1995–2000
The Lancia Ypsilon or Y (Type 840) was designed by Enrico Fumia in 1992.[6] It was developed over 24 months at a cost of around 400 billion Italian lira[7] and was presented in Rome in January 1996.[8] The arches defined the car, repeating themselves on all sides of the car. The length is 3.72 m, 33 cm longer than the Y10. The Lancia Y was built on the same platform of the Fiat Punto series 176 (the same platform as the Barchetta), with a shortened wheelbase and an all-independent suspension setup: MacPherson struts at the front, trailing arms at the rear.
The main features of the Lancia Y include five seats, a soft plastic dashboard, and accessories, and options, including body colors in 100 shades from the Lancia Kaleidoscope catalog. Another design property that distinguished the Y was the instrument cluster in the center of the dashboard, which was adopted by the Musa and Ypsilon later in 2003. Initially, the range featured three trim levels: LE, LS, and LX. A Cosmopolitan special edition of 600 pieces was later added. It was created through collaboration with the magazine, based on the LX trim. It was sold in the European market outside of Italy.
Air conditioning was standard on the LX and an option on the LS. The LX also offered an enhanced instrument cluster with a rev counter and a larger display that also displayed the outside temperature.
The engines were part of the FIRE series that debuted in the Y10 in 1985 and later was used in other Fiat and Lancia vehicles. They were available in displacements of 1,108 and 1,242cc with eight valves in an overhead camshaft arrangement. The top-of-the-line 1.4 12 valve "Pratola Serra" engine with 80 PS was carried over from the Fiat Bravo/Brava.[9] Given the limited success of the Pratola Serra engine, it was soon replaced by the first so-called SuperFIRE engine, featuring four valves per cylinder and multipoint fuel injection. The Lancia Y was the first car to receive this evolution of the FIRE.[10]
The 1,242cc SuperFIRE developed 86 PS at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 113 Nm at 4,500 rpm. This engine remained available on the 2013 Lancia Ypsilon, 2013 Ford Ka, and the Fiat 500.
The Elefantino Rosso (English: Tiny Red Elephant, which was the symbol of the historic Lancia HF sports cars that won numerous rally competitions) was the sports version of the Lancia Y and the sister car to the Fiat Punto Sporting. It featured an interior in grey Alcantara, seats also in grey Alcantara and accentuated with dark grey fabric insets that echo the exterior color of the car, a center console, 15" wheels and rear-view mirrors in a titanium look, the steering wheel and gearshift in grey leather with red stitching, air conditioning, a shorter gearbox ratio for quicker acceleration from 0–100 km/h and in 5th gear, a lowered and stiffened suspension with bigger roll bars and more direct power steering. It reached a top speed of 177 km/h and was the only car in the lineup to receive 15" wheels with 195/50R15 tires. For those who desired a more discreet, comfortable, and luxurious ride, the LX (with an Alcantara and walnut veneer interior) and LS were also available with SuperFIRE. They were able to reach the same top speed as the "Pratola Serra" versions. The 1.2 8V was available with an automatic ECVT transmission.
Lancia had pulled out of RHD markets two years prior to the Y's launch. Thus, no RHD version was developed.
The Italian magazine Quattroruote test drove the "Ypsilon 16V LX" beyond its usual city use and praised its excellent power reserves while offering the comforts of a car worthy of a higher price. The model was an immediate success selling over 42,000 units in the first two months.[11]
2000–2003
In October 2000, the exterior and interior were restyled. The external changes included a new, larger grille, new bumpers, new taillights, new wheel cover designs, new fog lights. The side moldings of the car became much smoother and body-colored. The most significant internal change was the headrests (instead of drilled solids) and new seats and new steering wheel (similar to that of the Lancia Lybra). The material was no longer available with "soft touch", reflective security was removed from the doors, the climate control button was replaced with a lever, and the instrument panel was made more readable and modern, especially in the use of the LED display. The length of the car increased slightly from 3.72 metres to 3.74 metres.
The LX and Red Elephant versions, which cost €15,060 list, came with the standard including driver and passenger airbags, air conditioning, ABS, power steering, Blaupunkt radio/navigation system with 6 speakers, split rear seat with headrests, the Alcantara interior, outdoor temperature display, electrically operated door mirrors painted in body color, the helm station and instrument panel were red instead of green, central locking with remote control, power windows, adjustable seat and steering wheel, leather interior with red stitching on the Red Elephant, fog lamps and alloy wheels with 185/60 R 14 tires for the LX and 195/50 R15 for the Red Elephant.
The following years were marketed by other special versions: DoDo,[12] Vanity and Unica. 16v versions reduce their output of 6 PS due to new Euro 3 pollution standards. Emissions were reduced with a more linear delivery, while maintaining, and sometimes even increasing, consumption.
