Lancia’s much-anticipated “Renaissance” might be just around the corner, but the good-old Ypsilon is making headlines once more on the brand’s official pages due to its revamped lineup. The Ypsilon, Lancia’s sole production offering in Italy, has remained largely unchanged since 2011. It is now receiving what everyone hopes will be its last-ever update before being replaced by an all-new generation in 2024.
For its “Last Dance”, the Ypsilon is available with two powertrain options – the 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine with a 12V mild-hybrid system that produces 69 hp (51.5 kW / 70 PS), and the equally powerful 1.2-liter bi-fuel engine (petrol / LPG). Lancia tried to simplify the lineup by offering only three trims – the Oro (Gold), the Platino (Platinum), and the EcoChic LPG.
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The entry-level Oro comes standard with 15-inch Style wheels, electric mirrors, manual A/C, and a rear spoiler, but misses out on the infotainment taking its driver back to the early ’00s. Thankfully, the Plantino is more generously equipped as it features a set of 15-inch Black Diamond Alloy wheels, a body-colored rear fascia, a chrome-plated exhaust, tinted windows, sustainable Seaqual Yarn upholstery, rear parking sensors, a wireless smartphone charger, and the 7-inch touchscreen with a rearview camera and wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto compatibility.
Those who want extra features that are usually standard in modern automobiles could get one of the two optional packages. The Comfort Pack adds fog lights, rear electric windows, lumbar adjustment for the driver seat, and electric demisting for the exterior mirrors. Finally, the Tech pack is not as advanced as it sounds, being limited to non-adaptive cruise control, auto headlights/wipers, and auto climate control. We don’t want to think about the safety rating of the model which was last tested by EuroNCAP in 2015 getting two stars and would most likely get zero stars today due to the lack of ADAS.
If you are still interested, the Ypsilon is available in 7 exterior colors – dew green, clay red, snow white, elegant blue, stone gray, and volcano black.
Since its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011, the Ypsilon received two major facelifts in 2015 and in 2021, although Lancia applied numerous milder updates over the years with the latest introduced in 2023.
As with all cars, the Ypsilon was inevitably hit by inflation and the increased cost of raw materials, leading to a significant price bump compared to previous years. The list price for the entry-level Lancia Ypsilon Hybrid Oro is €17,650 ($18,897) which can drop to €15,950 ($17,078) if you order it online. The higher-spec Platino starts from €19,550 ($20,938) while the EcoChic LPG is priced at €20,900 ($22,383).
Despite being one of the oldest surviving models in the Italian market, the Lancia Ypsilon is still selling in big numbers, often getting the title of the best-seller in Italy. Overall, the four generations of the Lancia Ypsilon have sold over 4 million units since 1987.
As the current model inches closer to retirement, all eyes are on the all-new fifth generation that will debut in 2024 as the first production model of Lancia’s new era. The supermini will be available in both hybrid and fully electric forms based on Stellantis underpinnings and benefiting from much more advanced technology compared to its predecessor.
