IT'S just a year since Italian giant Fiat came to the rescue and steered Chrysler/Jeep away from the ailing General Motors group.

During those 12 months, Chrysler - noted for its flair, functionality and competitive pricing - has formed a strong partnership with Lancia - famed for innovative design and engineering coupled with the very best in chic Italian style. 

The result of this somewhat unlikely union went on show at the Geneva Motor Show, with new Ypsilon, Thema, Voyager and Delta models getting an airing, along with two new Flavia Concept cars which offer strong clues as to where Lancia will be heading in the not-too-distant future.

The rejuvenated Lancia is very much alive and kicking, as one of the few brands to offer a range stretching from a small family hatchback to a large MPV ... and after years in the UK wilderness, the comapny is heading back to these shores.

For come September, 25 years after the first Ypsilon's launch, a new fourth-generation Ypsilon will have the honour of rekindling the Lancia marque in the UK, albeit badged and marketed under the Chrysler brand.

Take a look at the front end of the latest Ypsilon and it is easy to see how the Chrysler badge could sit at the top of the grille.

This "mini flagship" -  it's slightly smaller than a Ford Fiesta - will offer a heady mix of luxury, technology and power, designed to offer convenience, comfort, style and technological excellence.

The new Ypsilon is a stylish five-door compact hatch with hidden door handles at the rear giving it the look typical of a three-door hatch.

Clever packaging means it offers masses of room to gobble up to five people in comfort and has one of the most spacious boots in its segment. 

Power for the new Ypsilon comes via a series of proven Fiat Group engines. Kicking off the range is the latest in the Fire family, a 1.2-litre, eight-valve engine which delivers 69bhp.

This Euro 5-compliant powerplant has had a series of updates in recent times and thanks to start/stop technology which has cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by around five per cent, remains a benchmark for the category. 

The second engine, the revolutionary 900cc TwinAir, is ideal for city use but compared with the 1.2-litre unit, has more power and increased torque.

The 900cc engine is the first of a new family of two-cylinder engines introduced last year by Fiat Powertrain, and is an 85bhp turbocharged unit which delivers a whopping 30 per cent reduction in both fuel consumption and emissions without hindering performance.

For more eco-friendly driving and better fuel economy, pressing an ECO button on the dashboard, reduces power for city driving.

This allows the car to reach CO2 emission levels of 97g/km with a semi-automatic gearbox and 99g/Km when mated to a manual box. 

There's a diesel alternative using the 1.3-litre MultiJet II, again with the stop/start system, which delivers a maximum output of 95bhp and emits 99g/km of CO2.

The Ypsilon can also be powered by a 69bhp 1.2-litre petrol/LPG dual-fuel Euro 5-compliant engine which produces 110g/km of CO2 in the combined cycle but that version is unlikely to be sold in the UK.

Another trick up the Ypsilon's sleeve is a gear shift indicator that prompts drivers to change up or down the box to make best use of the available torque.

To round off the fuel-saving measures, cuts to emissions are also aided by a new generation of 15-inch low rolling resistance tyres developed by Goodyear. These state-of-the-art tyres have a lighter structure which reduce rolling resistance.

With three trim levels, six upholstery trims, three alloy wheel designs and 17 body colours - four of which are two-tone - there are more than 600 possible different combinations to choose from.

Along with an extensive range of top-notch optional extras, it means that any Ypsilon has the makings of being an exclusive one-off machine in the same genre as the MINI and its Fiat cousin, the 500.