OK, OK, this is the Lancia-branded version of the Chrysler Ypsilon… and even when it gets a Chrysler badge, it won’t be coming to the United States (at least not in this iteration). Still, this is a huge moment for Chrysler: after all, the brand has not offered a legitimate subcompact car since the Omni/Horizon shuffled off the mortal coil some 21 years ago. And like the Simca-derived L-Platform subcompacts, the Ypsilon is thoroughly continental under its badging: the Fiat 500 platform underpins this hatch, though it has been stretched slightly to accommodate four doors. Performance will be modest as engine sizes range from 900cc to 1.3 liters, but with leather and Alcantara interior options, the first mini-Chrysler in over 20 years should offer a stately cabin for a subcompact. But will this be the Fiat-produced, B-Segment Chrysler that we’re expecting in 2013? And if so, will they change its name to Horizon?
That’s actually a beautiful, very distinctive little car. I really like that a lot. I love the front grille. Visibility looks decent as well and I especially like the larger rear window. Well done Chrysler/Fiat.
Does anyone else see a little “juke” in there…taillamps and rear door handle?
You know now that you mention it there is a certain ‘family resemblance’ alright. Maybe that’s why I like it so much.
There was a time when a sub-compact would appropriately be sold as a Dodge or a Plymouth – but what do I know about brand management. Also, I’ll take the 1300cc over the 900cc. If it is to be a Chrysler, call it an Imperial.
If it is to be a Chrysler, call it an Imperial.
Please don’t. I want to remember Imperial as Chrysler’s Cadillac. Not that that kept the name off badge engineered garbage – Chrysler’s Cadillac again, I suppose – after the oil crisis. But there’s nothing Imperial about this degrading little import.
Tiny little bugger, but kinda cute. A new name would be needed, as right now it’s too close to my old hometown of Ypsilanti, MI. If you have been there in recent years, you know it’s um, lost it’s luster a bit…
Brick Dick FTW! ;P
/ Ann Arbor resident.
I have seen it referred to as the Chrysler Java. The Lancia Ypsilon is an upsale B-segment offering. Horizon would not be an appropriate name, since it was previously used for the bread and butter Plymouth brand.
Aren’t we forgetting the Neon?? Hi!
I believe Neon is a compact, not subcompact.
Hairsplitting, the Omni had a lot more usuable space, having had plenty of time in both as rentals back in the day.
How many $25K sub-compacts are expected to sell? How about a $10 sub-compact, jeez…
That’s the Fiat and/or Dodge’s job. 500 starts, well-equipped at $16,000.
Do you want powered windows and a rear defroster?
Call it Argon. Bring neon back to Dodge in the MiTo style. Done, and done.
This is my most sincere dream. But I may want it in a Diesel and/or overpowered gasoline version. Is 1.3 sufficient?
So far the reaction I’ve seen to the new ‘Lancias’ launched today has been a bit of a massacre. Of the 4 new models, the Ypsilon is the only ‘real’ Lancia while the cynically rebadged Chryslers are lamented as the definitive end of the Lancia brand.
It doesn’t help that theý didn’t even bother to so much as rename the Grand Voyager but instead just sell it as Lancia Grand Voyager…
Sergio, what were you thinking?
The Flavia (200) and Grand Voyager are nothing more than painful jokes, but even the barely altered 300 (Thema) doesn’t work at all. This really is a bad mistake, they should have waited at least till they’d have new products and then diversify them a lot before before bringing them to the European market as Lancias. Now they’re only going to sell these in minimal amounts at the cost of completely destroying any brand value that was still there and could have been tapped into by bringing in some competitive products from the get go in say, a year or two/three/four.
The shortest car actually branded as a Chrysler (the Omnirizons were Dodge/Plymouth, of course) was the PT Cruiser, at 169″ long.
Just like this Lancia, the Horizon was sold in the UK as a Chrysler. Not for long, granted, but Chrysler-badged it was.
Going way back to the beginning, the 1924 Chrysler Six is 160″ long.
Is the Ypsilon going to built in Ypsilanti?
Doesn’t the Horizon brand now belong to PSA? When Peugeot-Citroen bought Chrysler Europe and laughably renamed it “Talbot”, the Horizon was (I think) their best-selling car.
I like it a lot – it shows some style. What bothers me about cars like this with the back seat so close to the rear window is a thought that in a rear-ender accident, either the shattered glass of the rear window, or the lower opening edge may serve as a guillotine to whomever is unfortunate enough to be sitting back there at the time, not much different than certain crew-cab P/U trucks, or P/U’s with back seats. That’s not a joking statement, either, by the way.
The Aveo5 has always scared me for the same reason– I’m a bit frightened by the hatchback form’s lack of a rear body cross-member. I know we’ve discussed it with the Focus discussions, but it still makes me cringe a little bit.
Maybe that just means I’m a B/C-Segment coupe person– I don’t know– I just really like a wagon form. The Volvo 245 was never as ‘scary’ as the smaller versions.
I’ve have seen the head of a passenger sitting in the rear most seat of an older minivan actually hit the rear window during a rear ender. For that reason, I’m not a big fan of third row seats.
Looks like a newer mini PT Cruiser to me.
Almost as ghastly from the rear as the pt loser.
Isn’t the PT Cruiser a B-Car?
@ aspade, aa the owner of three Imperials I agree that it would be a joke to apply that name to this car. It was bad enough when they stuck it on the dynasty in the 90’s.
If this car would come to the US I think it would probably use the dodge nameplate, since they plan on moving the chrysler nameplate upscale again. Sticking the chrysler badge on a small car like this would kill that effort.