Lancia Ypsilon L21

Being the first all-new Lancia model after nearly a decade and a half, the all-new Lancia Ypsilon L21 marks the beginning of the Lancia revival project spearheaded by Stellantis.

2025 Lancia Ypsilon

Starting at €19,900 plus additional costs, the all-new Lancia Ypsilon represents not only a complete model change but also the revival of an iconic Italian nameplate from scratch.

2025 Lancia Ypsilon

The exterior design speaks for itself because the Ypsilon dons the reborn Lancia design language first seen on the Pu+Ra HPE Concept. From the T-shaped front face to the new Lancia logo at the edge of the side, and the Stratos-inspired rear lamps, the design traces its roots back to Lancia's fabled history. Judging by its size, since this is Stellantis doing the talking, the all-new Ypsilon bears a similar size to today's Opel Corsa and Peugeot 208 equivalents.

2025 Lancia Ypsilon interior

The new interior is also a sign of things to come from the Lancia revival plan. Powered by the S.A.L.A. infotainment system, everything on the Ypsilon's interior, from radio, air conditioner, navigation, and other essential features, is controlled via its touch screen. Some would find it difficult to master on their first attempt, the high-tech gadgetry is one of the signs to expect for the new Lancia interior. As for space, this five-seater can accommodate up to 352 liters of boot space with the rear seats in place, which is more than the previous model.

2025 Lancia Ypsilon

The all-new Ypsilon shares its components with the current Opel Corsa and Peugeot 208, offering both hybrid and electric variants. The Ypsilon Hybrid is equipped with a 1.2L petrol engine paired with a 48V electric motor, producing a total of 110 PS. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 9.3 seconds and has a top speed that is 10 kph faster than typical Japanese cars. It also boasts a fuel economy of 4.6 L/100 km. 

On the other hand, the Ypsilon Elettrica features a 156 PS electric motor connected to a lithium-ion battery, achieving a 0-100 kph time of 8.2 seconds and a maximum speed of 150 kph.

When it comes to driving, the all-new Ypsilon is an improvement over the previous model, behaving similarly to today’s Corsa and 208. Despite its larger size, it remains as playful as any other city car currently on the road, making it easy to navigate tight turns. You can truly relax while driving, and the car's dynamics make the new Ypsilon enjoyable to maneuver. 

After a long day at work, you’ll appreciate the wide range of safety technology, including Level 2 Autonomous Driving, which helps keep the new Ypsilon in check. How you feel about these features can vary; they can be either surprising or annoying, depending on who is at the wheel.

The all-new Lancia Ypsilon marks the beginning of the brand's revival project initiated by Stellantis. While it might be seen as a rebranded Opel Corsa or Peugeot 208, this model represents the first step towards restoring Lancia from the brink of extinction. With the introduction of the new Ypsilon, we can look forward to future Lancia models based on Stellantis' European offerings, including the Gamma—rumored to be a crossover—and the anticipated return of the Delta. All that is to come, but for now, please enjoy the return of Lancia with the all-new Ypsilon, whether you like it or not.

Photo: Lancia

My FH5 Log: Euro Trash

Would you look at that? The European Automotive update of Forza Horizon 5 is constantly littered with European junk cars out from the junkyard and into the ever-growing FH5 car roster. The cesspool of junk cars keeps on growing.

First up is the Lancia Fulvia from the Hot Season Playlist. Powered by a 1.3L V4 engine, it's the car that made Lancia win its first World Rally Championship. Not bad for a front-wheel-drive coupe that costs more than the Jaguar E-Type when it was new.

Next up is the Citroen DS 23 from the Storm Season Playlist. This is the iconic hatchback that first introduced Citroen's signature hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension system which uses liquid hydraulic and gas-pressured suspension instead of springs, giving it a comfy ride on all kinds of road surfaces. It was the first to use disc brakes.

Fresh from the Dry Season Playlist is the Series 4 Lotus Esprit, the last V8-powered Lotus ever made and one of the last production cars with pop-up headlights.

The Hot Season Playlist featured a double bill of German garbage; the Volkswagen Double Cab Pick-up and the Mercedes-Benz 500 E. The Doka is basically the pickup variant of the Volkswagen Type 2 minibus while the 500 E is the V8-powered variant of the W124 E-Class made from a Porsche factory.

Let's give the quintuplet of European garbage a good dirty driving, and showcase just how good these rusty beaters from the Old Continent were. Roll the tapes.

These rusty beaters proved their point but as it turned out, they were nothing compared to the worst European toxic waste of the pack; the AMG Hammer Wagon from the European Automotive DLC Pack.

The AMG Hammer Wagon is a one-off W214 wagon built for a client from the USA. Started out in life as a diesel-powered W214 wagon until the original owner commissioned AMG to convert it into a super wagon, armed with a 6.0L V8 engine producing 375hp of power while mated to a 4-speed AT. It even comes with a locking differential to help the rear axle endure the punishment from the V8 engine, among others.

Want to see how the AMG Hammer Wagon roars? You're in luck because let's get the tape rolling.

The latest batch of toxic waste dump proves that the cesspool of rusty beaters never stops growing, giving Gen Z players uncontrollable anxiety, complaining about why the Forza producers keep dumping junk cars in such a wonderful racing game.

Are we seeing more junk cars in the next FH5 series update next week? Yes, there will be junk cars next week so brace yourselves for more rusty beaters ruining your FH5 experience.

My FH5 Log: Rediscovering Italian Nostalgia

The Italian Automotive update on Forza Horizon 5 welcomes back Fiat, Lancia, Abarth, and Alfa Romeo in the game with a total of 16 playable cars. The first half is available on the autoshow while the latter half was prize cars attainable throughout the entire season. All in the name of rediscovering Italian nostalgia, of course.

Focusing on the prize cars, let's check out the hauls of the season...

At the Wet Season Playlist of the Italian Automotive update, I got the keys to the Alfa Romeo 155 Q4 and the Lancia Delta S4. The first one is a potent contender to the DTM while the latter is Lancia's biggest WRC success story since the Fulvia, the Stratos, and the 037.

At the Storm Season Playlist, I got the keys to the Alfa Romeo 4C, a lightweight rear-wheel-drive Alfa Romeo sportscar made by Alfistas for Alfistas, as well as the Abarth 695, the most hardcore version of the Abarth 500 hatchback.

At the Dry Season Playlist, the Abarth 131 Rally and the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione became part of my FH5 fleet. The former is a 3-box saloon car homologated for rally racing and follows the footsteps of the legendary Lancia Stratos for obvious reasons while the latter is Alfa Romeo's first V8-powered supercar which was built in the same factory as the Maserati GranTurismo.

Lastly, in the Hot Season Playlist, the Lancia 037 and the Abarth 124 Spider are under my caring hands in the game. The 037 is Lancia's Audi Quattro killer while the Abarth 124 Spider is the Italian Mazda ND Roadster that does what its Japanese equivalent doesn't.

Having got my hands on the eight prize cars of the Italian Automotive update, it's time to showcase their Italian flair by giving them challenges at the Horizon Badlands and see if these unlimited amounts of torture can bring out the Roman gladiator within them. Roll the tapes.

Guess those torture tests really brought them the Roman gladiator within but hey, this is Italian automotive at its core.

Enjoy your new rides!

Forza Horizon 4: The last great Lancia

The Lancia Delta Integrale is the last great Lancia in history and now that I got my hands on this rally legend straight from the recent Horizon Playlist, it won't be long before I had my final say on one of the all-time greats.



The Delta HF Integrale is the result of the car's success that eclipsed the Fulvia, the Stratos, and the 037 combined by winning six World Rally Championship titles on its belt. Revealed at the 1991 Frankfurt Motor Show, the HF Integrale Evoluzione features a redesigned front and larger air slots in the hood to cool off its turbocharged 2.0L engine producing 207HP of power. The original Delta S4 conquered every single Group B rallying but crashes and deaths caused Group B rallying to end and while the Delta adapts through the WRC changes, it didn't went well as planned until Lancia bids rallying goodbye in 1992.



After reading through a very sad but wonderful tale of the Lancia Delta, the last great Lancia in history, it's time to take the Delta Integrale for a drive to remember forever until it heads to the great rally stage in the sky.



Job well done. There's nothing else I can say.

Enjoy your new ride.

Forza Motorsport 7: Legendary rally rivalry

It's rally season so let's celebrate by taking a wheel behind two of the most legendary machines that carved their own path during the heydays of Group B rallying; the Audi quattro and the Lancia 037. I was simply adored by the stories about how these two changed the rallying landscape forever from how Audi forever changed the WRC rules for allowing 4WD cars to enter rallying and how Lancia gunning down the might of the quattro by whatever means necessary to make the rear-wheel drive 037 a force to be reckoned with.



I love the way how Audi pioneered the quattro all-wheel-drive system and how it forever changed the rules not just in motorsports but also in the motoring industry. Ever since Audi demanded the organizers to allow four-wheel drive cars to compete in the World Rally Championship, it became a dominant force to be reckoned with as demonstrated by a double victory in 1982, a driver title win in 1983, and a double title again in 1984. It was clear proof that thanks to the Audi quattro, the all-wheel drive system became a common cause for most car companies, especially those competing at the WRC.



I also love the way how Lancia made a riposte against the Audi quattro with the 037 and how a ragtag rally team spearheaded by a playboy named Cesare Fiorio changed the rally landscape in favor of the 037, despite one of the drivers saying he doesn't want to be a world champion in the first place. Although being run by a power-boating playboy on a short budget and a part-time driver who didn't want to be world champion, they really know how to use their trump cards very well to confuse the organizers, especially the idea when they present 400 cars made for homologation purposes in a rather confusing kind of way. Did you know in the Monte Carlo rally, before the 037 goes rallying, the team bought kilos of salt so they can use it to clear the road as well as demand the French authorities to clear the road? Well, that excuse doesn't stop there because, after the icy stages of the Monte Carlo rally, they swapped tires. In the Corsica rally, meanwhile, they brought on four 037s to race, which is unheard of for WRC regulations. Then, in the San Remo Rally, the folks devised a little distraction while waiting for the dust to be settled and after all that lollygagging, the dust was gone and the 037 raced all the way to grab the manufacturer title win.





That's why this rivalry made it special in the history of the World Rally Championship because while Audi tries to prove that the quattro and its well-established team are the real rule-changer, Lancia tries to prove that their status as the undisputed king of WRCs is still going strong despite its eccentric management. With the rest of the WRC regulations changed thanks to the Audi quattro, the 037 is the ideal sendoff for rear-wheel drive rally cars and its victory against the quattro is the definitive proof that rear-wheel drive rally cars prevail through the very end. While I'm very amused over the legendary tale of quattro vs. 037 in the WRC, let's pit these rally legends around the Top Gear Track to see which one is king. However, it's raining outside, which gives the advantage to the quattro but you never know what sort of tricks the 037 might possess even in such drizzling conditions. Let's roll the tape...



And now, let's check out the time...

Quattro - 1:29.525
037 - 1:30.870

Whoa, that was too close to call for the 037. Seems that the wet weather favored the all-wheel drive Audi quattro but guess what, when it dries out, it might favor the 037, but still, it's been an honor to sample the biggest rivalry in rally history in a rather considerable way.





Looking back at those two rally legends made me realize how great this motorsport was back then and despite the change of times, rest assured that an epic rally rivalry like this would never be forgotten, especially when a team like Lancia's had some trump cards in store to favor the 037. It's rather sad that Lancia is now diminished into making a lone offering only sold in Italy while Audi continues to multiply like germs. It really is heartbreaking but with cars like these, it doesn't really matter which drivetrain you're up to. It's up to the strategy rally teams possess as long as they adhere to the rules they set foot in.

Happy rally season, ladies and gentlemen!

Forza Motorsport 5: IS装着

The IS naming in the Lexus IS car stands for "intelligent sports" but if you drank too much sake and ended in a massive hangover, you will probably mistaken the naming for "Infinite Stratos", apparently. If the name "Stratos" really does ring a bell...then most car enthusiast think of that name as the legendary Lancia Stratos, the rally legend powered by a Ferrari Dino engine in the middle and won three World Rally Championships from 1974 to 1976.

This has got to be one of the most absurd comparisons ever done in the history of Forza Motorsport 5 but because this is science, the Lexus IS, in IS F trim with the 5.0L V8 engine and the 8-speed SPDS gearbox mated on it, wanted to know if the S in the IS naming stands for Stratos but first...




Both the ISF and the Stratos are taking their rehearsals at the world-renowned, as-seen-on-TV, Top Gear Test Track, located at the Dunsfold Aerodrome, Surrey, United Kingdom.



Based on the data gathered during their rehearsals, it seems that the Lancia Stratos, despite it's almost four times less power than the ISF, performed very well in the handling stakes thanks to the fact that it weighs 1,619 lbs less than the Lexus saloon car and its almost-perfect weight distribution, meaning that for every turn, the Lancia does very well like proper handwriting. The Lexus maybe more powerful than the Stratos but because with so much torque, even a gentle touch would send its rear wheels spin, giving you a hard time to send it to the tight corners with maximum effort. I know Lexus cars are made for those who want to spend their time at the country club like most luxury cars do but for the ISF, that is so out of character for a Japanese luxury car.

With all that, looks like the ISF and the Stratos flew all the way to Long Beach, California, and they're all set to answer the burning question that every student from the IS Academy, well mostly female students, asks. So, can the S in the IS really means Stratos?!






At the Long Beach circuit, the Lexus did it in 1:45.482 while the Lancia did it in 1:53.095, almost eight seconds slower. Well, conclusive proof that the S in the Lexus IS naming really means Stratos...although this is very absurd and whoa! Am I spending too much time drinking alcohol and watching too much Infinite Stratos just to spring this massively absurd idea?! Oh dear... Looks like I'm kinda offending little Miss Houki... He he he...

Forza Horizon: The Battle of IS

IS meets Stratos

Huh, that's weird. Even in Colorado, there really was The Battle of IS. Oh, man! Come on! Get it, together, man! What am I saying? Do you think am I the only one around here who says that the S in the Lexus IS naming really mean Stratos? As in...Lancia Stratos?

Nah! But still, it was nice driving both the Lexus IS F and the Lancia Stratos though. It's kinda fun to drive both of these weapons-grade materials on the streets of Colorado. While the Stratos has the crispiest sounds thanks to its Ferrari engine at the middle, the IS F sure is an out-of-character car for the brand that makes saloons for rich golfers.

Forza Motorsport 4: Collection of Lancias

Now let's just stop right about now and talk about Lancia because for many years, Lancia produced some of the most historic cars ever made. Despite the few problems with the rust three decades ago, Top Gear named Lancia as the greatest carmaker in the world. Such lunacy did produce results for Lancia like for instance; they're the first to sell a car with the monococque body, first to offer a five-speed gearbox, first to sell a car with supercharging and turbocharging on the same engine, first to sell a road car with a V6 engine, and first to sell a car with an electric boot spoiler. Just because most Lancias are unreliable doesn't mean that they're not great and that's an actual fact, even the tattiest of the Lancias are tougher than what you might think.Well, you get the idea but here on Forza Motorsport 4; three of the greatest Lancias come together such as..

the Stratos,

Stratos on a foursome

the 037,

Is this the car that defeated the mighty Audi Quattro?

and the Delta Integrale.

Only Lancia...

I was going to say all about those three but instead, I'd decided to unleash my Stigness and put those three round the Top Gear Test Track.



So, based on the result, I had the time and the Stratos did it in 1:30.557 while the 037 did it in 1:31.309 and the Delta Intregale did it in 1:30.232 so I think it's a progress of how did they made Lancia classics great. But still, I like the Stratos because that exhaust note sounds as crispy as eating a well-done fried chicken. Mmmm, yummy. However, while the Stratos produces the crispiest exhaust note, the Delta Integrale is definitely the best Lancia ever made because this was served as the last hurrah for the glorious carmaker and it won the World Rally Championship, six times on the trot! It may not be the prettiest looking car to drive but oh my stars, this one's the best. Seems that most car enthusiasts really prefer the Lancias of the past rather than the present because present Lancias are turning into Chrysler clones and that's not good.