The Lancia Ypsilon is a car that doesn't get enough of the attention it deserves. Well, the Italian automaker hopes to change that with the release of a 'trendy' new special edition called the Elefantino.

No, Lancia->ke45 did not harm any elephants in the making of this vehicle. What they did do was give it a pretty impressive aesthetic makeover that gives us an idea on what the Ypsilon can look alike if the words "trendy and fashionable" were attached to it.

That's the appeal of the Ypsilon Elefantino, especially to a younger market looking to exercise their fresh and hip vibe with a car that shares in that same, shall we say, "freshness".

On its own, the Ypsilon Elefantino carries plenty of powertrain options, each of which comes with its own price tag.

You can find out what made the Ypsilon Elefante appealing to us, as well as the engine and pricing options, after the jump.

2013 Lancia Ypsilon Elefantino

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Lancia Ypsilon Elefantino
  • Horsepower: 95
  • Torque: 62
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The Lancia Ypsilon Elefantino is a part of the automaker's 'Fashion City Car' special series with a target of introducing the brand to the younger and trend conscious market.

No aerodynamic modifications were given to the car, although Lancia did a pretty good job in providing plenty of aesthetic offerings for the consumer, all designed to address a younger audience that prefers 'metropolitan' style above all else.

The Ypsilon Elefantino is offered in a choice of body colors - Sabbia Beige, Neve White, Pietra Grey, Vulcano Black and Aurora Purple - to go with special livery designs throughout the car. In this particular case, you'll notice a number of fuchsia details throughout the exterior, particularly the door mirror covers, body-colored door handles, and original-colored hub caps.

Interior

For such a unique car, an equally unique interior is definitely warranted. In the case of the Ypsilon Elefantino, you get the treat of a cabin that features tone-on-tone stickers on the central posts and graphics on the seats and dashboard that draw the style and panache of some of Europe's trendiest cities.

The Ypsilon Elefantino also makes use of plenty of leather and chrome, particularly on the steering wheel and the multitude of finishes throughout the car. The seats have also been designed to stand out, getting fitted in black fabric to go with matching fuschia stitching.

Performance

The Lancia Ypsilon Elefantino comes powered with a choice of five different powertrain options, beginning with a 0.9-liter TwinAir that develops 85 horsepower. From there, you can opt for a 1.2-liter 69 CV that produces 69 horsepower; a 1.3-liter MultiJet that nets 95 horsepower, a 1.2-liter CV GPL Ecochic that delivers 69 horsepower, and a 0.9-liter Turbo TwinAir that churns out 80 horsepower.

Engine

Horsepower

Torque (pound-feet)

0.9 TwinAir

85

60

0.9 Turbo TwinAir

80

54

1.2 69 CV

69

49

1.2 CV GPL Ecochic

69

49

1.3 MultiJet

95

65


Pricing

Pricing details for the Lancia Ypsilon Elefante begins with a base tag of €12,700 ($16,500 at the current exchange rate) for the 1.2 69 CV model all the way up to €16,500 ($21,440) for the 0.9 TwinAir 80 CV metano Ecochic model.

Full prices are as follows:

Model

Price (€)

USD Conversion

0.9 TwinAir

14,200

18,450

0.9 Turbo TwinAir

16,500

21,440

1.2 69 CV

12,700

16,500

1.2 CV GPL Ecochic

14,700

19,100

1.3 MultiJet

15,000

19,500


Competition

Audi A1

The Lancia Ypsilon isn't the most attractive model in the B-segment; there are a lot of other choices to choose from. But there's a reason why the Ypsilon carries an 11-percent market share in Italy in the first quarter of the year, as well as the third-best-selling car in Italy after consolidating the results achieved in 2012.

But if you're looking for alternatives, the Audi A1 is a pretty good choice. Not only does it carry shared styling with some of its higher-end brothers in the Audi lineup but it also has its own powertrain options that begin at 89 horsepower and goes all the way up to 122 horsepower.

Plus, there's that bonus of being an Audi, which is far more appealing in your hands than an Ypsilon ever would be. If you can shoulder the added cost - base price for an A1 is around €16,000 ($20,870) - then the A1 is a very attractive alternative.

Conclusion

We have to admit that the Elefantino special trim of the Ypsilon is pretty impressive. We love the interior with the special graphics on the seats and the dash. We also love the color choices that Lancia is offering for the model. Best of all, we love that it's pretty affordable.

The only thing we don't like is that there's no reasonable amount of power under its hood that'll satisfy our speed cravings. Then again, people who will buy the Ypsilon Elefantino won't be looking for power when they're making that purchase.

For the package that Lancia is offering, coupled with the relative exclusivity of the model, the Ypsilon Elefantina is a solid buy if you're looking for a trendy-looking city car with plenty of fancy aesthetics to offer.