Autobianchi Y10
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
City car
A city car is a small car intended for use primarily in an urban area.City cars are sold worldwide and most automotive industry manufacturers have one or two in their line-up. In North-America city cars are often referred to simply as "subcompacts" alongside the superminis. These kind of cars...
manufactured by the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
automaker
Automaker
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
from 1985 to 1996 and marketed under the Autobianchi
Autobianchi
Autobianchi was an Italian automobile manufacturer, created jointly by Bianchi, Pirelli and Fiat in 1955. Autobianchi produced only a handful of models during its lifetime, which were almost exclusively small cars, with the biggest being the short-lived Autobianchi A111, a small family car...
brand in Italy and under the Lancia
Lancia
Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more...
brand in most export markets (as Lancia Y10). The car was manufactured at the Autobianchi plant in Desio
Desio
Desio is a town and comune in the Province of Monza and Brianza, Italy.-History:In 1277 it was the location of the battle between the Visconti and della Torre families for the rule of Milan. It is also known as the birthplace of Pope Pius XI and the Arsenal goalkeeper, Vito Mannone...
, Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
until 1992 and after that in Arese
Arese
Arese is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northwest of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 19,333 and an area of ....
, near Alfa Romeo plants. It was designed on the first-generation Fiat Panda
Fiat Panda
The Fiat Panda is a city car from the Italian automobile manufacturer Fiat. The first Fiat Panda was introduced in 1980, and was produced until 2003 with only a few changes. It is now sometimes referred to as the "old Panda". The second model, launched in 2003, is sometimes referred to "New 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
Fiat Panda
The Fiat Panda is a city car from the Italian automobile manufacturer Fiat. The first Fiat Panda was introduced in 1980, and was produced until 2003 with only a few changes. It is now sometimes referred to as the "old Panda". The second model, launched in 2003, is sometimes referred to "New Panda"...
. Despite its short length, the Y10 boasted a drag coefficient of just 0.31.
Initially introduced in 1985 under the Autobianchi
Autobianchi
Autobianchi was an Italian automobile manufacturer, created jointly by Bianchi, Pirelli and Fiat in 1955. Autobianchi produced only a handful of models during its lifetime, which were almost exclusively small cars, with the biggest being the short-lived Autobianchi A111, a small family car...
brand, the Y10 used the FIRE engine
Fully Integrated Robotised Engine
The FIRE is a series of automobile engines from Fiat. It was designed by Italian design firm Rodolfo Bonetto . It is constructed by robot assembly plants to reduce costs....
in 1.0 litre engine and Fiat's Brazilian built SOHC 1049 cc engine once used in the Autobianchi A112 Abarth
Autobianchi A112
The Autobianchi A112 is a supermini produced by the Italian automaker Autobianchi. It was developed using the mechanicals which subsequently underpinned the Fiat 127. It was introduced in 1969, as a replacement for the Bianchina and Primula, and was built until 1986, when it made way for the more...
and the Fiat 127
Fiat 127
The Fiat 127 is a supermini produced by the Italian automaker Fiat between 1971 and 1983. It was introduced in 1971 as the replacement for the Fiat 850...
'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
Autobianchi
Autobianchi was an Italian automobile manufacturer, created jointly by Bianchi, Pirelli and Fiat in 1955. Autobianchi produced only a handful of models during its lifetime, which were almost exclusively small cars, with the biggest being the short-lived Autobianchi A111, a small family car...
badge was dropped in favour of Lancia
Lancia
Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more...
's except in Italy; a textbook case of badge engineering
Badge engineering
Badge engineering is an ironic term that describes the rebadging of one product as another...
. 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
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
(CVT) developed by Fuji
Fuji
-People:* Mr. Fuji, ring name of wrestling and manager Harry Fujiwara* Keiko Fuji, a Japanese singer of the 1960s and 1970s, and mother of Hikaru Utada* Sumiko Fuji, a Japanese actressFictional characters* Fuji , a character in the Stormwatch series...
. 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
Fila
Fila or FILA may refer to:*Fila , a South Korean sportswear manufacturer* Fila , an island of Vanuatu*Fila, Iran, a village in Lorestan Province...
(in black or white with either blue or red Fila themed interiors); Missoni
Missoni
Missoni is an Italian fashion house based in Varese. It is famous for its unique knitwear, made from a variety of fabrics in colourful patterns. The company was founded by Ottavio and Rosita Missoni in 1953.-Brands:...
; Appia; Trussardi; Mia; Avenue; Igloo; and Martini
Martini
Martini may refer to:* Martini , a popular cocktail* Martini , a brand of vermouth* Martini , a Swiss automobile company* Martini , a French manufacturer of racing cars...
(based on the Y10 Turbo).
It was pipped to the European Car of the Year
European Car of the Year
The European Car of the Year award was established in 1964 by a collective of automobile magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organisers of the award are Auto , Autocar , Autopista , Autovisie , L'Automobile Magazine , Stern and Vi Bilägare .The voting jury consists of motoring...
for 1986 by the Ford Scorpio
Ford Scorpio
The Ford Scorpio is an automobile that was produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1985 through to 1998.It was the replacement for the European Ford Granada line...
.
It sold rather well, especially to women, for its unique style, luxurious trim and the continuously variable transmission
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
that equipped certain versions. Its excellent aerodynamics, characterized by very clean lines and a Kammback
Kammback
A Kammback is a car body style that derives from the research of the German aerodynamicist Wunibald Kamm in the 1930s. The design calls for a body with smooth contours that continues to a tail that is abruptly cut off. This shape reduces the drag of the vehicle."Kammback" is an American term...
, also provided great fuel economy
Fuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
. Sales in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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.