Lancia Dedra

The Lancia Dedra was a midsize automobile built from 1990 to 1998. It was based on the Fiat Tipo-floorpan and it functioned as the sedan version of the second generation Lancia Delta. It was launched as successor to the Prisma, but was not a strong success on export markets. A major facelift in 1993 did little to boost the car's sales success and the whole Lancia range including the Dedra was withdrawn from right-hand drive markets a year later. The car, after 1993 also sold as a station wagon, remained popular on the Italian market until it was replaced by the all-new Lybra.

The Dedra was developed alongside the Fiat Tempra on the Tipo floorpan as a medium size three-box saloon, but while the Fiat models were in the compact C segment, the Lancia models were supposed to be on the upmarket D segment. The design, by 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 (eg 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 minimise injury in an accident, and active, such as ABS, was also near the top of the Dedra's agenda.