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.
History
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.