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Bologna Motor Show – Lancia Ypsilon Black & Red

Lancia Ypsilon Black & Red

With the occasion of this week’s Bologna Motor Show, the Italian automaker Lancia has decided to unveil the Black & Red version of the Ypsilon. The car will be sold in the United Kingdom starting with 2012 where it will have a Chrysler badge. This new version of the 5-door supermini is aimed to attract younger, male buyers. To be honest, I fit in this category but I’ve always considered the Ypsilon a lady’s car.

Lancia Ypsilon Black & Red

In Europe the Lancia Ypsilon is available in Silver, Gold and Platinum trim levels, except for the United Kingdom market where the car can be purchased in the S, SE or Limited trim. This new Black & Red trim level will be on par with the Gold one, without a bunch of the equipment oriented for comfort. Instead, this edition of the Ypsilon will come with 15-inch alloy wheels, an upgraded audio system and privacy windows.

Lancia Ypsilon Black & Red

Customers will be able to choose from one of the four body colors that will be available: black, two tones of red, along with a two-tone version that has a black bonnet and roof while the rest of the body is finished in red. Inside the cabin, the red & black theme will be continued on the dashboard, seats and on the door panels.

The Lancia Ypsilon Black & Red will be available with either a 1.2-liter turbodiesel engine that develops 69 hp or a more powerful turbodiesel 1.3-liter MultiJet II unit that churns 95 hp. The car is already on sale in Europe, while in UK it is expected to become available towards the beginning of next year with probably a slightly different specification.

Source: Lancia via Autocar

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Lancia Thema Arrives In Europe

Lancia Thema

Earlier this week, the Italian automaker Lancia has announced that its Thema model is now available in Europe. This would have to be the company’s first full-size sedan model after 2009 when they discontinued the Thesis. As you probably already know this by know, this is nothing more than a Chrysler 300 that has Lancia badges.

Lancia Thema

The Fiat Group plans on selling between 10,000 and 15,000 units of the model in Europe and the Chrysler 300 in Ireland and United Kingdom every year. The car measures five meters and has a RWD configuration, while customers will be able to choose from one of the three available engines.

Lancia Thema

The first one is a Euro 5-compliant V6 3.0-liter diesel engine which is available in two states of tune and it’s built by VM Motori and developed with Fiat Powertrain. Both of the configurations of this engine are mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission.

Lancia Thema

The entry-level variant of this power unit is an oil-burner that develops 190 hp @ 4,000 rpm and a peak torque of 440 Nm available between 1,600 and 2,800 rpm. With this engine, the Lancia Thema is able to do the 0-62 mph sprint in 9.7 seconds. The beefier unit churns 239 hp and a peak torque of 550 Nm (1,800 – 2,800 rpm), enough for a 0-62 mph sprint time in 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h). Both diesels are able to return 33.2 mpg (7.1 liters / 100 km).

Lancia Thema

The most powerful engine will be the V6 3.6-liter Pentastar unit borrowed from Chrysler which is capable of generating 286 hp (210 kW) at 6,350 rpm and a maximum torque of 340 Nm available at 4,650 rpm. Mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the Thema is able to reach 62 mph from start in 7.7 seconds, en route to a top speed of 149 mph (240 km/h). With this engine the car manages to return 25 mpg (9.4 liters / 100 km) while the CO2 emissions stand at 219 g/km so it’s not very eco-friendly.

Source: Lancia via Carscoop

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Lancia Flavia Cabrio Arrives At Frankfurt Motor Show

Lancia Flavia Cabrio

The Italian automaker Lancia has revealed its Flavia Cabrio model during this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. You probably already know this, the car is nothing more than a rebadged Chrysler 200 convertible and it will make it into production thanks to the positive feedback the company received for a concept which was unveiled in March at the Geneva Motor Show.

The Italian convertible measures 4,900 mm long, 1,800 mm wide and it is 1,400 mm tall. Its wheelbase measures 2,760 mm and Lancia said that the interior cabin has been designed in order to offer “the ultimate in interior room” for the four people. It is powered by a 2.4-liter gasoline engine that develops 175 hp and is linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Flavia’s soft top is electronically operated while the cabin has a leather steering wheel, leather seats as well as a bunch of chrome inserts on the dashboard. As standard, the car comes with electronic stability control, multimedia system that has satellite navigation, ABS and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Source: Lancia

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New Lancia Ypsilon Commercial

Vincent Cassel stars in this new ad which tries to focus on elegance and power for the latest Lancia Ypsilon model launched this spring.

This italian 69 HP, 1.2 8V Euro 5 car can easily be spotted due to unique front shield and bright color palette and combinations. Over 500 custom accessories make the new Ypsilon fit for the most extravagant drivers.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnDlsjlNvT4&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

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Lancia Ypsilon, Out This June

Lancia Ypsilon

The new generation of the Lancia Ypsilon was unveiled earlier this year at the 81st edition of the Geneva Motor Show. It will be available only as a 5-door hatchback and as you can see from these photos and video, it will have a bolder design, along with a more prominent grille, hidden rear door handles and LED taillights.

Lancia Ypsilon

As far as the cabin is concerned, customers will be able to choose from a lot of customization options. Upon launch, the car will be available in three trim levels, the most expensive one packing leather upholstery, Blue & Me-TomTom LIVE and a high quality audio system.

Lancia Ypsilon

Lancia will offer three engines for the Ypsilon: a 1.2-liter EVO plant that generates 68 hp (69 PS / 51 kW) and has a peak torque of 75 lb.-ft (102 Nm). This should be enough for a 0-60 mph sprint in 14.5 seconds, and a top speed of 101 mph (163 km/h). The car will average 4.5 liters / 100 km and CO2 emissions of 115 g/km.

Lancia Ypsilon

For those of you that want a more powerful engine, the Italian manufacturer will offer the 2-cylinder 0.9-liter TwinAir power unit that develops 84 hp (85 PS / 63 kW) and 107 lb.-ft (145 Nm) of torque. With this engine, the Ypsilon needs “only” 11.9 seconds to reach 60 mph, on its way to a top speed of 109 mph (176 km/h). Fuel consumption is rated at 4.2 liters / 100 km while CO2 emissions are 99 g/km.

Lancia Ypsilon

If you prefer diesels, the Ypsilon can be powered by a 1.3-liter MultiJet II engine that produces 90 hp (95 PS / 70 kW) and has a peak torque of 147 lb.-ft (200 Nm). The diesel-powered version will reach 60 mph in 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 114 mph (183 km/h). The benefits of this economical engine can be found in the fuel consumption figure: only 3.8 liters / 100 km. It is also quite eco-friendly, with CO2 emission of only 99 g/km.

Lancia Ypsilon

No word about the price list for the new Lancia Ypsilon, but we do know that it will hit the dealerships next month. Later on in September, Chrysler will launch its own variant for the UK market.

[youtube width="470" height="344"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj21F8C3kmo[/youtube]

Source: Lancia via WCF

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Geneva 2011 – Lancia Flavia

Lancia Flavia

Another Lancia model, another rebadged Chrysler. First, it was the Lancia Thema (aka Chrysler 300) and now we’re going to talk about the Flavia (aka Chrysler 200). The Italian automaker said that the car will go into production within the next six months as both a saloon and a convertible model.

The Flavia comes with a very conservative Bright Black finish with polished metal features on the front bumper, side mirrors, door handles and on the boot lid. Inside it has a 2+2 configuration and dark leather is the predominant material. The convertible version will feature a White Zenith exterior color offset by the Black Lava roof and complemented by the Ivory White leather interior with beige Alcantara and black accents.

Lancia Flavia

According to the press release, both models measure about 4.5 meters long and have seats that “recline into chaise-lounges”. The Flavia rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels, way better in comparison to its American sibling that has steel wheels. Other differences from the Chrysler 200 include the fog lamps; Lancia’s signature grille and the LED rear lightning.

The car will come with electronic traction control, electronic stability control, six airbags, multi-function steering wheel and Bluetooth.

Lancia Flavia Convertible

Lancia said that the model will hit the European showrooms later on this year and at first it will be offered with Fiat’s MultiJet 1.6-liter engine that produces 105 hp (106 PS / 77 kW) which will be linked to an automatic gearbox. Later on, more engines and a manual transmission will be introduced.

Just like I’ve said about the Thema, I think that Flavia will not be a very popular model among customers.

Source: Lancia via WCF

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Geneva 2011 – Lancia Thema

Lancia Thema

Lancia’s new flagship model was unveiled this week at the Geneva Motor Show. Dubbed Thema, the model is nothing more than a rebadged Chrysler 300 – not a very good way to start the company’s rebirth in my opinion. The only real differences between the two models are the LED-infused headlights along with the prominent grille and a chrome-plated dual exhaust system.

As far as the cabin is concerned, chrome accents were used, Sapphire Blue ambient lightning and an Uconnect Touch infotainment system that has a huge 8.4-inch display. Optional features include a wood trim, a premium audio system, heated Nappa leather seats, GPS navigation system and a Poltrona Frau leather-wrapped dashboard.

The Lancia Thema is offered with a wide array of safety gadgets, like the Blind Spot Detection system, Adaptive Cruise Control, Cross Path Detection and a rear view camera,

Lancia Thema

Under the bonnet, two power units will be available. The first one is a V6 3.0-liter diesel unit that can output either 190 hp (193 PS / 142 kW) or 224 hp (227 PS / 167 kW) and 406 lb.-ft (550 Nm) of torque. The other engine is a more powerful petrol plant borrowed from Chrysler, a Pentastar V6 3.6-liter that cranks out 292 hp (296 PS / 218 kW) and 260 lb.-ft (353 Nm) of torque. This engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox that allows the Thema to do the 0-60 mph sprint in 7.2 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h).

The car will be hitting the dealerships in October, but my guess is that it will be a huge flop.

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Geneva 2011 – Video coverage

We’ve picked out some videos from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, because pictures may be pretty, but some aspects require more than that in order to be portrayed with clarity. Plus, you’ll gain insight as to what’s behind the luxurious curves of the new models (car models, that is) and feel the vibe of the car show.

Let the videos roll!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUCJMOc4o24[/youtube]

Watch more after the jump. (more…)

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2011 Geneva Preview – 2011 Lancia Ypsilon

2011 Lancia Ypsilon

Here is something that you don’t see quite often, a new generation of the Lancia Ypsilon. I say that because the car has a history of over 25 years and there were only three generations. The fourth one will be officially unveiled at Geneva next month.

2011 Lancia Ypsilon


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Lancia Stratos Revival, Heading For Limited Production

Lancia Stratos Revival

It was bound to happen sooner or later, the revival of the legendary Lancia Stratos is heading towards a limited production run. Ever since the car made its debut, Michael Stoschek and Pininfarina hinted that the car will get the green light for production if there are enough customers interested. As most of us had expected, there are already many prospective buyers.

Lancia Stratos Revival

According to the latest rumors, since it initial launch, about 40 customers in Europe and elsewhere contacted Stoschek (he is the guy who commissioned the new Stratos model in the first place) and Pininfarina, expressing their desire to have one. The pair said that the cost of the first example would be about $4 million, but they could roll out a couple of these cars for “only” $540,000 per unit. This figure includes the $135,000 Ferrari F430 (presumably) and the 300,000 Euros to turn it into a Stratos.

Lancia Stratos Revival

If you have more than half a million lying around the house, this revival of the Lancia Stratos is a quick way to get rid of it.

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Lancia Planning New Ypsilon, Thema Models

Lancia’s best-selling model, the Ypsilon, will be officially launched with the occasion of the Geneva Auto Show in March 2011, along with the Chrysler-based flagship which will most likely be called Thema. The new Ypsilon model is considered to be the key of the company in its attempt to triple sales in the upcoming four years; plan stabiles by the Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne.

The Lancia flagship model will be a re-badged version of the 2011 Chrysler 300 sedan. With the launch of the Thema, Lancia is hoping to increase the current low number of sales; however it will not be a volume seller with annual commercialization forecast of 10,000-15,000 units. The Thema will be available at dealers in the last quarter of 2011 and it will wear the Lancia badge in Europe and the Chrysler badge in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where Lancia cars are not sold.

In comparison to the Chrysler 300, the Lancia model will come with minor tweaks, like Europe-specific bumpers and a different grille. According to the estimates made, 80% of the Thema sales will most likely come from the cars equipped with the new version of the V6 3.0-liter that is capable of producing 230 hp. The turbodiesel powerunit was built by VM Motori, located in Italy. The gasoline engine offering available for the Chrysler 300 will also equip the Lancia. Both models (Chrysler 300 and Lancia Thema) will be manufactured at the Chrysler factory located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

The new model of the Chrysler 300 for the United States market will make its official debut in January 2011 at the Detroit Auto Show and will be available at the dealerships in the first quarter of next year. The updated model will replace the 6-year-old current car and will have the new Chrysler face, with the redesigned badge and grille.

The Italians at Lancia are targeting a sales increase to 300,000 by 2014, in comparison to only 112,000 cars sold last year. With the addition of the 5-door Ypsilon, based on the new model of the Fiat Panda, Lancia is hoping to increase the sales figures.

The current model of the Lancia Ypsilo was launched exclusively as a 3-door car in 2002 and is based on the past generation of the Fiat Punto. The production for this model will end in the last part of next year. According to Luca Napolitano, who is the head of the Lancia brand in Italy, “five-door cars cover 75 percent of subcompact sales in Europe.”

With the launch of the new Ypsilon model, Lancia is hoping to sell 130,000 units per year, in comparison to only 85,000 that were sold in 2004, and 60,000 in the last two years. The car will be officially on sale in June 2011.

Lancia manufactured the flagship Thema from 1984 to 1994 and it was well-received by customers, managing to sell 358,000 units until it was replaced with the K model, a car that didn’t do so well with just 117,000 cars sold between 1994 and 2001. The last flagship produced by Lancia, dubbed Thesis, was introduced back in 2002 and the last unit was manufactured in early 2009. The production ended due to poor sales. During the car’s lifecycle, Lancia produced only 16,000 Thesis units.

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A Living Legend – Lancia Stratos

2010 Lancia Stratos

Michael Stoschek is one of the few lucky (wealthy) people that owns a classic Lancia Stratos, but this wasn’t enough for him; so after having a serious conversation with the engineers at Lancia, they came up with a recreation of the 1970s rally legend, according to the specifications given by Michael and his son Maximilion and by using today’s modern technology and construction methods. Both of them took part in creating the design for a project known as Fenomenon and after that they commissioned Pininfarina to turn this project into reality.

The 1970s original Lancia Stratos HF was a legend in terms of design and racing, managing to win three consecutive rally championships (1975-1977). The car features a V6 DOHC 2.4-liter that was taken from the Ferrari Dino. The power unit was mounted transversely and mid-ship, right behind the compartment for the passenger. It was quick then, it still is now after almost 40 years, being able to reach 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds. The design of the original model was revolutionary at that time – the car looked very similar to a spacecraft, very different from the 70s rally cars that were box-shaped. The design of the original Stratos was done by Bertone.

2010 Lancia Stratos

The modern Stratos borrows Ferrari’s 430 drivetrain and platform. The wheelbase decreased almost 8 inches in comparison to the 430 due to the fact that the extruded aluminum frame was shortened. In comparison to the Ferrari, the Stratos is much safer and stiffer thanks to the FIA-Certified rollcage manufactured from a 1 ½-inch steel tubing.

As far as the exterior design is concerned, it keeps the same unique shape of straight lines and bulging arcs that made the original Stratos a legend. Absolutely all of the exterior components are made out of a high-strength sandwich structure of carbon fiber that is laid over low-density foam core. The car was tested in the rolling-road wind tunnel owned by Pininfarina, using the aerodynamic balance of the Ferrari 430 as a development baseline.

The original car had a powerful V6 engine that was capable of outputting 190 hp; it was one of the most advanced engines of those times. The new car borrows the 430’s engine, which is a 4.3-liter V8 that offers 510 hp. The power unit was tweaked and received a new engine management, high-flow catalytic convertors and exhaust manifolds. The acceleration from 0 to 200 km/h is done is less than 10 seconds, which makes the Stratos a vehicle worthy of the “supercar” title.

Other modifications the car received include new spring rates as well as electro-hydraulic dampers that were recalibrated. From a steering wheel-mounted control, the driver can choose different suspension modes. To efficiently brake the car, the engineers at Lancia equipped the Stratos with a modern Brembo system that offers 15.7-inch front rotors that have 6-piston calipers for the front wheels and 13.-8 inch rotors that have 4-piston calipers for the wheels in the back.

This modern Lancia Stratos is a one-off car at the moment, but with such a large fan base for the original Stratos, who knows what the future might bring us. We hope that more and more legendary cars will be brought back to life following the successful recipe of the Lancia Stratos, a legend that was brought resurrected after almost 40 years since the original model revolutionized the rally world and the entire automotive genre.

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New Lancia Stratos is real and based on the Ferrari F430


Before our website went on vacation for a bit, spy shots of a rumored Lancia Stratos prototype were making the rounds on the web and caused a lot of speculation.

Now, the project has been officially detailed and even has its own website called, what else, the New Lancia Stratos.

As was rumored, the project is currently a one-off model, built by Pininfarina and based on the Ferrari F430. As you can imagine, the new Stratos uses a different body, made completely out of carbon fiber. This means it will be extremely lightweight and have a near 50:50 weight distribution.


The car is being made for German enthusiast Michael Stoschek, who is really into racing old rally models.

No other details were revealed, but if more people will be interested in the project, there is the possibility of it being made into a limited series instead of the current one-off.

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Lancia Stratos prototype reportedly just a Pininfarina one-off


Last week Lancia fans became ecstatic when a couple of spy photos from a Fiat test track showcased what looked like a spiritual successor to the iconic Lancia Stratos model.

Seeing as how the car borrowed heavily from the 2005 Lancia Stratos Fenomenon, rumors immediately pointed to a revived sportscar, which would act as a halo model for the rest of the Lancia range.

Now, a new report from ItaliaSpeed has shed some light on the mysterious model. It seems that a very rich customer asked Italian design house Pininfarina to develop a special one-off model, in the vein of the Lancia Stratos.

According to the same report, the car is based on a shortened Ferrari F430, and might keep the massive V8 engine of the Italian sportscar. As you can imagine, big power, low weight and improved aerodynamics are some of the best ingredients for any car, so this model will honor the Stratos’ legacy.

Expect this Pininfarina one-off to appear at upcoming auto shows, before the Italian company sells it to its mysterious customer.

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Lancia Stratos prototype spied on the track


Almost all Italian car fans, as well as rally enthusiasts, fondly remember the iconic Lancia Stratos sportscar, which broke records and won hearts in the hectic 1970s. Sadly, it was discontinued, and models are now worth quite a lot of money.

Enthusiasts were treated to a huge surprise with the Fenomen Stratos concept, which was revealed back in 2005. Sadly, nothing came out of it, not even a limited series.

Now, it seems things might have changed. According to ItaliaSpeed, these two spy photos depict a Lancia Stratos prototype being tested out on a private Fiat track.


While the model does share most of its design with the Fenomen Stratos, a few things have been changed, for a better functionality, including the front fascia. Not much else was revealed, so do take these shots with a mighty huge grain of salt.

If it will revive the Stratos, we’re pretty sure Lancia is going to strike gold in the deep pockets of enthusiasts all over the world.

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