Lancia Ypsilon History
Lancia's small-car mainstay and today its only model — four generations from the 1985 Y10 to the 2024 electric Ypsilon, Italy's consistently popular premium supermini.
Photo: “2000 Lancia Y 1.1 Elefantino Blu” by Corvettec6r / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Start with a make and model. Add a year where a detailed guide is available.
Model history available. Detailed year guides are not published for this model.
Browse this model's history and yearsHistory
The Ypsilon line traces its origin to the Lancia Y10 (1985–1995), a stylish city car developed with Autobianchi. The nameplate proper began with the second-generation Lancia Y (presented January 1996 in Rome), built on the Fiat Punto platform and sold as a premium supermini; over 870,000 were produced in the Melfi plant between 1995 and 2005.
The third generation Ypsilon (2011–2024) switched to five-door-only bodywork and became Italy's second best-selling car in 2019, despite Lancia's contraction to only the Italian market. The fourth generation (2024–present), revealed in February 2024, is built on the Stellantis e-CMP platform and offered as a fully electric vehicle alongside a mild-hybrid petrol option — Lancia's first EV and its vehicle for re-entering European markets including France, Spain, and the Benelux countries.
Generations
First generation (Y10) · Y10 / Autobianchi Y10
The Autobianchi/Lancia Y10 city car — the origin of the Ypsilon lineage, sold in some markets as an Autobianchi.
1989 Photo: “Lancia Y10 Fire 1989 (9110454408)” by order_242 from Chile / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1990 Photo: “1990 Lancia Y10 Selectronic (8793925699)” by Niels de Wit from Lunteren, The Netherlands / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1991 Photo: “1991 Lancia Y10 Fire i.e. (9553748593)” by Niels de Wit from Lunteren, The Netherlands / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1992 Photo: “1992 Lancia Y10 LX Selectronic (14983161489)” by Charlie from United Kingdom / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Second generation (Y / Ypsilon) · Lancia Y
Photo: “2000 Lancia Y 1.1 Elefantino Blu” by Corvettec6r / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Presented January 1996; over 870,000 built on the Fiat Punto platform as a premium supermini.
2000 Photo: “2000 Lancia Y 1.1 Elefantino Blu” by Corvettec6r / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2002 Photo: “Lancia Y Cosmopolitan (2002)” by Tipo-Lybra / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Third generation · Ypsilon (Type 846)
Five-door-only hatchback; Italy's second best-selling car in 2019 despite Lancia's single-market status.
2011 Photo: “2011 Lancia Ypsilon 1.2 front” by Rutger van der Maar / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2013 Photo: “2013 Lancia Ypsilon 0.9T TwinAir EcoChic Metano” by Corvettec6r / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Fourth generation (electric) · Ypsilon EV (e-CMP)
Stellantis e-CMP platform; Lancia's first EV (51 kWh, up to 403 km WLTP) plus mild-hybrid petrol option; limited launch edition capped at 1,906 units commemorating Lancia's founding year.
2024 Photo: “Lancia Ypsilon BEV” by Erremm / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Hatchback
- 5-door hatchback
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the Lancia Ypsilon
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.