The Second Youth of Lancia: A Century of Elegance

Lancia boasts nearly 120 years of history, having been founded on November 27, 1906. Over this time, beyond being one of the legendary automotive brands, it has become synonymous with timeless elegance and harbors a sporting spirit within. This legacy is carefully preserved at the Heritage Hub in Turin, which houses the entire history of this brand from its inception, allowing one to observe the thread that has led to Lancia's second youth with the relaunch through the new Ypsilon.

At the Heritage Hub in Turin, one can understand why Lancia made people around the world dream, thanks to iconic vehicles such as the elegant Flaminia and Aurelia B24 Spider, the powerful Delta, Stratos, and 037, the eclectic Fulvia, the Beta HPE, and many others.

Now, it is embarking on its rebirth based on three pillars: innovation, timeless design, and sustainability.

The brand was founded in Turin on November 27, 1906, by Vincenzo Lancia and Claudio Fogolin, both Fiat employees and motor enthusiasts. The first car produced in 1908 was the Lancia 12 HP, a decidedly unconventional car for its time. Its chassis was low and light, equipped with a drive shaft instead of chains, and it became a true success for its era with sales of over 100 units.

Lancia's fame grew, and the brand survived World War I, after which other high-quality models followed, including the Lambda, Augusta, and Aprilia. After World War II, in 1950, Lancia introduced the Aurelia, the world's first car with a V6 engine. The model won several competitions and convinced Gianni Lancia, Vincenzo's son, to establish a racing department dedicated to road racing, which became known as Scuderia Lancia.

In 1956, the brand ventured into high-end cars: the icons of the 1960s were the Flaminia and the Flavia, the latter being the first Italian car with a front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive. In the early 1970s, the sports department re-emerged and dominated the rally world for over 20 years, with the Stratos taking Lancia to the pinnacle of motorsport: fifteen World Rally Championships, three World Constructors' and Endurance Championships, a 1000 Miles, two Targa Florio, and a Carrera Panamericana.

Beyond the sporting realm, in 1985, the compact Y10 debuted at the Geneva Motor Show, revolutionizing the concept of the urban car. The Ypsilon quickly became a highly successful line: more than 37 special series, 4 generations, and leader of its segment in Italy.

Last April, the baton was passed to the New Ypsilon, the precursor of Lancia's new era. Both its sinuous shapes and round taillights, a clear reference to the Lancia Stratos, are inspired by the brand's historic models. Not to mention that the New Lancia Ypsilon is the first production car from Stellantis equipped with the SALA system, the intelligent virtual interface that ensures a comfortable driving experience in line with Lancia's technology.

The latest creation of the legendary Italian brand competes in the 'premium' B segment. Inside, a large 10.25-inch screen dominates the dashboard. But its technology stands out, such as the standard parking assistance system, the exterior lighting system in terms of technology and breadth; and it is also the only model in the segment equipped with Level 2 Autonomous Driving as standard in the Cassina version.

Lancia's design has never been design for design's sake, but the most complete expression of Italian style, that is, that unique combination of classic elegance, creativity, and passion. This approach, which was never a mere display of creative talent, has given life to cars with a refined design that always seeks to eliminate excess and find beauty in pure forms and content.

Not by chance, many Lancia cars have become part of the popular imagination: from the Aurelia to the Flaminia, through the Fulvia, the Beta HPE, the Gamma, the Delta, the Stratos, and the 037. While some of these models boast elegant designs, others present a robust appearance. However, all share a unique style that is capable of transcending space and time, keeping them beautiful, contemporary, and emblematic expressions of Italian design to this day.

Moreover, Lancia's style has often dressed innovation with refinement. For example, its patented wardrobe-style door opening in the 1930s, which featured no central pillar, was a precursor to later innovations.