Selling cars in an international environment is a complex thing to achieve successfully. Even ignoring (not that you can) regional and national variations in regulations, the potential issues and pitfalls in just branding and naming are too many to name. The use by Chevrolet of Europe of some former Daewoo products or Cadillac of some SAABs are some examples, but today’s subject is perhaps the most revealing.
Let’s start at the beginning. The Lancia Ypsilon is a perfectly pleasant if unremarkable small car; based on the Fiat 500 and Panda platform and clothed in unique sheet metal, it was Lancia’s only true model from 2014, when the Delta and Thema were retired. Conceptually, it was a slightly upmarket, luxury trim focussed supermini; a sort of a cross between the Fiat 500 and the lower specification Minis. In FCA’s view anyway.
Under the Lancia name, it was sold only in Italy, although it was built in Poland alongside the Fiat 500. But there was a right hand drive version, sold only in the UK, Ireland and Japan as the Chrysler Ypsilon.
Why Chrysler? Lancia left the UK and Ireland in the early 1990s, after the Beta corrosion debacle, and the brand name had little positive equity left in the new car market, due to the Beta saga. Chrysler had a dealer network, albeit relatively small, selling Avengers, Voyagers and Jeeps, often alongside Fiats. So, adding the Ypsilon to the Chrysler range made some sense and seemed to fill a gap, albeit with a brand name that arguably didn’t really fit with the car.
That is probably why from 2014 to 2017, few were sold, with just 2,000 examples sold in its best year, 2014. Lancia managed to move 60-80,000 cars a year, all in Italy, where the car was sold alongside rebranded Chrysler 200s, 300s and Voyagers sold as the Flavia, Thema and Voyager.
So, seeing an Ypsilon in the UK is, if not a red letter, a noteworthy one. And to see two side by side at an Italian Car Show is more notable, especially as the owner of the black car has gone to the lengths of sourcing Lancia specific grille and badging, even if the tax man still says it’s a Chrysler.
But I agree with the tax man – it’s not a real Lancia, something many, many of us still want, even now.
The Lancia Ypsilon has been sold exclusively in Italy for the last several years, their only remaining model, although it sells well there. A new-generation electrified Ypsilon is rolling out now or soon, and Stellantis insists they’re not abandoning the brand and wants to sell the new ones in some other, unspecified European countries this time, with hints of augmenting the product line beyond the Ypsilon. Whether these will be perceived as “real” Lancias, or if buyers will consider that a good thing I don’t know. The Beta rusting thing seems to have only blown up in the UK; I didn’t hear much about it in the US, but then again Lancia never was very popular here and they were last sold here in 1982.
Anyone that knew about Lancia here knew all about the rust. A friend who is a Volvo dealer mechanic had a once-gorgeous burgundy colored Beta coupe under a tarp (as if it would help) behind his garage that was more air than metal. I think he sensibly eventually gave up on the idea of restoring it.
Sold also as Lancia here in Austria, but not many takers (and why, when you can have a boringly reliable Mazda 2 or a Toyota Yaris for the same price). Here’s a 2023 with 10 Km on the clock if you must…
https://www.willhaben.at/iad/gebrauchtwagen/d/auto/lancia-y-ypsilon-ypsilon-1-0-hybrid-gold-668399466
From the front, the Lancia version reminds me of a Chevy Cruze. The Chrysler version reminds me of the Chrysler PT Cruiser.
Also, these are 4 door models. The rear door handle is near the top of the window frame. Looks small by American stands. Of course, we eat way too much pasta and little vegetables!!
RIP Marcello Gandini.
I saw a Chrysler Town & Country (or maybe a Dodge Caravan) in the US whose owner had put on a Lancia grille. Chrysler is down to a single model in the US now, the Pacifica van.
Out here in California import-land, the Pacifica plug-in hybrid minivan seems quite popular. At least there are several in my neighborhood, the only Chryslers. No Lancias 🙁
The Ypsilon was sold only in Italy since the 2015 facelift, before that it was sold also in (most?) other EU countries. Also, since the facelift wasn’t sold at all in GB or as Chrysler, they discontinued the Ypsilon there somewhere before 2015.
Also Chrysler rebadges were all gone by 2015 in Italy.
RIP Marcello Gandini 🙁
it’s not a real Lancia, something many, many of us still want, even now.
So just what is a real Lancia? The overly complex, expensive cars that caused it to lose money and essentially forced Fiat to bail it out back in 1969? Good luck with bringing those back.
All hail Mr Grumpy
Real Lancia, lets see
Lancia Delta HF Integrale, an utter dream to drive
Fulvia Coupe and Fulvia sport Zagato
All highly regarded and desirable in Europe
https://www.classicandsportscar.com/gallery/20-landmark-lancias-it-hits-115
Of course they’re all highly regarded and desirable. As are all classic Lancias. Fantastic cars.
I think you misunderstood me. I was making the point that the classic Lancias were often money-losers, so it’s not exactly very likely they’re going to come back.
The Lancia Ypsilon is, in many guises, a very charming car. I am not that keen on the version shown here but it still offers an interior environment sufficiently different from others to have a USP. It´s a kind of Brougham supermini, if you like. It is the last of small and episodically appearing sub-niche of European high-trim variant small cars. That includes the Renault 5 Baccara, the Rover 100 Kensington and, perhaps, the Peugeot 205 and 306 Roland Garros cars, the Ford Fiesta Vignale (not labelled a Fiesta) and maybe the Skoda Fabia Laurin & Klement cars. The difference with the Ypsilon is that it was not a trim variant but had its own bodywork.