2011 Lancia Ypsilon Unyca Photos, engines & full specs

It was the last stint for the second generation of the Ypsilon, and Lancia prepared a special edition for its supermini hatchback named Unyca.

In 2009, Europe changed its emission standards and switched to Euro 5. While most automakers used that mandatory update to launch new products or improve the ones they had, Lancia just updated the engines and called it a day. The world financial crisis was already a reality, and the Italian automaker knew it would be a waste of money. After the first years, when the Ypsilon was praised around Europe, the sales numbers plummeted, and the additional expense of creating new body panels or fancy interiors was way too risky. Moreover, it had already invested in the development of a successor for the Ypsilon. But still, before it said goodbye to the car's second generation, it prepared the Unyca as the last edition. It was the grand finale for a supermini designed especially for women.

At the front, the 2011 Unyca was available with either a chromed grille with vertical slats or a black mesh, depending on the vehicle's color. The clear-lenses headlights were the same as those from the rest of the range. In the lower side of the bumper, flanking the center air intake, Lancia installed standard fog lamps in individual clusters sporting contrasting colors.

From its profile, the Ypsilon's final edition boasted different badges on the door's frames, such as the Unyca, the Elle, or the Diva, which reflected the trim level. At the same time, the chromed Y-badge that adorned the B-post remained in place to confirm the model's nameplate. All versions sat on light alloy wheels, making the car look sporty and more appealing. In addition, the Ypsilon Unyca was available with a lower sticker that ran along the bodywork, crossing the door panels from the front fenders to the rear quarter panels. Finally, at the back, on the chromed stripe that adorned the rear bumper, the automaker placed the text "Je ne saurais vivres sans Elle," meaning "I can't live without Elle" for the highest grade.

Inside, the car boasted a luxurious cabin with velour-covered seats. Depending on the grade, the seats were covered with velour and a floral motif on the center section or contrast stitching with the Ypsilon nameplate embroidered on the headrests. The center-mounted instrument cluster featured white dials with chromed surroundings and red needles. Lancia installed a CD stereo on the center stack's upper side while the HVAC control panel was below. In the back, the split-folding (50/50) bench seat featured two headrests, a reminder that it was more of a four-seat vehicle.

Under the hood, Lancia installed a choice of three engines: a 1.2-liter gasoline, a 1.3-liter turbo diesel, and a 1.4-liter CNG powerplant. All versions were paired with five-speed manual transmissions. In addition, the Unyca was fitted with standard ESC and a softer suspension.