Lancia will never reach the legendary status of its former self, as this ex-rallying legend is a mere shadow of what it used to be. But at least it's being brought back to the European public's attention, as Stellantis, its parent company, has helped it modernize the Ypsilon.
Mind you, the old one was an Italy-only affair, where it was marketed from 2011 until 2024, whereas its successor, the fourth generation, will expand beyond its homeland's borders. It shares its platform with other similar-sized models from Stellantis, including the Peugeot 208, Opel Corsa, DS 3 Crossback, and Jeep Avenger, to name a few, and it's an EV.
The motor generates 154 hp (156 ps/115 kW) and 192 pound-foot (260 Nm) of torque. It drives the front axle and takes its juice from a 51 kWh batter pack. The powertrain family is bound to grow with the introduction of a combustion unit. Its specification is yet unknown, but it has been reported that it could be a mild-hybrid proposal, perhaps with a 1.2L gasoline burner.
In terms of design, the new Lancia Ypsilon kind of looks like a weirder Peugeot 208. The Italian marque is trying to reinvent itself not only from a model expansion perspective but also in terms of styling, and we should see a similar approach for its upcoming vehicles. The five-door hatch will not get a three-door variant, nor an open-top one for that matter, but as it happens, we've already seen it in the former configuration in digital land last week.
Photo: Lancia
That rendering came from X-Tomi Design on Facebook and was a quirky proposal with an appealing vibe. Staying true to the original is the virtual artist's second take on this model, which has it ready for summer in the northern hemisphere. A quick comparison with the real thing reveals that it has two fewer doors and an open-top view of the sky above, with the folding roof being stored in a special compartment at the rear when it's down.
The pixel manipulator went a step further by digitally placing a lady driver behind the wheel and by giving the car a full leather interior with a burgundy appearance. Everything else carries over from the actual 2024 Ypsilon, and that includes the intricate front-end design, complete with the Lancia lettering above the full-width light bar, front bumper appearance, headlamps, and so on. Even the wheels and color are the same, thus making it look more realistic.
As mentioned above, the Italian auto marque has no intention of testing the waters in Europe's subcompact class with a shorter version or an open-top one, so the Ypsilon will remain a five-door hatch. But should they change their mind? And more importantly, would you buy one if they launched it in our market?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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