Regardless of being what the corporate has develop into finest recognized for, it’s been a long time since Lancia final produced a real sizzling hatch — not precisely stunning given it’s solely offered one automotive for the previous decade anyway. That’s lastly altering subsequent 12 months with the roadgoing Ypsilon HF, a completely electrical efficiency model of Lancia’s funky new hatchback, and the HF is spawning a racing model that may compete in the Rally4 class.
Lancia hasn’t introduced many particulars or photographs concerning the Ypsilon HF but, because it received’t be hitting the market till Might 2025, however from what we will see it seems superior. The front-wheel-drive Ypsilon HF will make 240 horsepower, practically 100 greater than the usual automotive, which is sufficient for it to hit 62 mph in 5.8 seconds. Further efficiency enhancements will embody a lowered suspension and bigger, wider wheels; anticipate different tweaks to the steering, brakes and different parts.
The HF actually seems the half too, with superior three-spoke wheels, wider fender flares, bigger intakes and a bunch of black trim. On the within, there are shiny blue seats with purple perforations and a diagonal motif, plus a lot of HF emblems and badges.
It’s nice to see that HF branding make a comeback, particularly because the elephant emblem is without doubt one of the cutest and best in automotive historical past. It first appeared in 1960, all because of a membership of passionate house owners. Says Lancia:
Returning to face out on the Lancia Ypsilon HF, the HF emblem is the historic signature of high-performance Lancia fashions, initially launched throughout the 1960 Geneva Motor Present, when a bunch of passionate Lancia automotive house owners based the “Lancia Hello-Fi” (‘Excessive Constancy’) membership, an unique assembly level for the model’s most loyal clients and particularly for individuals who had bought at the very least six new Lancia automobiles. The HF emblem then turned a trademark of the HF Squadra Corse Lancia, based in 1963 by Cesare Fiorio along with drivers and passionate house owners of Lancia automobiles, and was used because the ‘signature’ for most of the model’s victories.
The historic emblem was made up of HF in white capital letters on a black background, with 4 purple operating elephants underscored by the wording “SQUADRA CORSE” in white on purple. The little elephant was chosen as a fortunate allure, based mostly on the legend that when let free, these creatures are unstoppable, making them an emblem of efficiency and driving pleasure. Unveiled in March in its revisited model, the brand new HF emblem reinterprets its historic counterpart with a up to date aptitude: all of the constituent components of the model symbolize Lancia custom and are actually simplified when it comes to traces and shapes in a brand new steadiness that expresses innovation, premiumness, and the Italian spirit, with a contact of eclecticism in full respect of the model’s unmistakable geometries.
As for the rally model of the Ypsilon HF, it shares its platform and powertrain with the Opel Corsa and Peugeot 208 rally automobiles. Rally4 is the entry-level class in rally racing, that includes homologated two-wheel-drive automobiles which have a power-t0-weight ratio of 5.1 kg per horsepower. The Rally4 Ypsilon HF has a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, which within the Opel makes 212 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 5-speed sequential gearbox and a mechanical limited-slip diff.
Lancia offered the Ypsilon HF Rally4 in its iconic Martini livery, and the rally automotive will get a rad set of wheels, huge hood vents and a roof scoop. Apparently, the bumper design and another styling particulars don’t precisely match the street automotive, however that would change by the point the automotive enters competitors. Lancia says the Ypsilon HF Rally4 is “the best resolution for all rally fanatics to take pleasure in however can be a severe candidate for drivers aspiring to victory within the R4 class and within the two-wheel drive championships.”
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Lancia come out with variations of the Ypsilon to compete in a few of the larger rally courses, however the firm might do it with different automobiles too: Over the subsequent few years, Lancia will unveil a Gamma flagship crossover in addition to a brand new Delta, each of which can function electrical powertrains and absolutely get HF variants. The considered a automotive named Lancia Delta competing in rallying has my coronary heart aflutter.
