It was one of the most talked-about details of the new Lancia Ypsilon. This famous circular central tray, officially named tavolino and humorously nicknamed “pizza tray” or “cheese tray”, embodied Lancia's desire to offer something different. A little touch of Italian design, both practical and quirky, allowing you to place keys, telephone or wallet as if on a mini coffee table.
But this signature may soon disappear. With the expected arrival of a manual gearbox version, this plate simply has no place. Literally.
The manual gearbox changes everything
Until now, the new Ypsilon was offered with a hybrid powertrain combined with an automatic gearbox, which made it possible to integrate this famous storage space in the center of the console.
But a manual version is in the pipeline. And a gearshift means a concession on the interior architecture. The gearshift lever will occupy exactly the same position as the gear tray, putting an end to this original feature that was the talk of the town. This change is not insignificant. It marks a return to something more classic, but also more accessible.
An even cheaper Ypsilon in your sights
In Italy today, the Lancia Ypsilon Hybrid starts at €19,900, already a competitive price given its perceived quality and positioning, which is normally more premium than its technical cousin.
But the arrival of a manual version could lower the entry price even further. The aim is clear: to appeal to a wider customer base, particularly in the face of models such as the Peugeot 208, priced from €17,600 in Italy, with an equivalent engine.
On paper, performance should remain close to that of the Peugeot 208. We're talking about WLTP fuel consumption of around 5.1 l/100 km and comparable CO2 emissions (116 g/km).
It remains to be seen whether the sacrifice of the “pizza tray” will be enough to attract more buyers.
In fact, this pricing repositioning comes at a key moment for Lancia. The brand is in the midst of a renaissance, but results vary from market to market.
In Italy, its historic stronghold, the first months of 2026 are encouraging, with over 2,000 registrations in January and February, up by more than 10 % on 2025. The Ypsilon is beginning to take hold. The same dynamic is evident in Spain, where growth is even more marked, driven in particular by local production in Saragossa.
France, on the other hand, continues to lag behind. With just 161 registrations in the first two months of 2026, the brand is still struggling to convince, despite a renewed offering.
Less style, more sales?
The disappearance of the center stack may seem anecdotal. However, it perfectly symbolizes Lancia's current dilemma: maintain a strong identity or adapt to gain volume.
By opting for a more affordable manual version, the brand has clearly made the choice of distribution. Even if it means sacrificing a design element that has made it unique. It remains to be seen whether customers will follow suit.
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Personally, I doubt very much whether the presence of the platform was important for sales or not. This Ypsilon isn't a Lancia, and in any case it would be suicide to buy it outside Italy. Ihr better stick to the image besides it's the 145 hp that would be needed.
Yes, the 145 hp would be interesting, and why not in Q4 like the Junior... but I think what they urgently want is to boost volume in Italy with more attractive prices.