Lancia Lifts the Wraps off All-New Ypsilon Ahead of the Geneva Salon

Marking the 25th anniversary since the introduction of the Ypsilon (first as the Y10 in 1985, then as the Y in 1996, and finally as the Ypsilon from 2003 and onwards), Lancia is presenting the fourth generation of its luxed-up supermini in a world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The much delayed successor to the outgoing Ypsilon, which has been in production since 2003, has been designed from the ground up, and for the first time in the model's history, is offered in a five-door body style.

Even though the Ypsilon shares its platform and mechanical hardware with Fiat's small cars, the Lancia model won't be mistaken for anything else thanks to the bespoke styling, which incorporates a number of design cues from the larger Delta. Exterior highlights include the hidden rear door handles that give the impression of a three-door model and a new interpretation of Lancia's grille, designed to match Chrysler's version as seen on the 200 and 300 models.

As with all past incarnations of the Ypsilon, the newcomer promises to offer a high-quality interior and some 600 customization possibilities created by mixing and matching the 17 body colors (four of which are two-tone), 3 interior trim levels (Silver, Gold and Platinum), 6 different upholstery trims and 3 types of alloy wheels plus an extensive range of other options.

The Italian firm's premium city car measures 3,840mm in length, 1,670mm in width, 1,510mm in height, and rides on a 2,390mm-long wheelbase. Lancia claims the new Ypsilon "can accommodate up to five people, has one of the most spacious boots in its segment, in relation to dimensions, and is one of the best in class in terms of passenger room".

At launch, there will be four engines on offer, depending on the market: a 1.2-liter petrol unit with 69HP; a 0.9-liter turbocharged two-cylinder petrol with 85HP; a 1.3-liter MultiJet II turbo diesel delivering 95HP and a dual-fuel petrol-LPG 1.2-liter unit producing 69HP.

All petrol and diesel engines are equipped with a Start&Stop system while some models also get low rolling resistance tires developed by Goodyear.

The new Ypsilon which will go on sale from June across key European markets and from September under the Chrysler badge in Great Britain and Ireland. And no, the Fiat Group did not say if it has any plans to bring the Chrysler...Ypsilon over to the States.

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All-New Lancia Ypsilon to Wear Chrysler's Badge in the UK and Ireland

It's no secret that after many years of delays and setbacks, the Fiat Group will finally present the Lancia Ypsilon's replacement at the Geneva Salon in about two week from now. What isn't known is that the new Ypsilon, which will be offered for the first time ever in a five-door body style, will be sold in Great Britain and Ireland under the Chrysler badge.

Back in 2008, Fiat canned its plans to reintroduce the Lancia brand to the UK and other right-hand drive markets citing the global economic crisis as the main reason. But after the Italian firm forged an alliance with the Chrysler Group in 2010, the group's CEO Sergio Marchionne took the decision to merge the Lancia and Chrysler brands, and create a single full-line brand with different names from market to market.

Lancia's 2012 supermini is the first example of the company's new strategy as it will be available in Europe's right hand markets as the Chrysler Ypsilon, however, it won't be the only product exchange between the two companies, but more on that later in the weekend. Even though we don't have any information on the matter yet, it is possible that the Chrysler Ypsilon be offered in other markets as well in the near future.

From what we learned, the new five-door 2012 Ypsilon will get hidden rear-door handles (àla Alfa Giulietta), numerous options to personalize the interior, various high-tech features and a choice of fuel-efficient engines including a 95HP 1.3-liter diesel and a 85-horsepower 0.9-liter TwinAir turbocharged two-cylinder gasoline unit. European sales of the new Ypsilon will start in June.

Lancia Ypsilon 'Collection 2011' Flies to Los Angeles for Promo Shoot

The Fiat Group is trying to make the best of its newly found contacts in the U.S. after its partnership with Chrysler LLC as the Italian automaker chose the city of Los Angeles to shoot the promotional photos as well as a new TV spot for its limited edition Lancia Ypsilon 'Collection 2011', which goes on sale in Europe this month. The special edition version of the ageing Ypsilon adds some unique styling touches such as bespoke color options for the body work and cabin trim, plus an upgraded interior with new fabrics and leather surfaces with contrast piping.

The 'Collection 2011' or as it is called in Italy, 'Collezione 2011', will be the last hurrah for the current Ypsilon as Lancia will unveil an all-new model at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show. The next generation will be the first ever model in the Ypsilon series to be offered with a five-door body style, but more to come on that before the end of the month, so stay tuned on Carscoop.

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Lancia's 2011 New Year Greeting Card Teases 2012 Ypsilon, Announces Two More New Models

In a surprise move, Lancia literally outlined its forthcoming 2012 Ypsilon supermini through an animated New Year's greeting card posted on a special minisite. And if that's not enough news for you, the chalk-like drawings were accompanied by a teaser message that reads, "A new horizon, three new Lancia models".

The Italian firm did not elaborate on what these models are, however, we beleive that aside from the five-door Ypsilon, which is scheduled to arrive in European dealerships next summer, the other two vehicles will be based on Chrysler models. In particular, the new 300 full size sedan as the Thema flagship, and either the 200 mid-size sedan or the Town and Country, the latter as a replacement for the Phedra MPV.

It has been reported that in order to keep costs down, the Lancia models will be rebadged versions of their Chrysler counterparts with some minor styling tweaks, such as the front grille, exterior and interior trim, and bumper designs. Expect more news on the matter in early 2011.

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Report: Lancia's Chrysler 300-Based Thema and Ypsilon Replacement with 5-doors on their Way

Rumors about a possible successor for the Lancia Thesis, based on the Chrysler’s 300C, have been making the internet rounds for quite some time now, without coming to fruition. Nevertheless, Automotive News is reporting that Fiat is determined to go ahead and reveal the car. Inside sources told the news site that the car will most likely be called Thema, a nameplate that was used for Lancia's flagship sedan in the mid-'80s to mid-'90s. The new sedan model is said to debut at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show, alongside the next generation of the Ypsilon supermini.

The exterior design of the Thema will feature some minor tweaks, such as a unique front grille and Euro-spec bumpers. Fiat expects the vast majority of clients (about 80 percent) to opt for a new 230 hp 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine from Italy's VM Motori but it will also offer Chrysler-sourced petrol engines.

Both the 2012 Chrysler 300 and its Lancia counterpart will be built at Chrysler’s Brampton plant in Ontario, Canada. The launch date for the Thema has been set for late 2011 with Fiat expecting to shift somewhere around 15,000 units annually.

With the new Ypsilon, Lancia has even more ambitious plans expecting to sell some 130,000 units a year. For the first time, the sub-compact model will also be offered in a five-door body style, which should help attract more buyers. There’s no information as of yet about the Ypsilon's styling or mechanical hardware.

The current generation of the Italian supermini that was launched in 2002 is based on the older Punto's underpinnings. It will remain in production until the end of 2011, even after its successor will go on sale in June of the same year.

By Csaba Daradics

*The opening photo is a Carscoop Photoshop based on the current Chrysler 300

Source: Autonews

Fiat Panda and Lancia Ypsilon Replacements Pushed Back for 2012

Following CEO Sergio Marchionne's comments at the 2010 Paris Motor Show (see here), Autonews Europe has uncovered new information regarding the Fiat Group's future product launches.

One of Fiat's most important models in Europe, the third generation Panda, was originally due in summer 2010 but its launch had already been pushed back to September 2011. Now, sources inside the company told the news site that the introduction of the small five-door hatchback will be further delayed until January 2012.

The third generation Lancia Ypsilon supermini has also been delayed more than two years, as have the replacements for the Fiat Idea / Lancia Musa small MPV twins and the Fiat Multipla 3+3 seater people carrier, which has been in production since 1998. The latter two launches were scheduled for December 2011 but have now been postponed until the second half of 2012.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne froze his company's spending in 2008 as the financial crisis hit Europe. Spending was set to return to normal this year, but has now been postponed indefinitely in light of what Marchionne perceives as an unimproved European new car market.

He now predicts a weaker Q1 2011 than Q1 2010, due to the ending of scrappage schemes in many European countries. The rest of 2011 is expected to be no better sale wise for Fiat, Marchionne predicts.

Analysts are predicting that Fiat's new car sales are likely to continue to decline without any new products; sales in Europe fell 13.9% to 723,356 vehicles in the first eight months of 2011 in a market that declined only 3.5%, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).

Stuart Pearson, an auto analyst at Morgan Stanley in London, says: "Fiat is playing a dangerous game and by delaying key models risks missing any European Union recovery if they are wrong on the timing. Customers are only paying for brand new metal."

The report did not mention any plans on future Alfa Romeo cars.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: ANE [sub.req]

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Lancia Ypsilon VERSUS to make Paris Show Debut

In its constant quest to forget its glorious rally past, Lanica has joined forces with Versus, a Versace Group owned brand, to create a special edition version of its Ypsilon supermini that will be produced from March 2009 in a limited edition series of just 500 units. The Paris Show car features a special ‘Bronzino’ bronze exterior paintwork that that bears a screen-printed ‘Versus’ logo on the roof. Other unique features of the exterior are the bronze-colored 16-inch alloy wheels and the bronze finish on the grille, handles and mouldings on the doors and rear bumpers and tailgate handle. -Continued

Not surprisingly, the interior boasts a special upholstery with a ‘Versus’ logo heat-printed in relief that recalls the world of fashion wile the head restraints, the dashboard and the door panels are adorned with an embossed VERSUS logo. Finally, the detailing on the instrument panel, sill plate and gearbox have the same bronze chrome finish as the exterior features.

2008 Lancia Ypsilon Sport MomoDesign

Lancia has introduced a new version to its “le’ chic” mini line-up created in collaboration with MomoDesign. Despite its promising name, the Sport Homo.. err, sorry we mean ,MomoDesign is nothing more than a “pimped-up ala Italia style” version of the fashionista Ypsilon, available with two 1.3-litre diesel engines delivering 90 & 105Hp and a 95Hp 1.4-litre 16v petrol motor.

Offered in four bodywork colors (Black, Grey, Yellow and White combined with an opaque Titanium Grey on the tailgate, the roof and the wing mirrors), the MomoDesign exterior appearance is completed by burnished metalluro finishing details on certain elements, foglights with colour-coded frames, black tone-on-tone ‘MomoDesign’ graphics on the central pillar and 16-inch burnished alloys. Likewise the MomoDesign’s interior is fitted among others with sport seats that can also be upholstered with Leather and Alcantara, with perforations through which a silver ‘MomoDesign’ is visible. -Press Release and image gallery after the jump

Via: Motorpasion , Source: Lancia

Lancia Ypsilon Sport MomoDesign

The model in brief

The Lancia Ypsilon Sport MomoDesign makes its entrance, with the most powerful diesel engine in its class, a new version with a split personality (a dynamic look and innate elegance), which opens a new chapter in the collaboration between two brands that are famous throughout the world for their contribution to Italian industrial design.

Lancia and MomoDesign have created a very personal stylistic language which makes their creations stand out among so many mass-produced products. This is borne out, for example, by the exclusive items of clothing and accessories designed and developed by the MomoDesign Styling Centre: helmets, watches, sunglasses, shoes and leather goods. They are unique products in the fashion world, just as Lancia creations are unique in theirs. In this sense, the new Ypsilon Sport MomoDesign is an example of how an ‘automotive object’ can be reinterpreted from a stylistic viewpoint with another brand, highlighting the expressive features that have always distinguished Lancia: elegance and attitude.

With the new Sport MomoDesign version, the new Ypsilon extends its range to appeal to young drivers who are looking for a sporty car at an accessible price, that provides emotion at the wheel but still maintains all the elegance and distinction that are the reason for the success of Lancia’s compact.

On the outside, the car sports the new Lancia logo and a number of stylistic and chromatic features typical of products from MomoDesign, for example the four bodywork colours (Masaccio Black, Borromini Grey, Casorati Yellow and Raphael White), combined with the exclusive opaque Titanium Grey of the tailgate, the roof and the wing mirrors. The ‘outfit’ of the Ypsilon Sport MomoDesign is completed by burnished metalluro finishing details on certain elements, foglights with colour-coded frames, black tone-on-tone ‘MomoDesign’ graphics on the central pillar and original 16” diamond effect burnished alloy wheels. The same sporty styling is evident inside, where the dark panelling of the passenger compartment sets off the black of the technological Airtex fabric on the seats and the leather of the steering wheel and gear lever knob, and the Ypsilon logo on the head-restraints adds an elegant touch. And for extra sportiness the seats can be upholstered with Leather and Alcantara Starlite, with perforations through which a silver ‘MomoDesign’ is visible.

Whoever loves driving will find that the compact new Ypsilon Sport MomoDesign guarantees sparkling performance on every road, providing great sensations for the driver and passengers, thanks to the low suspension and disc brakes front and rear.

Where the engines are concerned, the most assertive is the sparkling 1.3 Multijet 16V which delivers 105 bhp at 4000 rpm and 200 Nm (20.4 kgm) of torque at 1750 rpm. With this engine and a 5-speed gearbox, the car has a top speed of 177 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.5 seconds. Excellent performance that makes this car the most powerful compact in its class. In spite of which consumption and CO2 emissions are low, as they are on the entire Multijet range: 4.7 l/100 km in the combined cycle and 123 g/km.

The Sport MomoDesign range will include a petrol version with a 1.4 16v engine that delivers 95 bhp, which is more entertaining to drive, thanks to a 6-speed manual gearbox (the sequential, robotised DFN gearbox is also available). And finally, motorists who wish to combine the handling of a sports car with respect for the environment in a compact, are offered the 90 bhp 1.3 Multijet 16v, which fits the DPF particulate filter as standard equipment.

The most striking characteristics of the Lancia Ypsilon Sport MomoDesign are its original styling and excellent performance. But it is also lavishly equipped: climate control, ‘Dual Drive’ electric power steering, Hi-Fi radio-CD player, remote control door opening and closing, Follow me home device, dark rear windows, perforated leather upholstery on the steering wheel and gear lever knob with silver overstitching. On the outside, the car has diamond-effect burnished 16” alloys and colour-coded twin electric wing mirrors. In the safety field, the new Ypsilon Sport MomoDesign is equipped with ABS complete with EBD, front airbags and curtain-bags (sidebags are available as an option) and the sophisticated ESP system with ASR and a Hill Holder. The lavish array of equipment also features electric front windows, a split, folding, tilting rear seat and a steering wheel that adjusts for height and reach. And finally, there is a long list of optional equipment that includes the GranLuce sunroof, dual zone automatic climate control, a Bose sound system, a satellite navigator and the Blue&Me system.

At a later date, a rear spoiler will also be available, the ideal solution to make this sporty compact look even more aggressive. The Ypsilon Sport MomoDesign will go on the market in Italy in mid June, and will gradually strengthen the new Ypsilon range on all the other markets.

The new Sport MomoDesign version obviously inherits all the distinction and prestige inherent in the new Ypsilon, a car that combines the excellence of the styling with cutting-edge technology. Just like all the best Italian luxury products, names that are famous throughout the world. The new Ypsilon was designed and developed for a clientele that likes to stand out with exclusive products, and for whom a car must be first and foremost a pleasure to use. And like all the best Italian luxury products, the new Ypsilon exudes stylistic refinement, perfect colour combinations and endless possibilities to customise this ‘pocket flagship’, over 700 in fact, by combining 12 bodywork colours, 4 specifications (Argento, Oro Bianco, Oro Giallo and Platino), 9 new ‘bicolore’ liveries, 9 different interior outfits and 7 types of alloy (including those from Linea Accessori). Whatever the level of customisation, the new Ypsilon is always appealing and original, typical of the Italian good taste that is famous around the world.

So the new Ypsilon demonstrates, yet again, the great versatility of this ‘pocket flagship’, a successful model with which Lancia enters a future in which the product will not be the only ‘premium’ topic that sets it aside from the competition, nor will it be the only motivating factor that stimulates a potential buyer. Which is why the brand has looked at important novelties in terms of sales and after-sales, to meet the desires, needs, tastes and aspirations of so many different customers. For example, in Italy customers are offered the ‘Lancia VYP Service’ which includes roadside assistance and a courtesy service that collects and redelivers the car for periodical maintenance checks. This means that, for two years, in other words for the entire warranty period, the customer does not have to worry about taking the car to the workshop for periodical maintenance because Lancia will deal with it, guaranteeing the customer’s mobility in the meantime. In the event of a breakdown, a puncture, an empty fuel tank, etc, the mobile workshop will intervene to solve the problem rapidly. It is a revolutionary service designed specifically for a ‘premium’ customer.