New EU copyright spurs hope of an electrified Lancia Fulvia comeback
In a new copyright filing at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) from January 30th, Stellantis has reserved exclusive rights to apply the Fulvia name to, “powered vehicles for use on land.” And, while that’s a long way from a confirmation – there’s reason to hope.
While it’s a common enough thing for car brands to renew the trademarks of names used in their iconic models, the Lancia brand has been enjoying a bit of a renaissance as old videos of Group B rally racers get bigger and bigger followings on TikTok and Reels. At the same time, design firms are paying tribute to the brand’s legacy with new concepts while the recently revealed Ypsilon has incorporated some of the brand’s iconic styling cues and paving the way for a new, premium Gamma crossover set to debut later this year and a fully electric, high-performance Delta hatchback set to arrive in time for the 2028 model year.
Meanwhile, the latest Fiat Panda is having a viral moment while Renault’s retro-tastic (and similarly Group B inspired) Renault R5 and R5 Turbo 3E is making headlines in the only way that matters for these things: by putting up big sales numbers.
In that context, a new electric (or electrified, anyway, given Stellantis’ recent history) Fulvia doesn’t seem so far-fetched.
That said, even if Lancia really is just about the only brand that’s getting its act together under Stellantis’ leadership, it’s unlikely that Lancia has the budget to develop a dedicated sedan berlina model like the OG Fulvia built between 1963 and ’76. It’s much more likely that, if it happens at all, we’ll see the historic Fulvia name appear on something like a small crossover.
Think Mustang Mach-E, but at 7/8 scale.
Why are we talking about Lancia?
There’s an old adage in the car business that goes, “win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” It sounds great, but if winning races actually sold cars, Lancia would be the best-selling car brand on Earth.
In 1974, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992, different cars carrying the Lancia shield and flag emblem won the World Rally Championship – and the cars that brought the brand its ultimate success couldn’t be more different from one another. There was the Fulvia, of course – but the pretty little coupe would eventually give way to the snarling, mid-engined, Ferrari-engined Stratos supercar in later years. That car was replaced the RWD 307, which itself was replaced by a four-door hatchback called Delta, which propelled Lancia to its greatest era of rally dominance.
Lancia’s glory was unquestioned across three decades. Its sales, on the other hand, were dismal.
Sales were so dismal, in fact, that Lancia pulled out of the US market after the 1982 model year. In Europe, the situation wasn’t much better. Despite some bright moments here and there, Lancia eventually pulled out of every single international market.
In 2021, you could still buy a Lancia only in Italy – and the only model available was a slow, overprices “luxury” subcompact about the size of a Toyota Yaris called the Ypsilon, or “Y” … as in, “Y bother?”
The new Ypsilon? I wouldn’t call it great, but it’s good. Heck, I might even call it desirable – but I have whatever the latest DSM says it is that would make a man buy six Lancias, so I wouldn’t put much stock in that.
The copyright news was first reported (as far as I can tell) in the Dutch-language AutoWeek blog. There’s not much here, but Lancia fans have been living off a lot less for decades, and the last few years have been priming us for something really good. Here’s hoping it comes to something.
Original content from Electrek; the featured image at top was released into the public domain by its author, ChiemseeMan, at the English Wikipedia project.
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Believe it or not, you can lease an EV for under $200 a month. New deals on models like the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 are hard to pass up this month.
Electric vehicles have been all over the news lately, with the Trump administration threatening to end federal incentives and introducing new tariffs that are expected to lead to higher prices.
On the positive side, new EV models are arriving, giving buyers more options and driving prices down. Many automakers reported record US electric car sales in the first three months of 2024.
GM remained the number two seller of EVs behind Tesla after sales doubled in Q1 2025. With the new Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs rolling out, Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is off to its best sales start since launching, with over 11,600 models sold in the first quarter.
With the 2025 models rolling out and about 15 new EVs arriving this year, many automakers are introducing steep discounts to move vehicles off the lot.
EVs for lease for under $200 a month in April
Although the decade-old Nissan LEAF remains one of the most affordable this April at just $149 per month, there are a few EVs under $200 right now that are worth taking a look at.
The new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ might be the best EV deal this month, with leases as low as $199. Hyundai is currently promoting a 24-month lease deal with $3,999 due at signing.
Hyundai upgraded the electric SUV with a bigger battery for more range (now up to 318 miles), a sleek new look inside and out, and it now comes with an NACS port so you can charge it at Tesla Superchargers.
The offer is for the IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range, which has a driving range of up to 245 miles. For just $229 a month, you can snag the SE RWD model, which has a range of up to 318 miles and a more powerful (225 horsepower) electric motor. It’s also a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.
To sweeten the deal, Hyundai is offering a free ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger with the purchase or lease of any 2024 or 2025 IONIQ 5. If you already have one, you can opt for a $400 public charging credit.
After slashing lease prices this month, the 2025 Nissan Ariya is actually cheaper than the LEAF in some regions. In Southern California, the 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD is listed at just $129 per month. The AWD model has a range of up to 272 miles.
The deal is for 36 months, with $4,409 due at signing. In April, Nissan cut Ariya lease prices to around $239 in most other parts of the country.
Kia has a few EVs available to lease for under $200 a month in April. The 2025 Kia Niro EV Wind is listed at just $129 for 24 months, with $3,999 due at signing. Kia’s crossover SUV has EPA-estimated range of 253 miles.
The 2024 EV6 may be worth considering at just $179 for 24 months ($3,999 due at signing). In California, the EV6 Light Long Range RWD is only slightly more than the Niro Wind.
In most other parts of the country, you can still find the EV6 for under $200 a month. The Light Long Range RWD trim offers up to 310 miles of EPA-estimated range.
| Lease Price | Term (months) |
Amount Due at Signing | Driving Range | |
| 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | $199 | 24 | $3,999 | 245 miles |
| 2024 Kia EV6 Light Long Rang RWD | $179 | 24 | $3,999 | 310 miles |
| 2024 Kia Niro EV Wind | $129 | 24 | $3,999 | 253 miles |
| 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD | $129 | 36 | $4,409 | 272 miles |
| 2025 Nissan LEAF S FWD | $149 | 36 | $2,629 | 149 miles |
| 2024 Fiat 500 INSPI(RED) | $199 | 24 | $2,999 | 149 miles |
And don’t forget the 2024 Fiat 500e, which is now listed at just $199 for 24 months with $2,999 due at signing. The electric hatchback offers a range of up to 149 miles.
If you are looking to spend a little more, check out our list of EVs you can lease for under $300 a month.
Ready to snag the savings while they are still here? At under $200 a month, some of these EV lease deals are hard to pass up right now. Check out our links below to find deals in your area.
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![The US’s first solar panels over canals pilot is now online [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Project-Nexus-solar-canal.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Project Nexus, the first solar panel canopies over irrigation canals in the US, is now online in California, and there are plans to expand the project to other areas.
Project Nexus is a $20 million pilot in central California’s Turlock Irrigation District launched in October 2022. The project team is exploring solar over canal design, deployment, and co-benefits using canal infrastructure and the electrical grid.
India already has solar panels over canals, but Project Nexus is the first of its kind in the US.
The Turlock Irrigation District was the first irrigation district formed in California in 1887. It provides irrigation water to 4,700 growers who farm around 150,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley.
Project Nexus will explore whether the solar panels reduce water evaporation as a result of midday shade and wind mitigation, create improvements to water quality through reduced vegetative growth, reduce canal maintenance as a result of reduced vegetative growth, and, of course, generate renewable electricity.
The California Department of Water Resources, utility company Turlock Irrigation District, Marin County, California-based water and energy project developer Solar AquaGrid, and The University of California, Merced, are partnering on the pilot. Project Nexus originated from a 2021 research project led by UC Merced alumna and project scientist Brandi McKuin.
Solar panels were installed at two sites over both wide- and narrow-span sections of Turlock Irrigation District canals in Stanislaus County, in various orientations. The sections range from 20 feet wide to 100 feet wide. University of California, Merced has positioned research equipment at both sites to collect baseline data so the researchers can decide where solar will work and where it won’t.
In February 2023, Project Nexus announced it would also deploy long-term iron flow battery storage in the form of two ESS 75kW turnkey “Energy Warehouse” batteries.
You can learn more about Project Nexus here:
Read more: In a US first, California will pilot solar-panel canopies over canals
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