| New Model Preview | 2008 Geneva Motor Show | Lancia Delta |

Lancia is about to return to the UK after a 14-year absence. The Italian firm has chosen to come back with a familiar name in its new Delta, but the car itself is a radical departure from what British buyers were used to with the last Lancia offerings in the UK.

The new Delta is poised to go into production and should be on sale in the UK by the start of 2009. Lancia has released these first official pictures ahead of the car being unveiled at the Geneva motor show next month.

Lancia says the new car will be the first of a range of its cars to come to the UK, re-establishing itself as a premium brand. The new Delta is based on Fiat's Bravo platform, so the Delta is among the larger cars in the small hatch segment.

However, the Lancia only shares its windscreen with the Fiat - all other body parts are unique to the Delta. That includes the Lancia's sharp-edged styling, complete with a bold Lancia front grille.

The Delta has a hatchback rear and Lancia says interior space will be boosted by rear seats that slide and recline to offer as much variation as possible. Lancia also reckons the Delta will be among the first cars to score six stars in the updated Euro NCAP crash tests.

Engines will be drawn from the same well as the Fiat Bravo, which means everything from a 1.6-litre petrol unit and 1.9-litre turbodiesel to a range-topping 220bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol. Most cars will have a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, while higher spec cars will also be offered with Fiat's new dual-clutch sequential manual gearbox.

Lancia says UK pricing will be announced closer to the end of 2008 prior to the Delta going on sale. The Italian firm also says it will have a small, select network of dealers in place by then to underline the Delta's premium qualities.

Alisdair Suttie - 7 Feb 2008