Lancia Ypsilon


The Lancia Ypsilon is a supermini car manufactured and marketed by Lancia, currently in its fourth generation and as of 2024, the marque's only model. The Ypsilon was released in 1995, as a larger and more expensive replacement to the Y10. Between 1995 and 2005, Lancia produced more than 870,000 Ypsilons in the Melfi plant in the Potenza region.
The third generation Ypsilon, sharing its platform with the Fiat 500, was marketed also as the Chrysler Ypsilon in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Japan. Fiat Group discontinued the Chrysler variant in 2015, having marketed 2,000 units in 2014. It is also no longer sold in Japan, with the discontinuation of both the Lancia Voyager and Lancia Thema branding on Chrysler-built vehicles in 2015.
Despite relative obscurity worldwide and in Europe, the Lancia Ypsilon is a popular offering in Italy. Between 1995 and 2019, Lancia sold over 1.6 million Y and Ypsilon examples in Italy alone. In 2023, despite its age, it had the first highest market share in the B-segment in the country.

First generation (1995)

1995–2000

The Lancia Ypsilon or Y was designed by Enrico Fumia in 1992. It was developed over 24 months at a cost of around 400 billion Italian lira and was presented in Rome in January 1996. The arches defined the car, repeating themselves on all sides of the car. The length is 3.72 m, 33 cm longer than the Y10. The Lancia Y was built on the same platform of the Fiat Punto series 176, with a shortened wheelbase and an all-independent suspension setup: MacPherson struts at the front, trailing arms at the rear.
The main features of the Lancia Y include five seats, a soft plastic dashboard, and accessories, and options, including body colors in 100 shades from the Lancia Kaleidoscope catalog. Another design property that distinguished the Y was the instrument cluster in the center of the dashboard, which was adopted by the Musa and Ypsilon later in 2003.
Initially, the range featured three trim levels: LE, LS, and LX. A Cosmopolitan special edition of 600 pieces was later added. It was created through collaboration with the magazine, based on the LX trim. It was sold in the European market outside of Italy.
Air conditioning was standard on the LX and an option on the LS. The LX also offered an enhanced instrument cluster with a rev counter and a larger display that also displayed the outside temperature.
The engines were part of the FIRE series that debuted in the Y10 in 1985 and later was used in other Fiat and Lancia vehicles. They were available in displacements of 1,108 and 1,242cc with eight valves in an overhead camshaft arrangement. The top-of-the-line 1.4 12 valve "Pratola Serra" engine with was carried over from the Fiat Bravo/Brava. Given the limited success of the Pratola Serra engine, it was soon replaced by the first so-called SuperFIRE engine, featuring four valves per cylinder and multipoint fuel injection. The Lancia Y was the first car to receive this evolution of the FIRE.
The 1,242cc SuperFIRE developed at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 113 Nm at 4,500 rpm. This engine remained available on the 2013 Lancia Ypsilon, 2013 Ford Ka, and the Fiat 500.
The Elefantino Rosso was the sports version of the Lancia Y and the sister car to the Fiat Punto Sporting. It featured an interior in grey Alcantara, seats also in grey Alcantara and accentuated with dark grey fabric insets that echo the exterior color of the car, a center console, 15" wheels and rear-view mirrors in a titanium look, the steering wheel and gearshift in grey leather with red stitching, air conditioning, a shorter gearbox ratio for quicker acceleration from 0–100 km/h and in 5th gear, a lowered and stiffened suspension with bigger roll bars and more direct power steering. It reached a top speed of 177 km/h and was the only car in the lineup to receive 15" wheels with 195/50R15 tires. For those who desired a more discreet, comfortable, and luxurious ride, the LX and LS were also available with SuperFIRE. They were able to reach the same top speed as the "Pratola Serra" versions. The 1.2 8V was available with an automatic ECVT transmission.
Lancia had pulled out of RHD markets two years prior to the Y's launch. Thus, no RHD version was developed.
The Italian magazine Quattroruote test drove the "Ypsilon 16V LX" beyond its usual city use and praised its excellent power reserves while offering the comforts of a car worthy of a higher price. The model was an immediate success selling over 42,000 units in the first two months.

2000–2003

In October 2000, the exterior and interior were restyled. The external changes included a new, larger grille, new bumpers, new taillights, new wheel cover designs, new fog lights. The side moldings of the car became much smoother and body-colored. The most significant internal change was the headrests and new seats and new steering wheel. The material was no longer available with "soft touch", reflective security was removed from the doors, the climate control button was replaced with a lever, and the instrument panel was made more readable and modern, especially in the use of the LED display. The length of the car increased slightly from 3.72 metres to 3.74 metres.
The LX and Red Elephant versions, which cost €15,060 list, came with the standard including driver and passenger airbags, air conditioning, ABS, power steering, Blaupunkt radio/navigation system with 6 speakers, split rear seat with headrests, the Alcantara interior, outdoor temperature display, electrically operated door mirrors painted in body color, the helm station and instrument panel were red instead of green, central locking with remote control, power windows, adjustable seat and steering wheel, leather interior with red stitching on the Red Elephant, fog lamps and alloy wheels with 185/60 R 14 tires for the LX and 195/50 R15 for the Red Elephant.
The following years were marketed by other special versions: DoDo, Vanity and Unica. 16v versions reduce their output of due to new Euro 3 pollution standards. Emissions were reduced with a more linear delivery, while maintaining, and sometimes even increasing, consumption.
Lancia reduced power from 60 PS on the 1242 cc, due to the addition of the sequential multipoint fuel injection system, costing power.
It also removed the engine 1108 option, as it had not yet been adapted to the new Euro 3 directive, leaving the 1.2 8v and 1.2 16v.
In September 2003, after nearly nine years of career and just above 804,600 units sold, its successor, the Lancia Ypsilon debuted, replacing it completely the following year.

Engines

All versions

  • Lancia Y LE
  • Lancia Y LS
  • Lancia Y LX
  • Lancia Y Elefantino Blu
  • Lancia Y Elefantino Rosso
  • Lancia Y Cosmopolitan
  • Lancia Y Marie Claire
  • Lancia Y DoDo
  • Lancia Y Vanity
  • Lancia Y Unica
  • Lancia Y Caprice

    Safety

The Y was awarded 2 stars in the Euro NCAP crash test for adult protection and Euro NCAP 2-star certification for pedestrian safety.
  • Adult occupant =
  • Pedestrian =

    Second generation (2003)

2003–2006

The Ypsilon was Introduced in 2003 to access the Lancia range. It was designed to meet the needs of a young audience, and over time found sales, especially to females. It became the best-selling car of the Lancia range with an annual production of about 60,000 units. It was initially assembled at the Fiat plant in Melfi. In June 2005 production was moved to Sicily at the plant in Termini Imerese Palermo. The car uses a three-door body about 3.78 meters long, with the design inspired by the historic Lancia Ardea.
The front is characterized by a large chrome grille with lobes at the top. The lighting is placed at the ends of the front arch. The bumpers are characterized by the presence of an unpainted longitudinal fascia applied above the air intakes in which the fog lamps are located at either end. A prominent rib runs along the sides. The tail has vertically oriented headlamps that culminate in the bumper and are integrated into the fenders. The rear tailgate has a small size that limits visibility, embellished by chromed fascia above the license plate.
The frame used a shortened wheelbase version of the B platform debuted with the Fiat Punto and adopted also by the Fiat Idea and Lancia Musa. The engine is transverse front-mounted, with front-wheel drive. The front independent suspensions are MacPherson struts with stabilizer bar, with steel arms, while at the rear there is a semi-independent torsion beam suspension. The braking system makes use of ventilated discs at the front while classic drums are available at the rear, only for the Sport Momo Design versions the company has made available the four-disc braking system with stiffened set-up and suspension. All versions included Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brake Distribution and an electric power steering system that stiffens gradually, but among the options are combined electronic stability control and traction.
The interior is covered with plastic inserts on door panels and instrument panel is covered with AIRtex fabric, leather or Alcantara depending on the model. Two-tone upholstery and plastic inserts mimic aluminium. The upholstery is available in four different materials: "Glamour", AIRtex, alcantara, and leather. It offers large storage space in front of the driver and passenger. The air conditioning and radio controls were located in the central area, including the optional navigation system.

2006–2010

In Autumn 2006 the Ypsilon received a touch-up that affected the engines and internals. It had a new front grille, more rounded bumpers with enlarged air intakes, and ice-effect rear light clusters. There are five versions: Argento, Passion, Oro Bianco, Oro Giallo e Platino. New fabrics for the seats came with new combinations of colours, and the dashboard trim is either lacquered silver or dark gray. The car has a new 1.3 Multijet 16v engine of 75, 90, or 105 horses. It also offered Blue&Me hands-free kit, new colours, and new wheels.
The new Ypsilon can be equipped with Electronic Stability Control and hill holder for an extra charge, and has a grip of 0.93 g, although the roll is accentuated due to the soft suspension calibration. The shift lever is in a raised position and the rear seats come with split and sliding available in two versions. The 2008 model introduced a DPF particulate filter as standard on all diesel engines except the 105 horsepower 1.3 Multijet diesel with the automated manual transmission D.F.N..