Lancia to target MINI with all-new 2009 Ypsilon
We're a peace-lovin' bunch here at Autoblog, but truth be told, we love it when the British and the Italians fight. Conflict between these two automaking nations has produced such rivalries as Ferrari vs. McLaren, Aston Martin vs. Maserati and Alfa Romeo vs. Jaguar. Lately the duel has been downsized considerably, but got ever more ferocious when the Fiat Group decided that it wouldn't let the MINI have the retro-hatch niche all to itself anymore. And so we got the Fiat 500, followed by the recently-released Alfa Mi.To. But lest you think the Italians would sit back and watch their newest style-mobiles eat away at the MINI, they are, in fact, preparing yet another one: the new Lancia Ypsilon.
The upcoming Ypsilon will follow the new Delta – unveiled in Geneva just a few weeks ago – in Lancia's ambitious rejuvenation campaign. It is tipped to be based on the same mechanicals as the Alfa Mi.To – that is, a modified Fiat Grande Punto platform with a range of gasoline and diesel fours – but with distinct styling, including the iconic Lancia grille flanked by slanted LED headlights and two-tone paint schemes. You can bet that Frank Stephenson – the man responsible for designing the MINI, the 500 and, as head of Alfa's centro stile, the new Mi.To – will have plenty of input in the upcoming Lancia's design, as well. The new Ypsilon is anticipated to make its debut next year at one of the major shows (Geneva '09 would be a good bet) and go in sale in Europe shortly thereafter.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Red 5:56PM (3/31/2008)
Pontiac-esque front end, but it looks good. I'd love a Mi.To though.
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SPG 6:04PM (3/31/2008)
And to think I thought that the Versa would make a cool urban commuter car.
Well, it would.
But this Lancia is (in my opinion) the coolest little commuter I've seen.
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Rocketboy 6:45PM (3/31/2008)
Egads, does my internet work different than yours? Man that's ugly.
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Nim 7:39PM (3/31/2008)
All of the above comparisons would be true were it not for the fact that Ferrari's most expensive car (track-only specials excluded) was released 10 years later and at 3/4 of the price of the McLaren, Aston's cheapest car is more expensive than Maserati's top model, and that the same is true for the Jaguar/Alfa comparison: Alfa's 8C is a 500-run one-off, everything else they make is at or below the X-Type in price. There's a case to be made for Ferrari/McLaren, but the others are, and have always been, way off.
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asteron 5:52AM (4/01/2008)
Dear Nim,
Sorry for my English first.
Just a little reminder of the forces in presence.
1. Ferrari is at the top of automotive industry.
2. Aston V8 is cheaper than Granturismo.
All Aston look the same .
Have you heard of MC12? I think they sold
them at $ 1 million piece.
3. Alfa Romeo may be a generalist, but to see a
Jaguar station wagon with a 136 bhp diesel...?
(Ask for the price....)
4. Ah, I forgot one little thing... All the Italian
brands here, are still Italian....
5. To whoom belongs Jag, Aston, Land Rover,
Mini?
6. When you think that Britain was number one
producer and exporter before WWI, and now
they have disappeared....
7. Alfa IS coming back. Give them 3 years, and
you'll remember these lines.
8. If a car does not make your hart beats faster,
the do not bother... Thank God there are still
the Italians for that.
Thank you for listening
tenfifteen 10:28PM (3/31/2008)
When any of these also-rans start beating the Coopers in SCCA G&H, let me know. Until then... just a whole lot of wankery imho.
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