Lancia has
unexpectedly released three "teaser" sketches showing
the next-generation Ypsilon well ahead of its world
debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March which offer
the best look yet at the long-awaited new Supermini.
While the new Ypsilon's
prototypes and pre-production models have been caught by
photographers many times out testing clad in heavy
disguises these three new images give the best look yet
at the lines and proportions of the new car.
They also confirm that
the new car is destined to wear a Chrysler badge in the
UK, and possibly also the Republic of Ireland as, in
taking cost savings and "badge engineering" to a whole
new degrees, the Lancia version will wear a
Chrysler-style grille, the staggered slat effect
recently introduced by the U.S. carmaker that were
inspired by last year's 200 EV sedan showcar, are being
now carried straight on to the Italian brand meaning on
the badge is set to be different.
The next-generation
Ypsilon will be built in Poland (unlike the current
version with is assembled at the closure-earmarked
Termini Imerese factory in Sicily) and is based on a
stretched version of the Fiat 500's platform. It will be
5-door (unlike the outgoing model which is 3-door) and
the two key engines will be the 0.9 "TwinAir" (petrol)
and the 1.3 Multijet II (diesel) while other major
details include the retention of the centre instrument
stack, a shield-shaped clamshell bonnet and Delta-style
"flying bridge" roof profile.
The teaser images were
accompanied by the short message: "A new horizon, three
new Lancia models". The other two models to be unveiled
by Lancia in Geneva will be rebadged versions of
Chrysler's 300 series, likely to revive the Thema
nametag and a timeline successor to the Thesis and the
U.S. carmaker's Town & Country minivan which will
replace the current-generation Phedra which is part of a
joint venture with PSA Peugeot-Citroën which is now
being wound down.
