02 Mar 05
Sadly, we don't get the LHD-only Ypsilon in the UK - officially, at least - but the good-looking Lancia version of the Fiat Punto is a strong seller in its home Italian market and elsewhere in Europe. This Ypsilon Sport concept features the GM-Fiat 1.9-litre direct-injection diesel engine (150bhp, 152lb ft of torque), and is said to be good for 132mph and 0-60mph in 7.7 seconds. It has a six-speed manual gearbox, uprated brakes and suspension lowered by six engines. Its Zagato-designed body kit has an aggressively-lowered front bumper with large mouth-like air intake, a large rear bumper with hexagonal-shaped exit for the exhaust tailpipe, flared wings, wheelarches and accentuated side skirts, as well as a full-length glass roof panel, slightly re-styled headlights and the Zagato 'Z' logo in the central pillars. It is finished in three-coat pearlescent orange paint, said to be "a modern interpretation of Lancia's traditional racing colours".
Inside, the Sport has a Momo steering wheel, a stripped-down fascia with analogue instruments, and painted carbon-fibreglass sports seats developed with help from jet-makers Lear. The cabin in finished with chrome trim, woodwork on the ceiling and carpets made from a new material containing chamois leather and rubber.
The Ypsilon Sport is a probable contender for production, and the company says that it also "represents an important return to 'real sports cars', but in an entirely new field, where powerful turbodiesels will dominate in the future." Although the production car is unlikely to feature the same seats and cabin detailing, this diesel powertrain is certainly destined for sale in the supermini range: Lancia says that the car has already been tested on the race track, an unlikely measure were the Sport to merely remain a motor show display. It's also possible that this 150bhp diesel engine may be fitted in the next-generation Punto range, giving Fiat a rival to the likes of the Skoda Fabia vRS and Seat Ibiza Cupra diesels.
