LANCIA / AUTOBIANCHI Y10
1 IT WAS DESIGNED BY PINIFARINA
Lancia’s Y10, initially built by Autobianchi and badged as such in Italy, France and Japan, was a thoroughly modern small hatchback when launched in 1985. But who was responsible for the trim, handsome design? Well, the task originally went to Fiat favourites Pininfarina and Giorgetto Giugiaro, but despite their efforts, a Fiat Style Centre design, led by Vittorio Ghidella, was eventually adopted. It was intended to appeal to ‘the select and elite, a real flagship miniature desired by women as much as a handbag and identified by men as their favourite perfume.’ Hmmm…
2 THEY ALL HAD BLACK TAILGATES
A very distinctive feature was the Y10’s near-vertical tailgate, highlighted even more by the black satin finish, whatever colour the rest of the car was. While this was standard, it wasn’t totally universal across the Y10 range. The special edition Fila of 1987 was completely white, the Fila 2 was all-black along with the 1991 Ego, and the 1992 Avenue had its abrupt posterior painted the same shade as the other body panels. However, these last two weren’t seen in Britain because…
3 IT WENT WHEN LANCIA WITHDREW FROM THE UK MARKET
Lancia had been ailing in Britain since 1980, when the company had to buy back tinworm-ridden Betas from their dismayed owners in a PR disaster. It took the decision to retreat from right-hand drive markets in February 1994. However, that didn’t include the Y10 for, although it continued in production until 1995, it had already gone from Britain. Poor sales meant that Lancia killed it off over here at the end of 1991. Other marque models limped on for a few more years, however. Richard Gunn