Lancia Ypsilon

The passenger compartment of the Ypsilon remained stable in the frontal offset test.  Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger dummies.  Lancia showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different positions.  In the full width rigid barrier test, no points were scored.  For the driver, parameters relating to head injury and neck bending indicated poor protection for both of these parts of the body, and marginal protection of the chest.  Protection of the rear passenger dummy was poor for all critical body areas except the neck, protection of which was rated as weak.  However, in the side impact barrier test, protection of all critical body areas was good, and maximum points were scored.  A side pole test was not performed in this assessment.  Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated marginal protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision.  A geometric assessment of the rear seats indicated good whiplash protection for the occupants of those seating positions.  The Ypsilon does not have an autonomous emergency braking system to provide additional whiplash protection.

Note: Moments after the offset frontal barrier test, a fire started in the engine compartment, a consequence of the battery positive terminal shorting out and setting fire to brake fluid leaking from the reservoir.  This is a rare occurrence: Lancia had not seen this phenomenon in any of their development tests and are not aware of any real-world cases.  Nevertheless, the company has investigated the issue and are introducing a countermeasure into production in early December.