Lancia continues to improve its only model and is now
releasing full details about its first-ever hybrid vehicle: the Ypsilon Hybrid
EcoChic. Mind you, we’re talking about a mild-hybrid powertrain and not a full
hybrid.
It consists of a 1.0-liter Firefly
three-cylinder petrol engine assisted by a 12-volt belt-driven starter
generator (BSG) electric motor and a small lithium-ion battery. The unit
delivers 70 PS and 92 Nm of torque.
Compared to the 69 PS 1.2-liter
Fire engine it replaces, the mild-hybrid powertrain enables a reduction in fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions of up to 24 percent. More specifically, it’s
rated at 4.0 – 4.1 l/100 km (58.8 – 57.4 mpg US / 70.6 – 68.9 mpg UK), with
corresponding CO2 emissions of 90 – 92 g/km on the combined NEDC cycle.
It does that while offering the same
performance and improved comfort, as the BSG allows a silent and vibration-free
restart of the thermal engine in city traffic. As with the mild-hybrid Fiat 500
and Panda, the Ypsilon Hybrid EcoChic is offered exclusively with a new
six-speed transmission.
To mark the launch of the first-ever
hybrid Lancia, the Ypsilon Hybrid comes in a Maryne special edition inspired by
the colors of the sea. The model sports a new Blue Maryne paint finish, Hybrid
badge on the rear hatch, and EcoChic logo on the C-pillars.
Other distinctive details include Dark
Gray accents on the upper and lower grilles, mirror caps, door handles and
model badge on the rear hatch. A glossy black finish on the rear bumper is also
present while the 15-inch steel wheels are covered with black hubcaps.
Inside, the special edition model features
Seaqual Yarn seat fabrics. The sustainable material is made from plastic
collected by fishermen from the Mediterranean Sea. The plastic is transformed
by Seaqual into a polyester yarn that can be used as a real fabric, mixed with
other natural ecological fibers.
Compared to the lesser Silver and Gold
trim levels, the Lancia Ypsilon Hybrid Maryne also gets additional equipment
including privacy glass, cruise control, as well as rain-sensing wipers and
automatic headlamps. The Ypsilon Hybrid Maryne is more expensive than the
Silver and Gold models, starting from € 16,400 (US$ 18,180) in Italy.
