A quick nip for a model that’s been around for 10 years.
Lancia has been reduced to one market and one model. Stellantis, the parent company of Lancia, is not going to pull the plug on the automaker. They want it to be a premium brand like Alfa Romeo and DS. Until then, the company’s only model, Ypsilon, will be getting another nip. It will only be sold in Italy, as it was before.
Lancia’s cute little city car, the third generation, has been around since 2011, before it received its first facelift in 2015. The subcompact hatchback gets a new grille that features vertical slats. It also has a satin-finished exterior with no chrome accents. As a modern interpretation of the Lancia Blue, a new shade called Elegant Blue joins the color scheme. The headlights are now equipped with LED daytime running lights, while the front bumper looks as if it’s still smiling at you.
Lancia installed a seven-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity inside the cabin. You can get the Ypsilon with an EcoChic package that includes a cabin filter that blocks 99 percent allergens and reduces bacteria and mold by over 98 percent.
The facelifted version features a new fabric made of recycled plastics from the Mediterranean Sea. Alcantara will be available in the 2021 Ypsilon if you prefer something more luxurious. You can also choose between Silver and Gold trim levels.
A mild-hybrid powertrain was launched last year in order to match the electrified Fiat 500 or Panda city car. The engine is a three-cylinder, 1.0-liter gasoline engine with a powerful 70 horsepower (51 megawatts). Lancia claims that the 12-volt belt-integrated starter engine (BSG) and lithium-ion battery packs help reduce CO 2 emissions 13 percent more than the non-hybrid powertrain.
Lancia already has the 2021 Ypsilon running in the configurator. The base Silver model starts at EUR15,100 ($18,000.100), while the Gold model starts at EUR16,700 ($20,000). The mild-hybrid powertrain is not the only option. There’s also a Twin Air engine with 70 horsepower that can be used with methanol, and a Twin Air engine with a 0.9-liter displacement that can be used to run on liquefied petroleum gases (LPG).