Lancia Y10

Lancia Y10 History

The car was manufactured at Fiat’s Autobianchi plant in Desio, Milan until 1992 and after that in Arese, near Alfa Romeo’s plants. In addition to a relatively high level of trim for its market segment, the Y10 featured a new rear rigid axle suspension design (called Omega axle), subsequently shared with the facelifted Fiat Panda. In spite of its short overall length, the Y10 had a drag coefficient of just 0.31.

Production totaled approximately 850,000 in the first seven years, in spite of being a pricier, more niche-oriented product than its Fiat siblings. In addition to unique style and luxurious trim, the Y10’s aerodynamics increased the fuel economy. Sales in the United Kingdom were never strong, and it was withdrawn in late 1991. This was more than two years before Lancia withdrew entirely from Britain and all other RHD markets. Lancia remained in the segment in left-hand drive markets with the similarly marketed Ypsilon.

The Autobianchi Y10 made its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1985 as a replacement for the fifteen-year-old A112.[4] It lost out for the title of European Car of the Year for 1986 to the Ford Scorpio.

Design

The A112 remained on sale, alongside the Y10, almost to the end of 1986. The Y10 was sold under the Autobianchi marque in Italy, Portugal, France, and Japan.[6] In most other markets it was sold under the Lancia marque. In Portugal it remained an Autobianchi until 1989, and was badged Lancia thenceforth.

The Y10’s most important design innovation was the vertical tail cut-off, characterized by the tailgate painted in black satin, regardless of the colour chosen for the body. The notable wedge shape of the small body is very aerodynamic thanks to the hood, which is inclined towards the curved windscreen, and side windows that were mounted flush with the bodywork, as well as the absence of drip rails, the recessed door handles and roof tapering slightly toward the back.

All these features were unique for a small car in 1985 and were developed by the Fiat Style Centre, at that time led by Vittorio Ghidella. The definition of the project Y10 took more than three years of study. It was necessary that this car have a very specific identity to allow it to be unequivocally placed under the Lancia brand. The appointments were originally entrusted to Pininfarina and Giorgetto Giugiaro as well as the Fiat Style Centre. Hundreds of drawings were executed with sketches and scale models starting as early as 1980. Eventually a design by the Fiat Style Centre was selected and developed that best responded to the theme of a car destined for a particular user, “select and elite”, a real flagship miniature desired by women as much as a handbag and identified by men as their favorite perfume.

The car had rectangular headlights, which, together with a simple grille. The windshield, installed with silicone resin instead of a rubber gasket, was large, sloped and characterized by a single wiper. The side was characterized by a belt line from the base of the hood rising gradually as it approaches the lower edge of the tailgate, delimited by the wrap-around taillights.

The Y10 was offered only with a three-door body with relatively large doors, offering easy access even for rear passengers. The tailgate was on a nearly vertical plane, hinged to make it more practical to access the luggage compartment by shifting the point of rotation eleven centimeters towards the center of the roof. The rear lights were of a horizontal layout, similar to the A112 with a wrap around rear bumper fascia.

The car shares mechanicals with the Fiat Panda and was largely conventional in its layout, with a transversely mounted engine and front- or four-wheel-drive. The fuel capacity, at 47 litres (10 imp gal; 12 US gal), was at least fifty percent more than what was usual for the class.

The interior was carpeted and featured cloth upholstery on the seats and optional Alcantara upholstery on the dashboard, seats and door panels, and options such as electric windows, central locking, split rear bench seat, rear window hinged electrically, glass sunroof and climate control system with electronic controls and LED display, similar to that already adopted on Fiat Regata.