New 237bhp Lancia Ypsilon HF hot hatch ready to hunt down MINI JCW

This is the new all-electric Lancia Ypsilon HF: the company’s first hot hatch since the legendary Delta Integrale, and its rival to the eagerly anticipated MINI John Cooper Works and Alpine A290 EVs. 

In traditional hot hatch style, the Ypsilon HF is front-wheel drive. Its single electric motor produces 237bhp – a significant jump up from the 154bhp in the regular Ypsilon, and the same amount of power delivered by the Abarth 600e and the most potent electric Alfa Romeo Junior. 

With the extra power, the Ypsilon HF can sprint from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, which is two seconds quicker than the standard version of the Vauxhall Corsa’s sharply dressed Italian cousin.

The Ypsilon HF has also received a lower ride height courtesy of tweaked suspension and a wider track that should help improve traction and stability. Meanwhile styling changes include a redesigned front bumper with elements on either side that makes the car look slightly wider. 

The new blanked-off black grille panel features a modern reinterpretation of Lancia’s famous HF logo and red elephant from the iconic performance cars of its glory days. The same logos are found on the flared wheelarches as well, and inside, where the Ypsilon HF has received new bucket seats with integrated headrests and brilliant blue upholstery. 

The new Lancia Ypsilon HF is slated to go on sale in May 2025, but not here unfortunately, as we’ve yet to hear of any plans for Lancia to return to the UK car market. 

However, we should be getting our own home-grown equivalent in the form of the Vauxhall Corsa GSe, which would in all likelihood use the same e-motor and tuned suspension as the Ypsilon HF.  

Lancia is bringing back its hallowed HF performance brand for hot versions of all its new cars going forward, starting with the Yplison, then the new Gamma in 2026 and new Delta in 2028.

The Gamma will be a 4.7-metre-long fastback and the brand’s flagship, meanwhile the Delta has been described as “a sculpted and muscular car,” but that’s all so far. Both models will be pure-electric and should use the new STLA platforms from parent company Stellantis.

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History of Lancia HF

The history of the HF logo starts in 1960 when passionate Lancia owners founded the "Lancia Hi-Fi" club (Hi-Fi stands for High-Fidelity). The HF initials were then used for some of the company’s sports cars before being adopted by the HF Squadra Corse racing team when it was founded in 1963.

The HF name was worn by Lancia’s most famous and successful rally cars: the Fulvia Coupe, Stratos, Delta 4WD and Delta Integrale. The boxy Delta hatchback proved to be unbeatable and alone won six WRC championships – the most of any car in the history of the sport.

The HF performance badge was updated in March 2024, and will be worn once again by high-performance versions of Lancia’s road cars, and its race cars as the company is returning to rallying. 

It’s dipping its toe back in the water by entering Group Rally4, which mainly contains young drivers, with a petrol-powered version of the new Ypsilon supermini sporting a classic Martini Racing livery.

In case you’re wondering, the little galloping elephant has been used by Lancia since 1953 and in Eastern cultures symbolises good luck and victory. It’s also supposed to represent the unstoppable nature of Lancia’s performance cars.

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