The Italian manufacturer Lancia, member of the Stellantis group (Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Opel, etc.) has just presented the reinterpretation of its logo dedicated to sports models and formalizes a future electric car, the spicy and 100% electric Ypsilon. The technical cousin of the Abarth 600e based on the electric Fiat 600e.
Abandoned by the FCA group for several years, Lancia will regain its splendor with Stellantis, the result of the merger between the former groups PSA (Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, etc.) and FCA (Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, etc.). However, Lancia was not as in agony as one might have thought. Sold only in Italy and with a single product, the Ypslion, Lancia was still selling more cars than Alfa Romeo worldwide a few years ago!
With the new electric Ypsilon recently presented, Lancia will relaunch itself internationally. And according to recent statements from the brand, the Italian firm should even go beyond all that with the return of sports versions to the catalog and, why not, also a return to rallying ! It all starts with the presentation of a new logo which will be the coat of arms of the spiciest Lancias.
“The new HF logo will debut on the Lancia Ypsilon HF and will subsequently also embellish the high-performance versions of the brand’s future models. In this way we take another step on the path to the Lancia Renaissance, which highlights the most brutal and radical brand and its commitment to focusing on performance models. Will we return to the Rally? We are working on it. »declared Luca Napolitano, the boss of the brand.
For the record, this logo saw the light of day at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show. The HF logo, for “High Fidelity”, has notably adorned many legendary models, starting with the Fulvia Coupé and other Delta Integrales, to name but a few. ‘they. This one has been modernized, without fuss, and retains the original colors of white, red and black. And why is there an elephant in the middle? It was chosen by Gianni Lancia, the founder of the brand, since he considered the animal as a symbol of luck. And obviously, given the success of Lancia in rallying, the legend is true.
The return of sports cars to the Lancia range
Concerning production cars, how will this materialize? The HF badge will arrive on the Ypsilon in 2025. It will be a 100% electric sports version which will develop 240 hp and which can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds. Do these figures speak to you?
This is normal, since they are approximately equal to those of the recently presented Abarth 600e. These two models will undoubtedly share many technical elements, starting with the battery and autonomy.
Even if nothing has yet been made official concerning the 600e, it should take over the 51 kWh net battery from the Peugeot e-208, which should give it a range of between 350 and 400 km depending on the WLTP cycle.
A return to rallying, but electric?
Because yes, Lancia could also make its return to rallying. It remains to be seen in what form and under what regulations, because it is difficult to imagine the manufacturer, who only intends to make electric, arriving with a thermal model.
Remember in particular that the Italian brand dominated the discipline for years, with legendary models like the Fulvia HF, the Stratos HF and the Rally 037. Lancia’s history in rallying began in the 1960s with the Fulvia HF. This small car, with a powerful engine and exceptional handling, won its first world title in 1972.
The Stratos HF took over in the 70s and crushed the competition. With her three consecutive titles (from 1974 to 1976), she became a rallying legend. The era of the 1980s was marked by the return of Lancia with the Rally 037. This revolutionary car, with its all-wheel drive and turbocharger, allowed Lancia to win the manufacturers’ world title in 1983.
Lancia retired from the world championship in 1986, leaving behind a unique legacy. The brand owns the constructors’ world title record with 11 titles, and also won four drivers’ titles and numerous legendary victories.