Autobianchi Y10

The Autobianchi Y10 is a city car manufactured by the Italian automaker Fiat from 1985 to 1996 and marketed under the Autobianchi brand in Italy and under the Lancia brand in most export markets (as Lancia Y10). The car was manufactured at the Autobianchi plant in Desio, Milan until 1992 and after that in Arese, near Alfa Romeo plants. It was designed on the first-generation Fiat Panda floorpan, shortened by about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) and with softer suspension settings. It offered a very high level of trim for its market segment. The Y10 featured a rear beam suspension design (called Omega) that was subsequently fitted to the facelifted Fiat Panda. Despite its short length, the Y10 boasted a drag coefficient of just 0.31.

Initially introduced in 1985 under the Autobianchi brand, the Y10 used the FIRE engine in 1.0 litre engine and Fiat's Brazilian built SOHC 1049 cc engine once used in the Autobianchi A112 Abarth and the Fiat 127's hottest version. The latter engine used an IHI turbocharger to produce 85 PS (62.5 kW) in the Y10 Turbo. As well as the Turbo, the Y10 was available as Y10 Fire, Y10 Fire LX, Y10 Touring and Y10 4WD. The Touring and 4WD models used the older 1049cc engine. Eventually, the Autobianchi badge was dropped in favour of Lancia's except in Italy; a textbook case of badge engineering. Following a minor facelift in 1990 which saw cosmetic changes to the exterior, revised interior trim and increased luggage capacity, the turbocharged engine was dropped in favour of a more refined, if slower, 1301cc unit as fitted to what was the range topping GTie model, with 76 PS (56 kW). A larger 1108cc variant of the FIRE engine was introduced and sold as the Y10 LXie. This engine was also used in the Y10 Selectronic, offered from 1990-93, with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) developed by Fuji. In Europe, the Y10 received one more facelift, with more significant changes being made to the front and rear and the interior. Throughout the life of the Y10, Lancia/Autobianchi offered a number of special edition models, often with unique interior trim and external badging. These included editions such as: Fila (in black or white with either blue or red Fila themed interiors); Missoni; Appia; Trussardi; Mia; Avenue; Igloo; and Martini (based on the Y10 Turbo).

It was pipped to the European Car of the Year for 1986 by the Ford Scorpio.^[2]

It sold rather well, especially to women, for its unique style, luxurious trim and the continuously variable transmission that equipped certain versions. Its excellent aerodynamics, characterized by very clean lines and a Kammback, also provided great fuel economy. Sales in the United Kingdom were not so strong, though it remained on sale until Lancia's withdrawal from the British market (and all other right-hand drive markets) in 1994.

Gallery

References

External links

• Y10 Autobianchi official pages (IT) + forum (INT)
• Lancia Motor Club (UK)
• Lancia Y10 Information Pages
• Registro Autobianchi