Sedans in Italy

Lancia Delta (photo by <a href=

The very first sedan car per se to be introduced to Italians was the FIAT Balilla back in 1937, a great piece of machinery that foreshadowed the production of the 1100 in 1953. The 1100 was a completely revised version of the Balilla, but mainly it was the car that most families owned. It was the car of the weekend getaway and became a symbol of wealth and social stability. Many 1100's have been featured in classical black and white films with Sordi, Toto', and Gassman, keeping alive the wonderful memories of an Italy gone forever.

Big families and professionals needed a new image and more space after the disastrous effects of WWII, and Italians had a sudden need to "show off" so to speak, to pack their roads with important cars and show the rest of the world, and themselves, that things were better and the future was ripe with possibility. At first, American cars primarily entered the market, part of the heavy American presence after the war, but also because American companies were the only ones with the product and the infrastructure, though only a few models were actually sold in Italy. Indeed, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ferrari, and Maserati quickly saw an opportunity and created their own market. Relying on their home field advantage, they delivered high-end products for the upper class. At that time, sedans were considered a luxury, even those models that would today be considered simply "average cars". Fiat began launching its models and slowly but surely Lancia and Alfa Romeo followed suit, even Autobianchi came out with its own model, the 111.

Fiat 1100 D sedan 1963

Fiat really started to hit the market aggressively from the 1970's on with cars like the 124, 125, 128, 131, and 132, followed in the 80's by their new versions, the Argenta and Ritmo. While Lancia, banking on the tremendous success of the Delta, developed the Prisma and Thema, which is one of the best Italian cars ever made to this day.  Alfa Romeo, with a long sedan tradition, started with the Giulia and Alfetta, and continued with the 164, a magnificent car designed by Pininfarina that was definitely ahead of its time and though now 20 years old, still looks very modern. More recently, the 159 and the 169 became valid substitutes for the 164, while at the same time, Lancia brought back the Delta name and developed the Thesis. Italian sedans are usually very well designed and models of high performance while still remaining very sensitive to changes in the world's energy needs, so even though the potential for crisis is strong, things look up for the Italian auto industry.

 Lancia Thesis Promo Video

One of the major boosts for the sedan class in Italy came about with the need within the industry to merge speed, style, and comfort, all top priorities when selecting a vehicle to purchase. The FIAT monopoly, which on one hand tended to stop the natural growth of independent car brands, on the other still allowed for the fast exchange of technology and design internally, allowing for a prompt implementation of automotive research. A perfect example of this implementation is the use of technology from Ferrari, developed for Formula One racing and then made available to the entire Fiat production line. This started a while back, when Ferrari gave its engines to Lancia for a special Thema version.

It is really a misconception to think that Italians only like small cars. Actually, much to the contrary, 5 doors are appreciated, and usually, every household will own at least one sedan and one utility car. Let's not forget that Italy has one of the highest per capita ratios of car ownership in the world. As we proceed further into the new millennium, the core strength of the sedan and what is required in one are still very much the same, as Italians are very sensitive to their needs. For an Italian, her car is her most important possession after her home, and she won't change cars very often, owning one for an average of 7-10 years. Therefore, a personal attachment grows with an Italian car and also with the company that builds it; it becomes part of the Italian identity, and an Italian sedan is often a viable way of presenting that identity.  Whether used as the utilitarian family car or as a means to explore the Italian countryside, the car an Italian drives defines her social status. This has changed slightly in the recent years, but the automobile is still a valid form of measurement of Italian social class .