Lancia’s Glitzy Ypsilon Promotional Videos

Lancia has released new videos of its 2012 Ypsilon, the posh supermini that made its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this week alongside the subtly revised Delta and the Chrysler-sourced Thema sedan, Grand Voyager MPV, and Fulvia Saloon and Convertible (the last two shown as concepts).

The videos clearly link the new Ypsilon to fashion and luxury, essentially building on the image created by the supermini’s predecessors. Although the outgoing Ypsilon was perceived more of a lady’s car, the automaker wants to send the message that its successor targets both hairdressers male and female buyers.

At least this is what comes out from the first video, called “Fashion World”, where the car is pictured next to trendy young couples posing in different life snapshots. In the second clip, the Ypsilon is the main actor. Under the tagline “New Ypsilon - Essence of Luxury”, we see details of the interior, close-ups of the sculpted five-door bodywork and the two-tone paintwork, which is an option carried over from the previous model.

The Ypsilon will have a range of three engines: a 1.2-liter petrol unit with 69 hp (with an optional LPG system), a 0.9-liter TwinAir turbocharged two-cylinder petrol with 85 hp and a 1.3-liter Multijet II turbo diesel delivering 95 horsepower. The car will be badged as a Chrysler in the UK and Ireland and, as CoolPictures has learned, Lancia officials did not rule out the possibility of a U.S. launch in the future.

By Dan Mihalascu

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VIDEO: Eminem Meets Italian Opera at Lancia's Presentations of the 2012 Thema and Flavia Concepts

The 81st Geneva International Salon marked Lancia's biggest but also, most controversial motor show appearance in recent years. Biggest because Lancia rolled out a total of six new vehicles and concept models, most controversial because four of those cars including the Thema flagship, the Flavia sedan and convertible concepts, and the Grand Voyager MPV are nothing more than rebadged Chryslers.

Lancia and Chrysler CEO Oliver Francois presented the Chrysler 300-based Thema under the sounds of an odd music mix. "Introducing this car of two continents in Geneva became a very personal affair, therefore I personally worked out a little piece of music, a blend of two musical cultures, Eminem's typical Detroit beat with a touch of Italian opera," said Francois just before the 2012 Thema saloon entered the stage.

Francois also took a stab at rival German premium carmakers saying that "there is a large pool of customers out there looking for an alternative to the German monochrome". However, the Italian firm's CEO quickly noted that "many have burned their fingers [in trying to compete with the Germans] in the past including Lancia", but also added that "according to the American press", the new 300 rivals the best Japanese and German premium models including the Lexus LS and the BMW 7 Series. Remember, we didn't say it, Francois did.

The American-Italian tune was continued with the presentation of the other three rebadged Chryslers, the Town & Country-based Lancia Grand Voyager minivan and the Chrysler 200-based Lancia Flavia concept cars, which Francois said rival the Rolls Royce Ghost- could enter production in less than six months from now.

Scroll down to watch Lancia's Geneva Motor Show presentations and have your say in the comments below.

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