Lancia Y occupies quite a specific position not only with Lancia, but for the entire Fiat group. He is the most luxurious "baby". This character is emphasized by the possibility of rich equipment of the car and its… High price.
The external shapes of Lancia Y are already interesting. The nicely designed body line immediately shows the attitude towards luxury. Undoubtedly, the car is elegant and that in some ways motivates the high price. There were a few quirks: the external handle is placed vertically on the pane frame, while the bonnet and boot lid are wedge-shaped. Thanks to this, it is difficult not to recognize the car in the street crowd.
There were also some interesting facts in the interior. The instrument panel is centrally located under the windshield. Does it help with observation? Probably not really, especially since the indicators in a small space are not a model of legibility. This does not mean, of course, it makes driving dangerous. The rest of the elements are placed conventionally, and the convenience of their operation does not raise any objections. The armchair, however, is not the best. The sixteen-valve engine promises good performance, a good holding seat is to be expected. However, it is rather focused on comfort, which means, that it does not work very well in hard driving. The advantage is a very wide possibility of adjustment: height, support for the spine – this is often not found in higher-class cars.
A three-door car with a total length of over 3,7 m provides a decent amount of space and a reasonable size of the trunk, which (folding the couch) can be enlarged.
Engine 1.2 16The V is the most powerful unit used to propel the Lancia Y. However, his 86 KM does not provide extremely attractive dynamics. Acceleration is close 11 s in a relatively light car this is not a particularly thrilling result. The drive unit is particularly disappointing in the low rev range, where its dynamics leaves a lot to be desired. At high revs, the engine performs much better. Nevertheless, the car performs well in dynamic city driving, and the fuel economy is decent.
There is little to fault with the operating culture of the drive unit. The engine runs quietly, and the gearbox is precise and flawless. Flexibility is not too bad.
The suspension also corresponds to the character of the Y. Not too stiff, it ensures high driving comfort also on leaky city streets. In extreme situations, the size of the car makes itself felt, which in fast cornering can behave like eg. Five hundred Sporting (especially since their suspensions are similar in terms of construction).
Thanks to the reliable braking system and precise steering, the handling of the car is fun to drive downhill and is safe.
In conclusion, it should be said, that Lancia Y 1.2 16V is certainly not aimed at a wide audience. People looking for a small car with attractive shapes will be the most satisfied with it, comfortable, comfortable and… attracting attention. In its strongest version, the car allows for comfortable movement, although sports performance should not be counted on.
Technical data: Petrol engine, 4-cylinder, in-line, located crosswise at the front. Two overhead camshafts driven by a toothed belt (DOHC). Four valves per cylinder. Multipoint fuel injection. Catalyst. Displacement 1242 ccm. Diameter x Stroke 70,8 x 78,9 mm. Compression ratio 10,2. Maximum power 63 kW (86 KM) by 6000 rpm, maximum torque 113 Nm at 4500 rpm. Front wheel drive. 5-speed gearbox. Independent wheel suspension. Front disc brakes, drum at the back. Tires 185/60 R 14 T. Luggage capacity 215/910 l. Poem. fuel tank 47 l. Own weight 910 kg. Capacity 480 kg. Maximum trailer weight with brakes 900 kg. length/width/height. 3725/1690/1440 mm