Italian Chic Goes...Mildly Electric? Inside Lancia's Ypsilon Surprise

Let's get real, folks, the mere mention of a new Lancia would typically have old-school enthusiasts like me frothing at the mouth. I mean, Lancia – rally royalty, icons of Italian automotive insanity, the whole bit! But this new Ypsilon? Well, color me pleasantly perplexed...and a little bit disappointed.

They've certainly pulled a sneaky one. It looks like your aunt's fancy Fiat 500e grew up, started hitting the gym, started a successful fashion blog, and decided only the finest artisan espresso would keep it fueled. Nothing about this little urban cruiser screams "Rally DNA," now does it? But hey, maybe I'm stuck in the good old days.

We can't talk about Lancia without mentioning their insane past. The Stratos, a wedge of pure madness roaring through rally stages. The Delta Integrale, a boxy hatchback that humiliated supercars. Heck, even the Beta Montecarlo, despite its fiery tendencies, oozed Italian weirdness. Lancia did not give a single damn about convention, and enthusiasts loved them for it. Sadly, so did those with a habit for mismanaging money. It was a rollercoaster of brilliant cars and terrible decisions, one that ultimately sent Lancia into a decade-long coma.

And then there's the original Ypsilon. Forget that electric whizzbox for a moment; this little guy was funky, fashionable, and surprisingly spacious. Lancia managed to build a "fashion" car without making it completely unbearable to drive (for the most part). It sold like crazy, making the Ypsilon almost as well-known in Europe as the Panda or the Golf. In its own weird way, it was a legend in its own right.

But you know what? I kinda like the new styling. Sure, it's soft and bubbly, but Lancia always had a knack for sleek design. They've woven in nods to the classic Delta and Fulvia, and the new "SALA" infotainment system, with its fancy customizable widget setup, adds a layer of tech without forgetting actual buttons and knobs (thank the car gods!). Wireless phone charging on a dashboard resembling your great-grandmother's tea table? Sure, why not? And who knew Lancia's "connected experience" meant finding some place to plug the darn thing in? This ain't exactly Tesla-level stuff here, folks.

Speaking of plugging in, let's talk performance. The EV Ypsilon promises about 250 miles (403 km) before becoming a very expensive roadside ornament. Not terrible, but let's be honest, you'll spend half that mileage hunting for a charger. But then there's the surprise. They claim 156 horsepower gets this Ypsilon to 62 mph (100 km/h) in a somewhat peppy 7.8 seconds. That's enough to outrun most scooters in Rome, I suppose. Now, if only those hamsters under the hood felt just a little bit...angrier.

Hold on though, turns out Lancia plans to drop a spicier "High Fidelity" version. More power, wider stance, and boom! Now we're getting closer to that classic Lancia spirit. Then again, it basically amounts to your neighbor's wild Abarth 600 wearing a fancier outfit. Don't tell those corporate overlords at Stellantis I said that...they might make me drive a Chrysler minivan as punishment.

Now, the bit everyone was waiting. You may wanna hold on to the espresso – did I hear that price right? Nearly €40,000? For a fancy electrified city sled? Lancia wants a word with your bank manager, or at least the guy who's financing your yacht down in Monaco. That's steep, even for those with a taste for la dolce vita.

So, here's the question: Is our fashionable new Ypsilon ready to rumble against the established crowd? Sure, it might out-Gucci a MINI Cooper SE, but does it have the quirkiness to win hearts over that plucky Brit? It might boast Italian tech-chic, but will it persuade buyers to forget about the funky Fiat 600e or the classy French Peugeot e-208? And if a dose of practicality matters, can it match the surprisingly user-friendly and reliable Honda e?

Let's be real, the competition's fierce. This is no longer the era where Ypsilon could get away with just being Italian. And, with that hefty price tag, Lancia isn't going for budget-minded folks. The Ypsilon's survival depends on converting those who want Italian exclusivity on a smaller scale – people who might otherwise wander into an Alfa or Maserati showroom in the first place. Does it have the charm, performance, and enough unique quirks to make that happen? We'll just have to wait and see if this is where Lancia finally gets its act together or fades into the automotive equivalent of designer clearance rack obscurity.

Look, I appreciate Lancia's effort. The Ypsilon is about style, practicality, and sipping electrons as you whiz past gelato shops. Does it stir the soul like an old Integrale blasting through the Alps? Hell no. But, I'll gladly admit, it's got a charm all its own.

So, Lancia's back...sort of. It's still early days, folks. Will the Ypsilon light a fire under Lancia again? It's the automotive equivalent of trying to revive disco without the glitter ball. It could happen, I suppose. Now, where on earth am I going to find someone to let me test drive that High Fidelity version? I need to know if there's even a hint of the real Lancia hiding in there somewhere.

Yours truly,

Captain Electro