Lancia can thank Anne Hidalgo
- Published on 21/07/2026 13:50
Lancia sets a spectacular record, but it primarily illustrates one reality… that of an exercise that bears no resemblance to real life.
One must recognize one thing about Lancia: the communication is well-crafted. Driving an Ypsilon Elettrica for nearly 18 hours on the Paris ring road to cover 771 kilometers on a single charge certainly draws attention. With an average consumption of only 6.2 kWh/100 km, the manufacturer even claims a new efficiency record.
Bravo. But very sincerely… what is the point?
The first person to thank may not be the driver of the day, but Anne Hidalgo. Because the ring road version 2026, limited to 50 km/h, congested from morning till night, and punctuated by endless slowdowns, is probably one of the best playgrounds in the world for an electric car. You drive slowly, brake often, and recover energy constantly. In short, exactly what an electric motorization loves.
The result: an average speed of only 43 km/h. One could say that this record mainly tells us what an electric car is capable of under ideal conditions… and very little of what its owner will experience on a national road, a department road, or especially, on the highway.
It’s all the more regrettable that this pretty little Lancia did not need this demonstration at all. Its design is appealing, its Stellantis platform is proven, its powertrain developed in France is particularly efficient, and its driving pleasure is among its true qualities. There was plenty to attract fans of electric city cars without needing to chase after such an artificial record.
In a bid to showcase a spectacular figure, one almost ends up undermining the message. Because no one buys a car to spend their day driving in circles on the ring road. What motorists want to know is how many kilometers they can travel at 130 km/h, how long a recharge will take on a long trip, or how much their daily use will actually cost.
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Yes, 771 kilometers on a charge is nice. Yes, it proves that the Lancia Ypsilon Elettrica is remarkably efficient. But in the end, this record will mainly remain a great communication operation. And it’s almost a shame, as the new Ypsilon has enough qualities to convince without needing this kind of showboating.
READ ALSO: We tested the Paris ring road at 50 km/h
This page is translated from the original post "Lancia peut dire merci à Anne Hidalgo" in French.
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