Integrale, a version with two-wheel drive and a turbo engine was presented (Dedra 2000 turbo), which has a slightly lower power so as not to overload the chassis. This version also benefits from the system Visco Drive 2000, which is necessary to prevent the wheels from spinning. The front-wheel drive turbine engine is not only lighter, but also slightly lower.
A different kind of digital armature
Unusual in the Dedra series is an optional electronically controlled suspension (computer-controlled adjustment of shock absorbers between soft and hard, depending on the driving surface and driving conditions) and optional digital (optoelectronic) dashboard. This one has classic round screens with greenish digital technology. However, these equipment options are gradually withdrawn from the accessory lists or from the standard equipment during the production cycle. Nevertheless Dedra outside Italy was not very successful. A major redesign in 1993 contributed little to sales success, but a year later the entire product range was spear, including the Dedra model, withdrawn from right-hand drive markets. A car that was also sold as a hatchback from 1994, developed by a French coachbuilder Heuliez, remained popular only on the Italian market.
Major renovation just before the end
December 1997 a major model update (Series III) brought new gasoline engine (1,6 16V) and a new front axle (as in the Fiat Marea, Bravo, Brava and Coupé models). Back lights they are now completely red, and the headlights and front indicators are painted black. Lancia Delta II (836) has a new dashboard, new alloy wheels, painted bumpers and other exterior tweaks, but still lacks a passenger airbag and ESP.
They are available new colors for the body and interior. All the outer parts are now in body color. They are also reinforced power steering and suspension to optimize handling. A completely new feature of the model Launch Dedra is a 1,6-cylinder engine with a power of 103 hp. This replaces the previous 90bhp version and delivers much livelier power. spear is in little more than ten years made precisely 418.084 Dedra vehicles. It was presented in September 1999 Lancia Lybra as the successor to the Dedra model. Like the Dedra, it is available as a sedan and hatchback. It's in Germany Dedra rarity: according to KBA data, there were still registered in the country on January 1, 2022 177 vehicles Lancia Dedra.
