Lancia only
makes one car which has nothing to do with their iconic models of the past.
It’s called the Ypsilon, a supermini closely related to the Fiat 500 and Panda,
and it’s only being sold in a handful of markets. For the 2020MY, the Italian
automaker has revised the range, adding a mild-hybrid propulsion system.
Quietly introduced in the local market
(the only one where Lancia remains present), it packs the 1.0-liter
three-cylinder petrol engine that makes a modest 70 PS and 92
Nm of torque. The powertrain features a 12-volt belt-driven starter
generator and a tiny lithium-ion battery.
If this recipe sounds familiar, it’s
because this is the same combo used in the mild-hybrid versions of the 500 and
Panda, where they have replaced the older 1.2-liter lump. The basic
functionality sees the starter generator recovering the energy during
deceleration and braking, and then storing it into the battery. This is then used
to assist the internal combustion engine’s acceleration and stop/start system.
The 0-100 km/h acceleration
takes 14.2 seconds, while the top speed is 163 km/h. The
Ypsilon Hybrid EcoChic, which is the official name, returns 4.0-4.1 l/100 km
(58.8-57.4 mpg US / 70.6-68.9 mpg UK) on average in the old and very optimistic
NEDC cycle. You can identify one on the street via the added ‘Hybrid’ badge on
the tailgate and the updated instrument cluster.
The 2020 Ypsilon range includes two
grades, Silver and Gold, with local pricing starting from € 14,450 (US$ 16,314) and
€ 15,570 (US$ 17,578), respectively. Other engines available in the family are the
1.2-liter petrol/LPG and 0.9-liter petrol/methane.
