This electric bomb sounds like a breath of hope for motorsport enthusiasts

Clearly, when you are a motorsport enthusiast, going electric can quickly become boring. Indeed, there are few exciting models that can offer a price-effectiveness ratio worthy of the GTIs of the “old world”, as some lecturers like to say. Fortunately, all is not lost, and there remains a priori still a little grain of pleasure for some, even when you want to convert to electric.

Expected for several months, the Lancia Ypsilon HF finally appears on the scene. This sporty version of the new electric city car Lancia Ypsilon, unveiled a little earlier in the year, demonstrates some arguments which allow the brand to finally reconnect with its sporting DNA.

The return of the GTI with wattage sauce

For the moment, we have few technical details on this new Ypsilon HF, but what is certain is that this traction will be driven by a 100% electric engine developing 240 horsepower. A priori, the powertrain will be the same as that which will be installed in the future Alfa Romeo Junior and Abarth 600e. We will therefore be able to find a limited slip differential, 20-inch rims and above all, firmed suspensions as well as specific settings for the running gear. At least, we hope so, since the basic platform is the same as that of the Peugeot e-208, Fiat 600e, or even Jeep Avenger. However, here, it could be the revamped version called Perfo-eCMP.

The manufacturer announces 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds, a very respectable figure which already allows you to have a lot of fun without being afraid, and with reasonable power, far from the overbidding of certain electric cars.

Moreover, Lancia is not the only manufacturer wanting to reconcile sportiness and efficiency, since this Ypsilon HF, which will be marketed from June 2025, will find on its route other electric counterparts who have donned the tracksuit like the future Alpine A290, or the Cupra Raval and the ID.2 GTI.

A historical return

The interior of the Ypsilon HF has been slightly revised, with blue sports seats and a revised HF logo that combines tradition and modernity. For the record, the HF logo was first introduced in 1960 at the Geneva Motor Show, when a group of passionate Lancia owners founded the “Lancia Hi-Fi” club for High-Fidelity, a club reserved for the brand’s most loyal customers who have purchased at least 6 new Lancias. This HF logo then became a distinctive element of the HF Squadra Corse Lancia, founded in 1963 by Cesare Fiorio with a few passionate pilots and Lancistes.

However, in reality, apart from that logo and the seats, the interior doesn’t seem to differ at all from other Ypsilons, which is a bit of a shame. Lancia plans to introduce HF versions for each new model, including the upcoming Gamma and Delta.

Finally, for the first time since 1991 (!), after the brand ceased all motorsport activity following its 10 world rally titles, the manufacturer will finally return to this world starting from the bases of competition, the Rallye 4. This formula, intended more for young people, will allow the Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF to let its 1.2-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged engine developing 212 horsepower express itself. This front-wheel drive will be equipped with a 5-speed mechanical gearbox and a mechanical self-locking differential.

Obviously, to celebrate this return to business, the manufacturer could not do without decorating its car in Martini Racing style.

Source : Lancia