[Auto] Lancia set to reveal Ypsilon Limited Edition Cassina to kick-start its renaissance

[El Máster Edwin]

Just 1,906 examples of the supermini will be built, and expected to retail at around £35k

 

Lancia is back and ready to reinvent itself with its first electric car: the fourth generation of its Ypsilon supermini. It will be officially presented in just under two weeks in Milan, and this first limited-edition variant will be, er, limited to 1,906 examples (nodding back to the Italian marque’s founding year).

It’s rumoured to share the same underpinnings as the Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Peugeot e-208. That likely means a 51kWh battery pack resulting in a claimed 250-mile range and an unexciting but brisk 8.2-second walk to 60. Top speed is also capped at 93mph, so don’t expect to match Delta Integrales at the lights.

But owners of this ‘Cassina’ limited edition will reap the rewards of an interior created by said Italian furniture designer, known for its use of high-class fabrics. That means velvet seats and a tray between the centre console and multiscreen dashboard. It’s a clean, clutter-free look with plenty of refined materials throughout. 

The exterior is a little more of a handful, though. Out front, you’ve got a curved daylight running bar beneath the Lancia logo. Squashed hexagonal headlamps then sit along the wider mid-section and bridge toward a small front splitter. It’s what your mother would call ‘dashing’ to not cause upset.

 

A few swooping lines across the flanks then bring your attention to the funky alloys which merge both black and silver Y-spokes. You’ll also spot glossy black wheel arches to match the darker window trim and rear spoiler. There's a spherical taillight and outgrown mid-section spoiler combination at the back, too; a wonderful bit of styling which appears to tribute the Stratos.

Pricing for the Ypsilon limited-edition Cassina will be revealed on 14 February, where initial customers can also place their deposits. And what better way to profess your love on Valentine’s Day than to order a car whose name they’ll struggle to pronounce?

We expect it to sit around the mid-£30k bracket, making it a fair bit costlier than the similar-sized Fiat 500e. An interesting duel is set to commence, then, but will the all-new Ypsilon manage to disrupt the Fiat's mojo and truly kickstart Lancia's renaissance? We won't have to wait long to find out.

 

 

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