Lancia Dedra

Lancia Dedra
Overview
Manufacturer	Lancia
Production	1989–2000 418,084 built
Assembly	Chivasso, Italy Rivalta, Italy
Designer	Ercole Spada at I.DE.A Institute
Body and chassis
Class	Large family car (D)
Body style	4-door saloon 5-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout / AWD
Platform	Fiat Type Three (Tipo Tre) platform
Related	Lancia Delta Fiat Tempra Alfa Romeo 155 Fiat Tipo
Powertrain
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,540 mm (100.0 in)
Length	4,340 mm (170.9 in) 4343 mm (SW)
Width	1,700 mm (66.9 in)
Height	1,430 mm (56.3 in) 1,446 mm (56.9 in) (SW)
Curb weight	1,060 kg (2,337 lb)-1,330 kg (2,932 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Lancia Prisma
Successor	Lancia Lybra

The Lancia Dedra (Type 835) is a compact executive car produced by the Italian automaker Lancia from 1989 to 2000. It was initially designed to support, and later to replace, the Prisma that, six years after its launch, was having difficulties to keep in pace with its latest opponents. It can be considered as the saloon version of the second generation Delta, that was launched four years later, in 1993.

The task of the Dedra was demanding: it must gather the legacy of Prisma, which relaunched the Lancia brand in the field of compact executive cars, and expand its market share if possible. Larger than its predecessor, the Dedra was presented as the second flagship car of Lancia, as a car that could satisfy those looking for an elegant medium-sized sedan but did not want to buy an executive car, as the Thema.

The design, by Ercole Spada of the I.DE.A Institute, produced an excellent drag coefficient of only 0.29. The core of the product was prestige, exclusivity, personality and comfort, achieved through a high level of equipment and use of materials (e.g. Alcantara) as well as details such as special paints, alloy wheels and an attention to soundproofing, ventilation and other issues. Inside the ability to obtain the perfect driving position was helped by the adjustable seats, steering wheel and electrically adjustable mirrors. Safety, both passive with a structure designed to minimize injury in an accident, and active, such as ABS and airbag, was also near the top of the Dedra's agenda.

It was based on the Fiat Tipo-floorpan, because the idea of Fiat Group at the end of the 80s was to achieve, from a single floorpan (for reasons of economies of scale), four different cars from the same base: good value for money for the Fiat Tipo (1988), elegance for Lancia Dedra 1989, convenience at a competitive price for the Fiat Tempra (1990) (with its large boot) and sportsmanship for the Alfa Romeo 155 (1992). Also were designed on the same floorpan the Lancia Delta and the Fiat Coupe.

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