Lancia has started a very important new chapter in its history. The iconic Italian brand is ready to carry out its ambitious electrification process. Lancia will bet without complexes on the electric car from the year 2024 and confirms the launch of a large number of new models. There will be a new Lancia Ypsilon and there is even talk of the return of the Lancia Thema.
The future of Lancia
It involves betting without complexes on electrification, expanding its range and once again being an international brand. Luca Napolitano, CEO of Lancia, has confirmed some of the keys to this roadmap that has been established. An ambitious strategic plan that is already underway and that will change this firm forever, which currently only operates in Italy and its product offering consists of a single model. The Lancia Ypsilon.
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, has given some insights into the future of some of the car brands that make up this colossus of the automotive industry in the framework of the financial results conference for the first half of 2021. Tavares has highlighted the leading role that the Ypsilon plays in the Italian territory. Despite its seniority, it remains a commercial success. That is why this commercial name will remain in the new era in which the company is already entering.
Lancia’s commitment to the electric car and electrification
Taking into account that Europe has decided to kill the combustion engine, it is clear that Lancia, like the rest of the brands, will have to bet exclusively on electric mobility at some point in the year 2035. However, the Italian firm will do so. it will do much sooner than you might expect at first. It will be in the year 2024 when the Lancia range will be fully electrified.
We must bear in mind that the Ypsilon, the only model in the Lancia range, only bets on electrification at its lowest level. Specifically for the 12-volt light hybrid technology (MHEV) that we can also find in the FIAT 500 and the FIAT Panda. The rest of the mechanical options of the Ypsilon are bifuel engines adapted to the use of LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas).
It will be in the year 2024 when Lancia has completed the electrification of its product line, since it will be then when we can find an electric vehicle in its range. Although we will talk about it later. Y from the year 2026, all new Lancia models will be 100% electric.
The new Lancia models: Ypsilon, Delta and Thema
Parallel to this electrification process, Lancia will start up all the machinery (supported by Stellantis) to carry out an ambitious offensive. Gone are the times when everything passed exclusively through the Ypsilon.
Lancia has confirmed that plans to continue the Ypsilon. However, a comprehensive renovation is coming for this model. We could even speak of a spiritual heir since at a technical level there will be no relationship with the project that is already underway. At the moment there is already a 1: 1 scale model of the new Ypsilon. A vehicle that will hit the market sometime in 2024.
It will be supported by the CMP platform, which opens the door to a 100% electric variant. Moreover, based on the roadmap that has been exposed, Lancia plans an all-electric variant of the new Ypsilon. The conventional mechanical offering will go through a low-displacement and electrified gasoline engine with light hybrid technology to keep consumption and emissions levels low.
There is not much information but based on statements from senior Lancia officials and even the former FCA (FIAT Chrysler Automobiles), it has been made clear that the future Ypsilon will no longer be a model focused especially on the female audience. The design will be much more transversal, modern and capable, which will attract male buyers. It will make use of a five-door hatchback body.
The future plans for Lancia have already received the go-ahead from the leadership. The new Ypsilon will be followed by an urban crossover that will also fight in the B segment. A model that on a technical level will take the DS 3 Crossback as a reference. And the third model to see the light will be, if the reports are correct, a saloon. Probably a successor to the Lancia Thema. At the time, Napolitano assured that the strategy will be based on three commercial names that have been key in the history of Lancia: Ypsilon, Delta Y Thema.