Stellantis unveiled on Wednesday the redesigned Lancia Ypsilon hatchback, the first electric vehicle from the historic Italian brand.
This marks the beginning of a revival for Lancia, which has produced classics such as the Aurelia, Fulvia, Stratos, and Delta Integrale but has largely been overlooked by Stellantis and its predecessor Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). The current internal combustion engine Ypsilon is the sole model from Lancia, first hitting the market back in 2011.
The new Ypsilon, set to hit European markets in May but unlikely to reach the United States, will be sold as both an electric vehicle and a mild hybrid. However, Lancia plans to exclusively release fully electric vehicles starting in 2026. A mid-size crossover is slated to arrive that year, followed by a larger hatchback likely to revive the Delta name in 2028.
At just over 160 inches long, the Ypsilon shares the Stellantis CMP platform with the Jeep Avenger, another model not intended for the U.S. market. It is currently available in Europe with both electric and internal combustion propulsion systems. The same platform is also utilized by the Fiat 600, which was recently unveiled in a high-performance variant by Abarth.
A 51 kWh battery pack provides an estimated range of 250 miles, as measured by the European WLTP test cycle. DC fast charging allows for 20% to 80% charging in 24 minutes, equivalent to 62 miles of range per every 10 minutes of charging, according to Lancia.
A single electric motor mounted at the front delivers 154 horsepower in the standard version set to be available at launch. Lancia also plans to introduce a sportier HF model in 2025, boasting 240 hp, a wider body, and other performance enhancements.
For now, Stellantis’ strongest dose of affordable Italian style bound for the U.S. can be found in the upcoming 2024 Fiat 500e, expected to hit U.S. showrooms later this year. The Alfa Romeo Tonale crossover is also available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain boasting an electric range of 33 miles according to the EPA.
